Lyrics Page
Joy
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Oct 29, 2026 updated
My Life album
Verified editorial review
Song Meaning
Someone asks how you keep it moving, and the answer never changes: "It's the joy of the Lord." James Fortune frames the song as a conversation with onlookers who cannot figure out what keeps him "smiling through the pain," beginning with a spoken nudge to "bring some joy back" after a lot going on.
The chorus piles up the word "joy" until it becomes the hook, then names its source: "The world didn't give it," so it can't be taken away. The second verse looks back at "all of the times He came through for me," too many to count, and that memory is why he can lift his hands, tell his worries goodbye, and say "It's gon' be alright." The ending repeats "I got the joy of the Lord, ain't gotta worry no more," with lines about joy arriving in the morning.
Nehemiah 8:10 supplies the central phrase, Psalm 30:5 the joy that comes in the morning, and John 16:22 the joy no one can take away.
Lyrics Verified by Editorial Team
It's been a lot going on
Let's bring some joy back
I can't hide it (Yeah, yeah)
Yeah, I know that this is real 'cause it's giving me the feels
Can't deny, no (Uh, even if I wanted to)
I can't explain it, hard to contain it
And it won't leave me alone (You think I'm tripping when you see me 'cause God got)
Got me smiling through the pain, dancing the rain
Got my mind blown (It don't make no sense)
Yeah, I know (And now you wondering)
How you keep it moving (Yep)
It's the joy of the Lord (You're asking)
What keeps you smiling? (It's the joy of the Lord)
It's the joy of the Lord (It's the joy of the Lord)
How you keeping it together?
It's the joy of the Lord (Ha, I know what it is)
Yeah, I know just what it is
It's that joy I'm speaking of
Joy (Joy), joy (Joy), joy (Joy), joy (Joy), joy (Joy)
He's giving me (Giving me), he's giving me
Joy (Joy), joy (Joy), joy (Joy), joy (Joy), yeah (Joy), woo, woo got it
I got joy in the morning, yeah, it's coming, need no warning
The world didn't give it (The world didn't give it)
Can't take it away (Can't take it away)
Joy (It's the joy of the Lord)
Joy (It's the joy of the Lord)
What you see (It's the joy of the Lord)
He gave it to me (It's the joy of the Lord)
Yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah
Oh, yeah
Oh, I'm sorry, I was just thinking about
All of the times He came through for me (Too many to count)
Can't count the way that He made for me
It's the reason I'm feeling what I been feeling inside (This love hit different)
It's got me caught up in a vibe (Yeah, yeah)
Lift my hands, tell my worries goodbye (I ain't worried, I know)
It's gon' be alright (It's gon' be alright)
All alright (It's gon' be alright, but everybody keeps asking)
How you keep it moving (Tell 'em)
It's the joy of the Lord (They can't figure out)
What keeps you smiling? (But you know)
It's the joy of the Lord (Baby girl)
How you keeping it together?
It's the joy of the Lord (Ha, I know what it is)
Yeah, I know just what it is (That joy)
It's that joy I'm speaking of (Woo)
Joy (Joy), joy (Joy), joy (Joy), joy (Joy, joy, joy), joy (I'm so glad)
He's giving me (Yeah), he's giving me
Joy (Joy), joy (Joy), joy (Joy), joy (Joy), yeah (Joy, it was not for a long time)
I got joy in the morning, yeah, it's coming, need no warning
The world didn't give it (The world didn't give it)
Sure can't take it away (Can't take it away)
Joy (It's the joy of the Lord)
Joy (It's the joy of the Lord)
(It's the joy challenge, pull your phone recording somebody to tell 'em this)
It's the joy of the Lord (It's the joy of the Lord)
Joy is coming in the morning
You can can have it if you want it (It's the joy of the Lord)
It ain't no price on it (No)
Yeah, it look nice on me (Yeah)
Make you look twice, don't it? (It's the joy of the Lord)
'Cause I got the joy of the Lord
Ain't gotta worry no more (Ain't gotta worry no more)
'Cause I got the joy of the Lord
Ain't gotta worry no more (It's the joy of the Lord)
Yeah, woo, sheesh
I got the joy of the Lord (It's the joy of the Lord)
I got the joy of the Lord
Ain't gotta worry no more (Ain't gotta worry no more)
I got the joy of the Lord
Ain't gotta worry no more (Ain't gotta worry no more)
I got the joy of the Lord
Ain't gotta worry no more (Ain't gotta worry no more)
I got the joy of the Lord
Ain't gotta worry no more
Hey, hey, hey
Yee, yee
Joy
It's the joy of the Lord