Joe is a pseudonym of Maria José Leão dos Santos (1955–2019), a Portuguese taxi driver and Parisian nightlife figure who fled the Estado Novo authoritarian regime to France in the 1970s due to her homosexuality.

[1] The song emphasizes the notion that Joe seems to know all there is to know about the French capital including the whereabouts of all the little bars, all of the Parisian streets, the Seine, and bridges.

The song's lyrics suggest that Joe enjoys drinking rum, has a passion for Latin music and his car ("saxo jaune").

[3] Jerry Smith from Music Week wrote, "Out of the blue appears this intriguing Euro number that, with its breathy vocal and atmospheric backing, could capture the imagination given enough exposure.

"[4] Johnny Dee from Record Mirror named "Joe le taxi" Single of the Week, adding, "There hasn't be all that many hits sung in French — Jane Birkin's "Je T'Aime" springs to mind.

Paradis, wearing an oversized peach sweater with the words "Cross Stage" and the number 26 emblazoned across the front and loose grey trousers, dances and sings the song, next to a big yellow taxi similar to Joe's.

When it was issued in South America and in Spain in April 1988, Vanessa recorded a Spanish version: "Joe el taxi".

Hong Kong Cantopop singer Priscilla Chan (陳慧嫻) released a Cantonese cover version in her album "Autumn Colours" (秋色) in 1988.

Juli Chan, a Polish singer-songwriter, recorded a new version of Joe Le Taxi in 2021,[26][27][28] which she performed live in march 2023 on Poland's largest commercial TV station, TVN.