Story Behind The Song
The song is a song about a guy named Joey who treats his mother like a maid even though he's married. Joey becomes rich and takes off with his family, is shrewd with his money and becomes super wealthy. All along he neglects his mother where she finally ends up dying alone. He blames everyone to hide his guilt. Days later, while traveling to collect his rents, Joey and his wife suffer a car accident where the wife is killed and Joey paralyzed. He's put into a nursing home to end his days alone. the CHORUS punctuates that if we're not careful in how we live our lives we can end up committing karma suicide, as per Joey's case.
Song Description
Written in the style of Neil Diamond and/or a cowboy country story. Tells the story of Joey and how mistreating his mother led to karma getting the best of him in the end.
| Song Length |
4:30 |
Genre |
Country - General, Folk - Contemporary |
| Tempo |
Medium Slow (91 - 110) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Moving, Heartbreaking |
Subject |
Sadness, Life |
| Similar Artists |
Kenny Rogers, Neil Diamond |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
Verse 1
Joey walked along the tide in his mind a bona fide hero.
A momma's boy he hid behind her apron strings.
And though he had a wife momma kept him fed and made his bed.
He kept her as his maid all these years.
Chorus
If you're not careful you'll end up a karma-kaze hero.
Because what goes around, it comes around yeah
If you're not careful you'll end up a karma-kaze hero
for the fruits that you have sown and the fruits that you have grown become your own.
Verse 2
Now Joey was the shrewder business man and for that he grew richer just as planned.
He bought a mansion with a gate and lots of other real estate, still momma she remained all alone.
Now Joeys friend he said to him "hey man your momma's getting older, why don't you bring her here to spend her last days in your home.?"
But Joey and his wife with green eyes hastily replied.
"Momma, she can manage on her own."
CHORUS (repeat)
Verse 3
On Sunday momma said her last goodbye with no one by the bedside.
And three days passed before they found her there.
Joey he was stunned and so he turned around on everyone and blamed them for the guilt he felt inside.
On Thursday while collecting rent occurred the big car accident.
Joey's wife died on impact and he was paralyzed.
The doctor's said "He's done." and so the lawyers and his only son out him in a home to waste away.
Chorus (end)
I guess you ended up to be a karma-kaze hero
Because what went around came around, yeah
I guess you ended up a karma-kaze hero
For the fruits that you had sown and the fruits that you had grown became your own, became your own.