09. Joy
Written by Polly Jean Harvey
Musicians: Polly Jean Harvey, Mick Harvey, John Parish, Rob Ellis, Eric Drew Feldman, Jeremy Hogg, and Joe Gore

Found on:
Is This Desire?

This song was reworked for the Spleen album Little Scratches by Pinky Maclure.

This song was inspired by the short story "Good Country People" (Flannery O'Conner).

After the loss of her leg, Joy became unpleasant and introverted. A nihilist, she ironically ends up falling for a bible-toting country boy. The boy convinces her to remove her artificial leg, and then promptly leaves with it. As he leaves, he explains that he doesn't believe in that bible crap, just that he does it for money.

References in the song from the story:
--"...it tore her heart to think... of the poor stout girl in her thirties who had never danced a step...."
--"She had a weak heart. Joy had made it plain that if it had not been for this condition, she would be far from these red hills and good country people."
--"you ain't so smart. I been believing in nothing ever since I was born."

Joy was her name
A life un-wed
Thirty years old
Never danced a step

She would have left these red hill far
behind if not for her condition
"Would have left these red hills far
behind if not for my condition"

Pitiful Joy
She looked away
Into a hollow sky
Came face to face

With her own innocence surrounding her
until it never was a question
Innocence so suffocating,
now she cannot move, no question

No hope for Joy
No hope or faith
She wanted to go blind
Wanted hope to stay

I've been believing in nothing since I was born,
it never was a question.