Matt Quinn and Sam Cooper first met in high school in Philadelphia and later reconnected in Los Angeles in 2016. Their shared love for music led them to collaborate once again. They named the project after a mountain in Valley Forge National Park near their hometown. Their debut single, "Astrovan," gained rapid streaming success, attracting the attention of drummer Sotiris Eliopoulos and keyboardist Jackie Miclau.
The band made their debut in 2016 with the release of their single "Astrovan," which was recorded in Los Angeles by Quinn, Cooper, and Byrnes.
In 2017, Mt. Joy signed with Dualtone Records, further solidifying their presence in the music industry. This was followed by the release of three singles in 2017: "Sheep," "Cardinal," and "Silver Lining," with the latter reaching the number one spot on the Billboard Triple A charts.
Throughout 2017, the now five-piece band recorded additional tracks with producer Jon Gilbert at his home studio in Pasadena, California, and released their self-titled debut album, Mt. Joy, on March 2, 2018. The song "Silver Lining" went to #1 on the Billboard Triple A charts.
Following their initial success, Mt. Joy embarked on extensive touring, performing at festivals such as Bonnaroo, Newport Folk Festival, and Lollapalooza, while also opening for notable bands like The Head and the Heart, The Shins, Whitney, and The Revivalists. They also headlined their own North American and European tours.
Unfortunately, their tour with The Lumineers was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Undeterred, Mt. Joy released their second studio album, "Rearrange Us," on June 5, 2020. The album was produced by Tucker Martine, known for his work with My Morning Jacket and Modest Mouse. The songs on "Rearrange Us" range from folk-stomps to psychedelic reflections and gospel elegies.
In April 2022, the band announced their third full-length album, Orange Blood, which was released on June 17, 2022. The album was recorded at Headroom Studios in Philadelphia. Four singles were released ahead of the album, "Lemon Tree", "Orange Blood," "Evergreen," and "Bathroom Light." Their headlining tour for the album started in June 2022 and runs through November 2022.
Evergreen
Mt. Joy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Along a road where everything dies
This the part where you waste your time
Worried, wondering
Love, of course it's gonna change us
Like if I knew the way, life would be pointless
The holes in the road that changes
And trust you to want to
Be my evergreen daydream
Oh, this the part where your engine dies
And you decide you've been running all your life
This is the part where your wedding diamond ring gets pulled across your eye
Oh why, oh why, oh why, oh why, oh why, oh why, oh why
Love, of course it's gonna change us
But if I knew the way, life would be pointless
And I′ll teach you to jump through
The holes in the road that changes
And trust you to want to
Be my evergreen daydream
In a thunderous laugh
You grow up too fast
You forgot to take pictures
Of the life we wished for
I′ll teach you to jump through
The holes in the road that changes
And trust you to want to
Be my evergreen daydream
The opening lines of the song ‘Evergreen’ by Mt. Joy portrays a sense of doubt and confusion where the singer is trying to understand the purpose of life. The use of the metaphor of the road is significant here, where it is a symbol of life and how everything comes to a halt. The following lines about love bring up a contrast, where the singer describes the changes love brings to someone’s life, yet at the same time acknowledging that life would be dull without the element of love.
As the song progresses, the singer shifts their focus towards teaching someone how to navigate through life’s uncertainties. Their significant other, perhaps, is the person they want to be their ‘evergreen daydream’, a constant source of hope and inspiration even when everything around them is falling apart. The chorus repeats the lines “I’ll teach you to jump through the holes in the road that changes and trust you to want to be my evergreen daydream,” which can be interpreted as the singer’s willingness to guide their loved one and trust them with their life.
The final lines of the song talk about growing up too fast and not being able to capture the moments that make up the life they’ve always wished for, but despite this, the singer reiterates their commitment to teaching their loved one how to maneuver through life.
Line by Line Meaning
This the part where you're asking why
The beginning of a journey where one starts to question the whys of everything
Along a road where everything dies
A path filled with uncertainties, where everything seems to come to an end
This the part where you waste your time
A phase where one feels that they are not progressing and time seems to be slipping away
Worried, wondering
Feeling anxious and uncertain about the future
Love, of course it's gonna change us
Love has the power to transform and shape us into someone different than who we were before
Like if I knew the way, life would be pointless
Life is full of unknowns and uncertainties, and knowing everything would take away from the journey
I'll teach you to jump through
A guiding hand to help navigate the road ahead
The holes in the road that changes
Obstacles and challenges that arise unexpectedly throughout life
And trust you to want to
Having faith in someone to make the right decisions and choices
Be my evergreen daydream
A symbol of eternal hope and optimism for the future
Oh, this the part where your engine dies
A moment of complete powerlessness, where everything comes to a halt
And you decide you've been running all your life
A time of reflection where one realizes they have been chasing something elusive throughout their life
This is the part where your wedding diamond ring gets pulled across your eye
An unexpected moment of pain that instantly changes one's perspective
Oh why, oh why, oh why, oh why, oh why, oh why, oh why
The repeated questions that arise when something unexpected happens and life seems unfair
In a thunderous laugh
An explosive, uncontrolled expression of joy and excitement
You grow up too fast
Life passes by quickly, and one can easily lose track of time
You forgot to take pictures of the life we wished for
Memories fade, and it's easy to forget the dreams and aspirations we once had
Writer(s): Matthew Ryan Quinn, James Cooper, Caleb Nelson
Contributed by Nicholas K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@JuanJose-cj2uv
This is the part where you're asking, "Why"
Along a road where everything dies
This is the part where you waste your time worried, wondering
Love, of course it's going to change us
Like if I knew the way life would be pointless
I'll teach you to jump through the holes in the road that changes
And trust you to want to be my evergreen daydream
Oh, this is the part where your engine dies
And you decide you've been running all your life
Oh, this is the part where your wedding diamond ring gets pulled across your eye
Oh why, oh why, oh why
Oh why, oh why, oh why, oh why
Love, of course it's going to change us
But if I knew the way life would be pointless
I'll teach you to jump through the holes in the road that changes
And trust you to want to be my evergreen daydream
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
In a thunderous laugh, you grow up too fast
You forgot to take pictures of the life we wished for
Oh, I'll teach you to jump through the holes in the road that changes
And trust you to want to be my evergreen daydream
@theradracer1847
This is the part where you're asking, "Why"
Along a road where everything dies
This is the part where you waste your time worried, wondering
Love, of course it's going to change us
Like if I knew the way life would be pointless
I'll teach you to jump through the holes in the road that changes
And trust you to want to be my evergreen daydream
Oh, this is the part where your engine dies
And you decide you've been running all your life
Oh, this is the part where your wedding diamond ring gets pulled across your eye
Oh why, oh why, oh why
Oh why, oh why, oh why, oh why
Love, of course it's going to change us
But if I knew the way life would be pointless
I'll teach you to jump through the holes in the road that changes
And trust you to want to be my evergreen daydream
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
In a thunderous laugh, you grow up too fast
You forgot to take pictures of the life we wished for
Oh, I'll teach you to jump through the holes in the road that changes
And trust you to want to be my evergreen daydream
@mve8625
This is why I listen to music. This song gives me a feeling that can’t be put into words. I’m guessing you guys know what I’m saying…
@rebeccafisher234
its actually really nice to see that Creed didn't hang his head after being fired from Dunder Mifflin. I think it gave him a new outlook on life and he went out and enjoyed every second of it !!
@adamvisconto4886
He learned all those karate moves from Dwight, Sensei Ira, and Sensei Billy I believe
@JohnMushitu
Moral lesson: life will kick your ass, but that shouldn't stop you from trying new things and having fun
@DanielGomez-xs9kt
And to add to it, no matter if you fail or succeed, you can always learn from any experience:)
@jamesbucchio2499
Ya'll prove time and time again, song by song - why you're my favorite band. Appreciate your music and can't wait to see you in NY!
@vofgofm33
This album is shaping up to be my favorite yet 💞
@JuanJose-cj2uv
This is the part where you're asking, "Why"
Along a road where everything dies
This is the part where you waste your time worried, wondering
Love, of course it's going to change us
Like if I knew the way life would be pointless
I'll teach you to jump through the holes in the road that changes
And trust you to want to be my evergreen daydream
Oh, this is the part where your engine dies
And you decide you've been running all your life
Oh, this is the part where your wedding diamond ring gets pulled across your eye
Oh why, oh why, oh why
Oh why, oh why, oh why, oh why
Love, of course it's going to change us
But if I knew the way life would be pointless
I'll teach you to jump through the holes in the road that changes
And trust you to want to be my evergreen daydream
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
In a thunderous laugh, you grow up too fast
You forgot to take pictures of the life we wished for
Oh, I'll teach you to jump through the holes in the road that changes
And trust you to want to be my evergreen daydream
@victoriacabrello3664
This song and “Did You Call Me” by Lukaz are some of the only things getting me through tough times. I hope everyone is doing well. I love you! 🥀
@ylime5544
Hey Victoria,
I don’t know you, but I wanted to tell you that you seem like a great person.
Can I help you with your tough times?
I hope you’ll be okay and I love you too.
For context: I’m female in my mid twenties and survived a lot of tough times. I’m glad I made it until here and really like to tell people that it will get better one day.🙏
Also my English isn’t the best because I’m German. Sorry, hope it’s understandable.