Newsboys - Joy Lyrics
Lyrics
You give me joy that's unspeakable
And I like it, and I like it, yeah
Your love for me is irresistible
I can't fight it, I can't fight it, yeah
If life is water, I was dry as Tucson dirt
If it's a gamble, I'd already lost my shirt
If it's a journey, I was dazed without a clue
I flipped a "u" back to the first love I ever knew
You give me joy that's unspeakable
And I like it, and I like it, yeah
Your love for me is irresistible
I can't fight it, I can't fight it, yeah
You carried the cross and took my shame
I believe it, I believe it, yeah
You shine Your light of amazing grace
I receive it, I receive it, yeah
If life's a battle, the invasion is complete
If it's a rhythm, I have found the perfect beat
If it's a renaissance, I've got a new birthday
The world don't give it and the world can't take it away
You give me joy that's unspeakable
And I like it, and I like it, yeah
Your love for me is irresistible
I can't fight it, I can't fight it, yeah
You carried the cross and took my shame
I believe it, I believe it, yeah
You shine Your light of amazing grace
I receive it, I receive it, yeah
I'm bowed and broken, every thing's new
All that I need, You're like water to seed
And how Your love rights everything wrong
And in my weakness, You're ever stronger
You're pulling me back where I belong
You give me joy that's unspeakable
And I like it, and I like it, yeah
Your love for me is irresistible
I can't fight it, I can't fight it
You carried the cross and took my shame
I believe it, I believe it, yeah
You shine Your light of amazing grace
I receive it, I receive it, yeah
You give me joy that's unspeakable
And I like it, and I like it, yeah
Your love for me is irresistible
I can't fight it, I can't fight it, yeah
You carried the cross and took my shame
I believe it, I believe it, yeah
You shine Your light of amazing grace
I receive it, I receive it, yeah
Video
Joy
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on January 1, 2007, as a standout track on their compilation album, *Newsboys: The Greatest Hits*, "Joy" by Newsboys is a vibrant anthem that distills the core of Christian experience into an energetic declaration. The song serves as a powerful testament to the profound transformation and unshakeable delight found in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It narrates a journey from spiritual desolation to an overflowing abundance of divine presence, underscoring that this joy is not merely an emotion but an intrinsic state granted by grace, independent of worldly circumstances.
The song immediately establishes its central theme: an "unspeakable" joy and "irresistible" love that captivates the soul. This initial declaration sets the stage for a narrative contrasting a life without God with the vivifying reality of His presence. The imagery of being "dry as Tucson dirt" vividly portrays a spiritual barrenness, a deep thirst for meaning and sustenance that the world cannot quench, reminiscent of the longing described in Psalm 42:1-2, "As a deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God." The subsequent lines, "If it's a gamble, I'd already lost my shirt," and "If it's a journey, I was dazed without a clue," paint a picture of futility, failure, and lostness, a common human experience before encountering divine guidance. This sense of being without direction finds its resolution in the turning point, "I flipped a "u" back to the first love I ever knew," a clear reference to repentance and a return to the foundational faith, echoing the call in Revelation 2:4-5 to remember from where one has fallen and return to that initial fervent love. The joy described here is not a fleeting happiness, but a deeply rooted contentment that transcends circumstances, much like the "inexpressible and glorious joy" spoken of in 1 Peter 1:8, a joy tied directly to belief in Christ.
The profound source of this joy is unequivocally attributed to Christ's sacrifice and grace. The lyrics declare, "You carried the cross and took my shame," a direct and powerful acknowledgment of the atonement found in the crucifixion, fulfilling prophecies like Isaiah 53:5 which states, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." This act of ultimate love removes the burden of guilt, replacing it with peace. Following this, the affirmation, "You shine Your light of amazing grace, I receive it," highlights the unmerited favor of God, freely given and accepted, aligning with Ephesians 2:8-9 where it is written, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." The song then shifts to depict the new life granted through this grace, stating, "If life's a battle, the invasion is complete," signifying victory through Christ, a triumph over spiritual adversaries as emphasized in Romans 8:37, "in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." The notion of finding "the perfect beat" if life's a rhythm suggests alignment with God's divine order, and having "a new birthday" points to the spiritual rebirth and new creation promised in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" The absolute truth that "The world don't give it and the world can't take it away" powerfully underlines the supernatural origin and enduring nature of this joy and peace, contrasting it with the transient offerings of worldly pursuits, as Jesus Himself said in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives."
Further deepening the analysis, the song acknowledges a preceding state of humility and brokenness, stating, "I'm bowed and broken, everything's new." This reflects the principle that God often works through our weaknesses and brokenness to bring about transformation, as a "broken and contrite heart" is not despised by Him (Psalm 51:17). The vivid metaphor, "All that I need, You're like water to seed," beautifully illustrates God as the essential life-giver and sustainer, nurturing spiritual growth and vitality, akin to how a seed cannot grow without water, a concept echoed in Isaiah 58:11, where God promises to satisfy thirst and strengthen bones. The declaration that "Your love rights everything wrong" speaks to God's ultimate justice and redemptive power, His ability to restore what is broken and make all things new, a promise articulated in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." The reliance on divine strength is captured in "in my weakness, You're ever stronger," a direct echo of Paul's profound revelation in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, where Christ's power is made perfect in weakness. Finally, the comforting assurance, "You're pulling me back where I belong," highlights the sense of spiritual homecoming and belonging found in Christ, a truth that defines our identity as children of God and co-heirs with Christ, as described in Ephesians 2:19, where believers are no longer strangers but members of God's household. "Joy" by Newsboys is therefore not just a song; it's an invitation to experience and embrace the transformative, restorative, and ever-present delight that defines a life lived in the unwavering love and grace of God.