A Little More Joy
Liner Notes
Each time I think I'm going to run out of protest songs, I get inspired anew. This time, I was inspired by the quote from Dan Savage I've seen a bunch of people share. He said: "We need to pay attention. We need to fight the fight, but we need to spend as much time as we can over the next four years with friends and lovers doing the things that bring us joy...And during the darkest days of the AIDS crisis we buried our friends in the morning, we protested in the afternoon, and we danced all night, and it was the dance that kept us in the fight because it was the dance we were fighting for." So let's not forget to dance!
Musically, I was going for a Jesus and Mary Chain sound, or as close as one can get with a single acoustic guitar. I want to flesh this one out with a more driving bass and synth line under the verses.
Lyrics
Verse 1 There's so much to be upset about in the world today. Don't get me started, or you'll get a long list. But do you know the worst part about living in these end times? It makes you forget that joy exists.
Chorus (We need to) Bring a little more joy into the world today. Bring a little more joy. Fight the battles that need fighting, but don't forget To bring a little more joy.
Verse 2 The world can seem like a dumpster fire when you look at it. It can make you feel like times will always be bad. If I spend too much time in my mind with their hypocrisy, It is going to make me stark raving mad.
Chorus (I need to) Bring a little more joy into the world today. Bring a little more joy. Fight the battles that need fighting, but don't forget To bring a little more joy.
Bridge Outrage can be contagious, But guess what, so is joy. The world may be outrageous, So we need to employ This simple strategy for life, To always be creating A little more joy and a lot less strife. That's a life worth celebrating.
Chorus (We need to) Bring a little more joy into the world today. Bring a little more joy. Fight the battles that need fighting, but don't forget To bring a little more joy.
Verse 3 There's so much to be upset about in the world today. Don't get me started, or you'll get a long list. But do you know the best part about living in these times? I know that joy exists.
Chorus (We need to) Bring a little more joy into the world today. Bring a little more joy. Fight the battles that need fighting, but don't forget To bring a little more joy.
Comments
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Is it a song about protest songs ? Because what better mean to bring joy to the world without quitting political battles than writting protest songs? I love the lines : "Outrage can be contagious, / But guess what, so is joy." Oh the hope that it raises ! If I understood Spinoza, he argued that joy is inherent in freedom and you can't be free without joy. Makes Joy a political mean.
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I'm joyful now... I'll maintain that by not reading or watching any news, at least until after my local music thing tonight.
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You bring so much joy into this world, and for that I am infinitely grateful! Ooh, I love when you go up the octave - so powerful! I'm over here trying to add some harmonies, this is a great singalong.
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ha. its hard to resist using the phrase dumpster fire right now and I've actually deleted it from multiple songs in process because I keep wanting to work it in somewhere. works great here!
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Ain't that the truth! A glimmer of hope in bringing a little more joy and every single bit helps, as does this song...
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that chorus is jam packed with joy :) i also like the lyric 'life worth celebrating"
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Thank you for this! A helpful and needed reminder! I like how you vary the intensity throughout and thought the pulling back on verse 3 was especially effective. Nice tune!
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I wouldn't have thought of a J&MC arrangement, but now that you mention it, I can imagine it well. The chorus is infectious, sounds like an anthem. Love the lyrics, it's very true. All the protests I've been to over the last weeks gave me a sense of community and energy to keep up the fight, which we are going to need over here too.