At 17, Joy and her family moved from Mississippi to Memphis, and it has since been her home. Shortly after relocating, her older sister let her tag along to the Lilith Fair women’s music festival in Nashville. Joy remembers,
The whole trip was amazing! I had always loved music, but not until that night did I realize how much a part of me it was. The last performer was Sarah McLachlan. When she stepped out of the darkness into a single beam of light, the most beautiful sound came out of her mouth. Tears immediately formed in my eyes. I was mesmerized ... paralyzed. Every word, every note, every stroke of her guitar awakened something inside of me.
Inspired by such a captivating performance, Joy was determined to learn how to play the guitar. Although she had never played one in her life, Joy called her parents the next day and asked them to help her buy one. They went down to Strings & Things, bought a cheap Fender acoustic--which she still has and loves—and began her life as a musician. She recalls, “I started watching other player's hands and tried to mimic what I saw. Most of my learning was just practice and finding chords and then remembering where they were. I still can't read music. I play by ear...and heart.”
At age 20, Joy began performing in a local cover band called Krysalis which developed a small--but faithful--following. She also began experimenting with many things, including drugs. Although her dad was a preacher and she knew about God, she recalls,
"I realize now that my understanding of Him was all wrong. I had no clue who He really was...and is. I actually never gave Him any thought through the majority of my life, until last year, on April 4th. For some reason, a few months prior to that day in April, I became somewhat aware of sin and sin in my life. I became convicted, which was foreign to me. I was scared and I didn't understand what was happening. My mother came for a visit about that time and convinced me to see 'The Passion of the Christ' with her. I had no desire to see it. I knew this wasn't a movie for enjoyment, so to speak. But something inside me would not let me back out. So I went. I had no idea what was about to happen to me. No idea that in just a few moments, I would meet that same Christ. And I did...right there in the theater...curled in my seat...Heaven opened and let me in. Imagine that!"
Joy soon began attending a large and vibrant fellowship of young Christians at the High Point Church in Memphis. There, she was befriended by Ardent Records artist Todd Agnew, who began to mentor her both musically and spiritually. Todd was impressed with her talent and testimony, and asked her to make a couple of guest appearances on his recent project, “Reflection of Something.” The record label was also impressed with Joy and invited her into their studio to begin recording her own songs. “The Fake EP” is her first offering of five self-penned tunes that honestly chronicle her struggle with faith and her self-discovery in Christ:
"I want people to know that pain is not working against us. It brings us closer to the One who knows pain better than anyone else-Jesus Christ. He understands and hurts right along with us. When we are persecuted, He is persecuted. When we cry, He cries. And when we laugh...He laughs too. He goes through life with us and in us. And our life’s struggles and heartaches only remind us that we are not alone. They show us that if we fall, He will fall with us. He will not let us go alone. He will not let us go...."
Joy’s vision is to communicate hope within struggle, faith despite fear, and art that’s not simply propaganda. A true study in contrasts, Joy Whitlock is anything but “Fake.”
Behind The Scenes
Joy Whitlock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As if the weight of the world
Is yours to bear
Why do you look so out of place?
As if I don’t see you standing there
Behind every face
In every crowded room
I’ll be watching you
And when the curtains close
Why won’t you notice me?
I loved you long before the show
From behind the scenes
You don’t have to find me
I’m not the one hiding
Don’t you know me at all?
Cause I’m not another lover
I’m not another friend
I’m on fire for you
I burn at both ends
Can’t you see the sparks fly?
The crowd doesn’t follow you home
And cheer you on when you go down
You don’t have to find me
[Psalm 139]
The lyrics of Joy Whitlock's song, Behind The Scenes, explore the theme of unrequited love and the feelings experienced by someone who loves another but remains unnoticed. Throughout the song, the singer addresses the subject of their affection, questioning their behavior and their seeming unawareness of the singer's feelings. The song opens with the singer asking why this person continues to carry on, feeling burdened by the weight of the world when in reality, they are not alone, as the singer sees them standing there. The singer expresses their own feelings of being unseen and invisible, stating that they loved this person long before the show, from behind the scenes.
The chorus of the song and the reference to Psalm 139 highlights the idea that the singer is always watching over the subject of their love, even if they don't notice it. The singer acknowledges that they are not hiding and that the subject of their love doesn't need to find them. However, the singer is not just another lover or friend, but someone who is on fire for this person, burning at both ends, and is frustrated that this love is not reciprocated. The bridge of the song, "Can't you see the sparks fly?" describes the intensity of the singer's feelings and their desire for the subject of their affection to finally notice them.
Overall, Behind The Scenes is a poignant and relatable interpretation of unrequited love that evokes feelings of longing and heartache.
Line by Line Meaning
Why do you carry on this way?
Questioning why the subject is acting as if they are carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders.
As if the weight of the world
Comparing the subject's behavior to someone who is burdened by the weight of the world.
Is yours to bear
Suggesting that the subject is taking on more responsibility than necessary.
Why do you look so out of place?
Questioning why the subject appears to be out of place or uncomfortable.
As if I don’t see you standing there
Implying that the artist is aware of the subject's discomfort.
Behind every face
Highlighting that there is more to people than what is visible on the surface or in public.
In every crowded room
Emphasizing that this concept applies to any public gathering.
From behind the stage
Suggesting that the artist is someone who works behind the scenes, perhaps a stagehand or a member of the production team.
I’ll be watching you
Indicating that the artist is observing the subject, possibly with some level of concern.
And when the curtains close
Referring to the end of a performance or public display.
Why won’t you notice me?
Implies that the subject is not taking notice of the singer, despite their involvement in the production.
I loved you long before the show
Implying that the artist has feelings for the subject that existed before the current production/event.
From behind the scenes
Reinforcing that the singer is someone who works behind the scenes or is otherwise hidden from public view.
You don’t have to find me
Suggesting that the subject does not need to search for or look for the presence of the singer.
I’m not the one hiding
Clarifying that the singer is not actively trying to avoid being seen or found.
Don’t you know me at all?
Questioning whether the subject truly knows the artist or their intentions.
Cause I’m not another lover
Stating that the artist is not attempting to pursue a romantic relationship with the subject.
I’m not another friend
Clarifying that the singer is not attempting to more platonic support of friendship with the subject.
I’m on fire for you
Revealing that the singer has strong feelings for the subject.
I burn at both ends
Implying that the artist's emotions are intense and potentially overwhelming.
Can’t you see the sparks fly?
Questioning whether the subject is aware of the artist's intensity or the possibility of a spark between them.
The crowd doesn’t follow you home
Highlighting the disparity between a public figure's public persona and private life.
And cheer you on when you go down
Implying that the subject cannot rely on their public support network to sustain them during difficult times.
You don’t have to find me
Repeating the idea that the subject should not feel the need to search for or acknowledge the artist
Contributed by Mia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.