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Lucinda Williams — Joy
Album: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Avg rating:
5.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 574









Released: 1998
Length: 3:58
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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I don't want you anymore
Cause you took my joy
I don't want you anymore
You took my joy

You took my joy
I want it back
You took my joy
I want it back

I'm gonna go to west memphis and look for my joy
Go to west memphis and look for my joy
Maybe in west memphis I'll find my joy
Maybe in west memphis i'll find my joy

I'm gonna go to slidell and look for my joy
Go to slidell and look for my joy
Maybe in slidell I'll find my joy
Maybe in slidell I'll find my joy

You got no right to take my joy
I want it back
You got no right to take my joy
I want it back

You took my joy
I want it back
You took my joy
I want it back

I'm gonna go to west memphis and look for my joy
Go to west memphis and look for my joy
Maybe in west memphis i'll find my joy
Maybe in west memphis i'll find my joy

I'm gonna go to slidell and look for my joy
Go to slidell and look for my joy
Maybe in slidell i'll find my joy
Maybe in slidell i'll find my joy

I don't want you anymore
Cause you took my joy
I don't want you anymore
You took my joy

You took my joy
I want it back
You took my joy
I want it back

You took my joy
I want it back
You took my
I want it back

I'm gonna go to west memphis
I'm gonna go to slidell
Comments (174)add comment
First time hearing this. I love it!
Posted 5 months ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
Morphine should have covered this.
Posted 5 months ago by MM_Prague    [ Reply ]
When the guitar started playing, I thought this was Little Feat. What a disappointment...
Posted 7 months ago by Jorizzz    [ Reply ]
Not to get too philosophical and all...but - no one can "take your joy".  Joy lives in and is manifested within ourselves!  {#Bounce}
Posted 10 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]

Posted 10 years ago by MojoJojo    [ Reply ]
The extent to which this wonderful, simple tune has been blasted again demonstrates the undeniable fact ...... rock and roll is indeed dead, at least to this audience.   I think rock gets played here mostly as a novelty, some sort of homage to some fancied past.  RIP.
Posted 10 years ago by old_shep    [ Reply ]
" Took my Bok Choy, I want my crack."

There, let's all pitch in and help with some alternate rhymes. 
Posted 10 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
This song rocks live!   Her band is rock solid!
Posted 10 years ago by Baketown    [ Reply ]
The weakest song on a wonderful album.
Posted 10 years ago by madaxeman    [ Reply ]
 Stunning in it's level of annoyingness.

As Charles Barkely would say, " That's just TURRIBLE!" 
Posted 10 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
The band is tight, but the lyrics are too repetitive.
Posted 10 years ago by kzeique    [ Reply ]
Sounds like a relapse song.
Posted 10 years ago by FallOutOfWindow    [ Reply ]
Started out promising, ended up lyrical drivel.
Posted 10 years ago by The_Walrus    [ Reply ]
I love this tune. Like many of her tunes, it tells a story that you get to fill in with your imagination. 
Posted 11 years ago by Wigi    [ Reply ]
 sookay wrote:
...really rockx ! I am with you...


 

Posted 11 years ago by sookay    [ Reply ]
 Baketown wrote:
This song rocks and live it really rocks!  Her band is solid!

 

Posted 11 years ago by sookay    [ Reply ]
I loved it !
Posted 11 years ago by sookay    [ Reply ]
Not digging this very much.
Posted 11 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
I need to have her slipped in to the mix. She's better as a bit of a surprise than a conscious decision... Maybe, that's just me.
Posted 11 years ago by AndyJ    [ Reply ]
This song rocks and live it really rocks!  Her band is solid!
Posted 11 years ago by Baketown    [ Reply ]
slide me a mess o dat.....{#Dance}
Posted 11 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
totally silly boogie.....{#Bananajam}{#Guitarist}{#Dancingbanana}......coooooool
Posted 11 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
 winter wrote:
Lucinda's OK, most of the time.
This is SOOOOO not.
My joy is when this song ends...
 
The comment rings true for me, even all these years later. Bleh.
Posted 11 years ago by michaelgmitchell    [ Reply ]
Poor Lucinda lost her door
Posted 11 years ago by sibaker    [ Reply ]
I love Lucinda Williams, but this song had to grow on me.  I love watching her play it live, and I love Bettye Lavette's version -- which I view as a tribute to Lucinda.  Having said all that, the song has grown on me, and I love it now.   (how many times did I say love?  {#Sick})
Posted 11 years ago by TigerStrong    [ Reply ]
Her band rocks this song live so hard!!
Posted 11 years ago by Baketown    [ Reply ]
I dig this.
Posted 11 years ago by tprimeau    [ Reply ]
maryte wrote:
Bettye LaVette's cover blows this out of the water.
I like them both (and since I usually don't like covers maybe that means that Betty LaVette's version IS better). This song is best done live because it really gives the band a chance to stretch out. Every time I've seen her live this song is a highlight.
Posted 17 years ago by Bat    [ Reply ]
This song is best sung in Cajun French simply because I can't speak the tongue and don't have to listen to the lyrics (although I do like the slide guitar).
Posted 17 years ago by lwilkinson    [ Reply ]
Bettye LaVette's cover blows this out of the water.
Posted 17 years ago by maryte    [ Reply ]
themotion wrote:
can i get a count of how many times she says "joy" in this song? my guess ... too many.
29
Posted 17 years ago by Raechel    [ Reply ]
I love this song. It\'s my divorce song.
Posted 17 years ago by zipper    [ Reply ]
my mother-in-law can't stand this song....which means I love it! play it again..
Posted 17 years ago by driver8    [ Reply ]
...somehow, that this song references slidell of all places is fitting...make of that what you will, the baggage is intended... ...i call this coarse rock...
Posted 17 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
Hearing this in the background and not paying close attention, I thought it was the White Stripes.
Posted 17 years ago by ch83575    [ Reply ]
can i get a count of how many times she says "joy" in this song? my guess ... too many.
Posted 17 years ago by themotion    [ Reply ]
Lucinda's OK, most of the time. This is SOOOOO not. My joy is when this song ends...
Posted 17 years ago by winter    [ Reply ]
Is she serious? I mean, really?
Posted 17 years ago by MrSpaz    [ Reply ]
Uhg. Time to tune out... Man, she's horrible.
Posted 17 years ago by shakitten    [ Reply ]
Carl wrote:
Amazingly, this has been in the RP lineup since March 2002! It's rated a mediocre 5.4 with nearly 100% negative comments lately. Yet, it's still being played! Go figure...
Bill plays what he likes. 10.
Posted 17 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
Govi wrote:
There ain't much to say, 'cause she sung it all, well, accurately, and right on top of the emotions. Damn good song!
I'm on this bus!
Posted 17 years ago by redtex    [ Reply ]
I liked it. 7 and I'm keeping that. I think.
Posted 17 years ago by Wizzuvvoz    [ Reply ]
Amazingly, this has been on the RP lineup since March 2002! It's rated a mediocre 5.4 with nearly 100% negative comments lately. Yet, it's still being played! Go figure...
Posted 17 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]
Baby_M wrote:
Sounds like Kandy Slice (Gilda Radner) from the classic SNL skit. That's not a good thing, either.
Posted 17 years ago by MojoJojo    [ Reply ]
This song was literally giving me a head ache, so I had to take off the headphones... this song took away my joy, and I want it back!
Posted 17 years ago by calray    [ Reply ]
What she said you took my joy, and I want it back sad, I usually like her stuff
Posted 17 years ago by jenakle    [ Reply ]
MinMan wrote:
Somebody please return this much fabled "joy" so they will stop this incessant racket.
ha! (and yes, please give her back her joy. it hurts.)
Posted 17 years ago by annanyc    [ Reply ]
not my favorite l.w. tune, but for some reason my 5 year old nephew loves it. he sings all of the words and it's the funniest thing ever.
Posted 17 years ago by elliotgoettelman    [ Reply ]
dang. i usually like lucinda williams...what happened on this tune?
Posted 17 years ago by annie_fannie    [ Reply ]
Her voice grates on me.
Posted 17 years ago by bcorcoran    [ Reply ]
sometimes I just scream sing this song!
Posted 17 years ago by CCinSB    [ Reply ]
Great intro, but then she started singing...
Posted 17 years ago by shayborg    [ Reply ]
Somebody please return this much fabled "joy" so they will stop this incessant racket.
Posted 18 years ago by MinMan    [ Reply ]
Yuck.
Posted 18 years ago by moonbat    [ Reply ]
Now if ZZ Top had done this ......
Posted 18 years ago by algrif    [ Reply ]
Great guitar, but the vocals and lyrics are lacking. Well not really lacking, just basically suck!
Posted 18 years ago by Pipes    [ Reply ]
Darn! She just took MY joy....
Posted 18 years ago by Kagin    [ Reply ]
MysticMilt wrote:
I do not get the Lucinda Williams love. At all.
I don't either.
Posted 18 years ago by meadowwoods    [ Reply ]
Okay, I give, I give. You can have it back!!
Posted 18 years ago by crockydile    [ Reply ]
Nope -- no joy in West Memphis or Slidell....
Posted 18 years ago by Kagin    [ Reply ]
I don't mind her voice at all but the way in which she sings the chorus of this song is grating.
Posted 18 years ago by pixidrizzl    [ Reply ]
She should stop gargling with Joy.
Posted 18 years ago by fishercat    [ Reply ]
Odyzzeuz wrote:
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, tho, the album, is great. This is the weakest track.
I've heard a few from this album, and I cannot get any of it. This one especially..I can't get this at all-what a terrible song. Put this girl out of her misery! ......and me out of mine for listening.
Posted 18 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
music is ok but I get no joy listenin' to her sing that song.
Posted 18 years ago by drmike    [ Reply ]
She needs to stop licking the gravel road!
Posted 18 years ago by theo    [ Reply ]
There ain't much to say, 'cause she sung it all, well, accurately, and right on top of the emotions. Damn good song!
Posted 18 years ago by Govi    [ Reply ]
The music is good, but the singing is keeping me from really liking this song.
Posted 18 years ago by olsaltybastard    [ Reply ]
She needs to quit smoking 40 cigs a day by the sound of it.
Posted 18 years ago by deanofox    [ Reply ]
MysticMilt wrote:
I do not get the Lucinda Williams love. At all.
And this is one of the most grating, annoying, obnoxious songs that she has ever mustered together.
Posted 19 years ago by strick    [ Reply ]
Sounds like Kandy Slice (Gilda Radner) from the classic SNL skit. That's not a good thing, either.
Posted 19 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
DisplacedNorthrnr wrote:
You took my choy and I want it bok...
ROLFING Just can't quite get into her....
Posted 19 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
melissa wrote:
I picked up Lucinda's Live at the Fillmore CD not too long ago. This song ROCKS on that album. Great guitar and gritty vocals as only Lucinda can deliver... although I'm still not convinced she can find her joy in Slidell.
I would love to hear her live stuff considering how great this album is! Thanks for the input!
Posted 19 years ago by JoJopugs    [ Reply ]
I can appreciate that folks can't get past Lucinda's 'ragged but real' voice...I think Car Wheels is a flawless CD, and Lucinda kicks it live. Here's a freebie live show (2 hours worth) that you can stream online, it's a recent show and she plays some of the 24 new songs she has in the can: https://www.npr.org/programs/asc/archives/graylucinda_live05/
Posted 19 years ago by SCJoniguy    [ Reply ]
Irritating and strangely joyless. Guess someone really did take her joy. For all our sakes, I hope she recovers it.
Posted 19 years ago by winter    [ Reply ]
There are, as I remember, only two times that I've jumped up to shut off RP. The first was when my puppy chewed through the modem power supply. The second is when this song came on. Awful.
Posted 19 years ago by orionblu    [ Reply ]
Compared to the park just across the state line in Mississippi where I tried to camp once, Slidell (and its Motel 6) is pretty damn joyful. And I love this song.
Posted 19 years ago by torturedpotato    [ Reply ]
You took my choy and I want it bok...
Posted 19 years ago by DisplacedNorthrnr    [ Reply ]
Posted 19 years ago by rolf    [ Reply ]
melissa wrote:
I picked up Lucinda's Live at the Fillmore CD not too long ago. This song ROCKS on that album. Great guitar and gritty vocals as only Lucinda can deliver... although I'm still not convinced she can find her joy in Slidell.
I don't know that her joy is in Slidell either, but the cd you mentions kicks major ass. If ya like it, the vinyl is gorgeous sounding.
Posted 19 years ago by Daveinbawlmer    [ Reply ]
I picked up Lucinda's Live at the Fillmore CD not too long ago. This song ROCKS on that album. Great guitar and gritty vocals as only Lucinda can deliver... although I'm still not convinced she can find her joy in Slidell.
Posted 19 years ago by melissa    [ Reply ]
Am I the only one that could care less either way for the voice and gets joy instead from the slide guitar? /Is it wrong to like the rock part of eclectic rock?
Posted 19 years ago by Mikey    [ Reply ]
robinesque wrote:
I think her joy comes from music, not romance. I think this is sung to a record company, not a man. Maybe West Memphis and Slidell represent a kind of music to her.
Have you ever been to West Memphis? What a dump!
Posted 19 years ago by southern_duality    [ Reply ]
I do not get the Lucinda Williams love. At all.
Posted 19 years ago by MysticMilt    [ Reply ]
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, tho, the album, is great. This is the weakest track.
Posted 19 years ago by Odyzzeuz    [ Reply ]
zaknafein wrote:
It's not entirely clear to me whether it is joy, or choy she is seeking.
I thought it was her toy...whatever it is WHOMEVER HAS IT PLEASE RETURN IT ASAP my ears hurt
Posted 19 years ago by flandersdog    [ Reply ]
I love Lucinda's raw and honest delivery on most of her stuff, but this is my least favorite song of hers. Here the lyrics are a bit inane and don't support the roughness of the delivery.
Posted 19 years ago by Odyzzeuz    [ Reply ]
I saw her in San Diego last night. The shortest concert I can recall. 9:30 to 10:30. The venue has a pretty hard time limit, but one hour (with no encore, I've heard) was pretty disappointing.
Posted 19 years ago by Fnords    [ Reply ]
orionblu wrote:
omg someone give her her joy back, quick, she's driving me nuts.
My though exactly. With a harsh nagging whine like that, I bet she's the reason her joy took off in the first place.
Posted 19 years ago by diane    [ Reply ]
Even funnier I have a colleague named Mike Choi. He laughed uproariously when I suggested that Lucinda might be singing about him! zaknafein wrote:
It's not entirely clear to me whether it is joy, or choy she is seeking.
Posted 19 years ago by hansk    [ Reply ]
zaknafein wrote:
It's not entirely clear to me whether it is joy, or choy she is seeking.
thanks for the levity, mate ... some people take this stuff way too seriously.
Posted 19 years ago by tony99    [ Reply ]
omg someone give her her joy back, quick, she's driving me nuts.
Posted 19 years ago by orionblu    [ Reply ]
Trustocity wrote:
...man-hating BITCH...
BGGA wrote:
Lucinda Williams = Man HATER... this is the jilted woman's anthem...
I think her joy comes from music, not romance. I think this is sung to a record company, not a man. Maybe West Memphis and Slidell represent a kind of music to her.
Posted 19 years ago by robinesque    [ Reply ]
one of the best CDs of the 90s, but this isn't one of the better tracks.
Posted 19 years ago by crouton215    [ Reply ]
Someone took her joy and now nobody can have any. MAKE IT STOP!
Posted 19 years ago by srbarry    [ Reply ]
randomprime wrote:
Lucinda? Yes.
Ah-ha. A Lucinda lover. Well met. But no, I didn't mean the artists, I meant the character in the art. There's a big different between, for example, Robert Smith and the kid getting eaten by the spiderman.
Posted 19 years ago by Trustocity    [ Reply ]
Can you imagine taking the girl in this song on a date? "Sorry about dinner, Steve. I didn't mean to be such a flaming, ranting, hate-drenched man-hating BITCH all night. I wish I could say it was hormones, but I'm probably a bit demon-possessed. I promise I'll be better next time. Call me."
Posted 19 years ago by Trustocity    [ Reply ]
pilate wrote:
WHY, oh why does she sing the way she sings? SOME ONE PLEASE GIVE HER THAT FRIGGIN' JOY THING
PLEASE!
Posted 19 years ago by ankhara99    [ Reply ]
Lucinda Williams = Man HATER... gawd, this woman is pissed off, but why must *I* suffer for her rotten mistakes. This song is HORRIBLE... this is the jilted woman's anthem. Please, make her stop... my ears are bleeding.
Posted 19 years ago by BGGA    [ Reply ]
<-X
Posted 19 years ago by shevek    [ Reply ]
Messdaddy wrote:
Yeah, okay, I love Lucinda but this one is not on MY playlist.
Same here.
Posted 19 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
It's not entirely clear to me whether it is joy, or choy she is seeking.
Posted 19 years ago by zaknafein    [ Reply ]
If she ain't found her joy by now, she ain't gonna....
Posted 19 years ago by Kagin    [ Reply ]
A more apt title for this would be "Joyless". Fookin dreadful.
Posted 19 years ago by zevon    [ Reply ]
I have tried to think of why this song is so annoying. I think I have the answer: the lyrics are sung like a nursery rhyme. Sing-songy. Does that make sense? Hard to explain. However, I would like her to shut up. Then we could just enjoy the guitar solos without the drecky sing-song-singing.
Posted 19 years ago by Mugro    [ Reply ]
Remove the vocals. Completely. Then this would be a decent song. Good guitar work.
Posted 19 years ago by Derecho    [ Reply ]
Yeah, okay, I love Lucinda but this one is not on MY playlist.
Posted 19 years ago by Messdaddy    [ Reply ]
WHY, oh why does she sing the way she sings? SOME ONE PLEASE GIVE HER THAT FRIGGIN' JOY THING
Posted 19 years ago by pilate    [ Reply ]
Oh man, it's happening again...a tune I've previously gritted my teeth over or just plain turned off has begun to be bearable and, dare I say it, slightly enjoyable. Help...is that my foot tapping? Radio Paradise what are you doing to me?!
Posted 19 years ago by Joyfulchristine    [ Reply ]
so absolutely awful. ugh!
Posted 19 years ago by bibbadee    [ Reply ]
eyelykearrpee wrote:
Somebody give her her damn toy back. :x
and someone please take Bill's Joy away, and never let himplay it again!! <-o<
Posted 19 years ago by bajafisher    [ Reply ]
Somebody give her her damn toy back. :x
Posted 19 years ago by eyelykearrpee    [ Reply ]
Wow, joy rhymes with joy.
Posted 19 years ago by fitz368    [ Reply ]
The list of Songs That Are Tolerable Only During Liquid Encouragement has just gained another entry.
Posted 19 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
JrzyTmata wrote:
there's plenty of joy in my mute button
Check it out, my mute button is full of joy too!!
Posted 19 years ago by ankhara99    [ Reply ]
Nope, Slidell has no joy....
Posted 19 years ago by Kagin    [ Reply ]
Love her, haaaaaaaaaate this. :P
Posted 19 years ago by timandjuliet    [ Reply ]
rpm wrote:
amazing how most people dislike this song. I really like it!
Rock on. This is one of my favorites by Lucinda.
Posted 19 years ago by truk77    [ Reply ]
Love Lucinda, but this song is by far her worst one ever......unfortunate
Posted 19 years ago by lowelltr    [ Reply ]
I like this. It's gutteral, bluesey Southern female angst. I feel it. I guess it's a Southern "thang."
Posted 20 years ago by ABanana224    [ Reply ]
Having heard this song live recently, after a painful breakup, made all of the difference to me about it. Before, when things were all sweetness and light in my life, I didn't really get it. Now, it's powerful.
Posted 20 years ago by betterdaze    [ Reply ]