Williams grew up in Santa Cruz, CA. At 17, she signed a recording contract with PLG/SonyBMG and moved to the friendly, muggy town of Nashville, TN. She co-wrote and recorded several albums and realized after 7 years of being on the road full time that it was song-writing that kept tugging at her heart. Williams is now signed as a full-time writer with Judy Stakee at Warner/Chappell in LA and is with ASCAP. She writes for various projects daily with a team of very talented people from around the globe. She has the chance to work with American Idol finalists, rock bands, pop acts, indie artists, tv/film projects, CCM, country and more. Williams has also recently formed a new record label with her husband Nate Yetton, called Sensibility Music LLC, to facilitate recording and releasing new Joy Williams music in the future.
Since starting Sensibility Music Williams has had several of her songs featured prominently in hit TV shows. "Charmed Life", "Speaking a Dead Language" and "Sunny Day" have been in episodes of the hit ABC drama Grey's Anatomy; "If You Wanna Go" and "One of Those Days" in Lifetime's breakout drama Drop Dead Diva; "Sunny Day" in the CW's 90210, and "tightrope" was featured on The WB's "One Tree Hill".
In 2010 Oscar Mayer settled on Doesn't Get Better Than This from Joy to be their new add campaign song. According to Mayers "[Joy] wrote what ended up being the tag line for the whole campaign, “It doesn’t get better than this.”
In May of 2010, Williams recorded and released two brand new songs whose profits went towards Nashville's flood relief efforts. The first song was called "We Are" and was avalible for download via NoiseTrade's download widget. The second flood relief song was titled "Let's Jump" and was released on Ten Out of Tenn's Nashville benefit compilation, "We Are All In This Together".
In addition to her solo endeavors, Williams has recently begun a new band with fellow singer and songwriter, John Paul White, called The Civil Wars. "Poison & Wine", The Civil Wars' debut studio single, has been featured in Grey's Anatomy, episode 609, "New History".
Woman
Joy Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh mama
Oh mama
Ooh oh
Oh mama
Oh mama
Oh mama
Ooh oh
Woman make, woman take
Woman see, woman breathe
Woman carries the burden in the night
Woman's always the one to be blame
Woman show the name of the nature
Woman free you from sorrow and shame
Oh mama, oh mama (Oh mama, oh mama)
We'll show you when life begins
Oh mama, oh mama (Oh mama, oh mama)
I am the Universe wrapped in skin
Woman dream, woman hate
Woman cry, woman break
Woman hold you in the palm of her hand
Woman changing the mask on her face
Woman stand with her feet in the fire
Woman will only won't throw in the flames
Oh mama, oh mama (Oh mama, oh mama)
We'll show you when life begins
Oh mama, oh mama (Oh mama, oh mama)
I am the Universe wrapped in skin
I am the moon in the midnight sky,
I am the secret you try to hide.
Come, let me show you
I'm the moon, I'm the moon
I am the moon
I am the moon
I am the moon
I am the moon
Woman monster, woman child,
Woman hero, woman wild
Woman whisper, woman scream
Woman listen, woman free
Woman ready, jazz of flame
Woman heaven, woman hell
Woman teacher, woman kind
Woman nature, woman rise
Oh mama, oh mama (Oh mama, oh mama)
Oh mama, oh mama (Oh mama, oh mama)
Oh mama, oh mama (Oh mama, oh mama)
I am the Universe
Oh mama, oh mama (Oh mama, oh mama)
Oh mama, oh mama (Oh mama, oh mama)
Ooh oh
Oh mama, oh mama (Oh mama, oh mama)
Woman!
Oh mama, oh mama (Oh mama, oh mama)
Woman!
The song "Woman" by Joy Williams is an ode to the strength and versatility of women. The song acknowledges the many roles that women play in society, from the burdens they carry in the night to the blame they receive for things out of their control. However, the song also celebrates the power of women to dream, hate, cry, break, and hold others in their hands. Despite the many masks women wear and the flames they must endure, the song ultimately affirms that women are the Universe wrapped in skin. With lines such as "Woman monster, woman child / Woman hero, woman wild," the song embraces the full spectrum of womanhood and encourages listeners to recognize and appreciate the complexity of women's experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh mama
Calling out to the mother figure - the personification of femininity, strength, and love.
Woman make, woman take
Women have the ability to create and destroy - they have the power to shape and control their lives.
Woman see, woman breathe
A woman has a vision and purpose in life, and she breathes life into her dreams, giving them form.
Woman carries the burden in the night
When darkness falls, women are the ones who bear the weight of the world's problems, offering their support to those in need.
Woman's always the one to be blame
Despite their efforts and sacrifices, women are often blamed for the things that go wrong in society, leading to a sense of injustice and inequality.
Woman show the name of the nature
Women embody the essence of nature - its beauty, power, and mystery - and they reveal its secrets to others through their actions and words.
Woman free you from sorrow and shame
Women have the ability to heal the emotional wounds of others, releasing them from pain and regret and helping them find joy and happiness.
We'll show you when life begins
Women are the creators of life and the catalysts for change in the world, and they will bring new hope and possibilities to all who seek their guidance.
I am the Universe wrapped in skin
As a woman, she contains the entire universe within herself - its energy, intelligence, and creativity - and she expresses it through her body and soul.
Woman dream, woman hate
Women have the capacity for both good and evil, and they dream of a better world while also struggling with their personal demons.
Woman cry, woman break
Women experience pain and sorrow, and they often must overcome obstacles and setbacks that threaten to break them down.
Woman hold you in the palm of her hand
Women are nurturing and caring, and they have the ability to support and comfort others through the most difficult of times.
Woman changing the mask on her face
Women must constantly adapt and change to meet the demands of others, wearing different personas as needed to navigate the complexities of life.
Woman stand with her feet in the fire
Women are willing to take risks and face the challenges of life head-on, even when it means putting themselves in danger or harm's way.
Woman will only won't throw in the flames
Despite their strength and resilience, women are not indestructible, and they have limits to what they can endure before they break. They must be respected and appreciated for all they sacrifice and overcome.
I am the moon in the midnight sky
As a woman, she embodies the mystery and allure of the moon, which represents the feminine and the hidden depths of the soul.
I am the secret you try to hide
Women are keepers of secrets, and they often have an intuitive sense of what others are feeling or thinking, even when not spoken aloud.
Come, let me show you
Women are inviting others to share in their wisdom and insights, offering their guidance and support to those who seek it.
Woman monster, woman child
Women have the power to be both monstrous and childlike, embodying the different facets of humanity and its complexity.
Woman hero, woman wild
Women can be both superheroes and untamed entities, demonstrating that femininity is not limited to traditional gender roles or societal expectations.
Woman whisper, woman scream
Women communicate in different ways, from soft and gentle whispers to loud and powerful screams, depending on the situation and their emotional state.
Woman listen, woman free
Women have the capacity to listen and hear what others have to say, even when it is difficult, and they have the power to liberate themselves and others from oppression and tyranny.
Woman ready, jazz of flame
Women are always prepared for action and adventure, and they have a fiery passion that fuels their creativity and innovation.
Woman heaven, woman hell
Women can be both heavenly and hellish, embodying the spectrum of human emotions and experiences.
Woman teacher, woman kind
Women are natural teachers and caregivers, imbued with kindness and compassion, and they are often the ones who pass on knowledge and wisdom to the next generation.
Woman nature, woman rise
Women embody the power and majesty of nature, and they have the capacity to rise up and overcome obstacles, both internally and externally, to achieve their goals and dreams.
Woman!
A calling out to womanhood, the power of femininity, and the enduring legacy of all the women who have come before and will come after us.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: GINA WILMA KUSCHKE, LEW WILLIAMS, LEVI LENNOX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@houseofnekhbet5680
I love this song. I dance and dance. This song gives me chills. My coworker had this on our playlist at work. The initial bit would have me jam out a bit. When I finally heard the words I began to cry. I'm not familiar with this artist or her previous work, I just know what moves me. This song has been added to that list.
@D4NC3Rable
This is still the most underrated song and music video I've ever seen. Every time I watch it I expect it to have a million views and I get re-confused how that hasn't happened...yet.
@RatTaxi
D4NC3Rable I was BLOWN AWAY. Was looking around Amazon music to add to my playlist and must have listened to this 20x in a row. Had never heard of Joy Williams. Goes on my mental list of songs for women with Closer to Fine, etc. ❤❤❤❤❤❤
@inspireb4uexpire
D4NC3Rable I thought it was interesting that there is so many dislikes!
@omanoct
Very few songs have kept me hitting repeat over and over and not getting old. I love the emotion and meaning within it, how Joy tries to put words to what a woman is - how she tries to simplify a woman into such simple things as words. I also like how she carefully chose the 'nude' scenes - to show what a woman is without being sexual or disrespective of other women. That takes courage!
While the lyrics are fairly simplistic from a technical point of view, they do wonders to the meaning and soul of this song! I've heard songs similar in composition with repeating lyrics and this one stands out. She not simply repeating the phrase - each usage is unique.
And to all the..."people"...calling Joy a whore, I find it curious you think you are worthy even posting the comment, let alone call her such a disgusting and misused term. Think before you post.
@faynep.z8029
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@erincdale
This still gives me chills
@emilywild1992
I can’t stop listening to this song. Such a wonderful artist and the depth of this song increases every time I listen to it.
@michelejusko
What a great song both lyrically and melodically. So catchy and what a creative and beautiful video.
@ultracruiser41able
Simply outstanding. A voice for the ages.