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.
Roly Poly
Mt. Joy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I just want to break that chain
'Cause I heard that you found a friend
On a white horse in the desert sand
There you go like a roly poly and you rattle around my brain
I wanna make you proud of me even if I can't ever see you again
Tell me that all we are is the sum of your love near and far
Pounding through the changing scars like
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
There you go like a roly poly and you rattle around my brain
Somedays I just laugh, but others, I'm amazed at the way your love has stained
I still leave your dried up paint
In the driveway and when it rains the colors burst into my brain
A thousand roads that could have been
There you go like a roly poly and you rattle around my brain
I wanna make you proud of me even if I can't ever see you again
The lyrics of Mt. Joy's song "Roly Poly" appear to be about a struggling relationship. The singer seems to be conflicted about what to do as he is going "insane" every morning and wants to break the chain. He then references that he heard the person he is singing to found a friend on a white horse in the desert, which could signify a new lover. However, he admits that this person is still stuck in his head, rolling around like a roly-poly bug. He wants to make this person proud of him even if they can't be together.
The second verse seems to show the singer trying to hold on to this person's love. He wants to believe that all they are is the sum of their love "near and far." He wants to be woken up when they "have to start pounding through the changing scars." The chorus then repeats, emphasizing the impact that this person has had on the singer's life.
The third verse mentions the "dried up paint" left by this person in the driveway, which bursts into his brain when it rains. This could signify the lasting impact that this person has had on him, even though they are no longer together. The song ends with the repeat of the chorus, emphasizing the desire to make this person proud even if they can never see each other again.
Line by Line Meaning
Every morning, I go insane
Every day, I struggle with obsessive thoughts about someone I love
And I just want to break that chain
I want to stop the cycle of obsessing over this person every day
'Cause I heard that you found a friend
I heard that you moved on and found someone else to love
On a white horse in the desert sand
You found this person in an unexpected and exotic place
There you go like a roly poly and you rattle around my brain
Thoughts of you are constantly on my mind, sometimes making me feel like I'm losing control
I wanna make you proud of me even if I can't ever see you again
I still care about your opinion of me and want to live up to your expectations, even if we can never be together again
Tell me that all we are is the sum of your love near and far
I hope that everything I am and do is a reflection of the impact your love has had on me, whether we're together or apart
Wake me up when we have to start
Let me know when it's time to take action and move forward from this situation
Pounding through the changing scars like
I'm trying to push through the emotional pain and scars caused by our relationship
Ooh, ooh
Vocalization indicating emotional resonance
Somedays I just laugh, but others, I'm amazed at the way your love has stained
Sometimes I can laugh and find joy in memories of our relationship, but at other times I'm struck by the lasting impact your love has left on me
I still leave your dried up paint
Even though you're gone, reminders of you are still present in my life
In the driveway and when it rains the colors burst into my brain
When I see the remnants of your presence, the emotions and memories associated with you become vivid and intense
A thousand roads that could have been
I recognize the many different paths our relationship could have taken and wonder what might have been different if certain choices were made
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: James Cooper, Matthew Ryan Quinn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tylervoyer74
[Verse 1]
Every morning, I go insane
And I just want to break that chain
'Cause I heard that you found a friend
On a white horse in the desert sand
[Refrain]
There you go like a roly poly, and you rattle around my brain
I wanna make you proud of me, even if I can't ever see you again
[Verse 2]
Tell me that all we are is the sum of your love near and far
Wake me up when we have to start
Pounding through the changing scars like
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
[Refrain]
There you go like a roly poly, and you rattle around my brain
Somedays I just laugh, but others, I'm amazed
At thе way your love has stained
[Bridge]
I still leavе your dried-up paint
In the driveway and when it rains
The colors burst into my brain
A thousand roads that could have been
[Refrain]
There you go like a roly poly, and you rattle around my brain
I wanna make you proud of me, even if I can't ever see you again
@jakem9198
My joy has keeps getting better with every release
@smandez2023
My gen z daughter sent her gen x dad this. I love it❤
@vanessakm100
This is what joy sounds like.
@zonz3537
ugh. this is probably the best song ive ever heard.
@ReeLMLA
Magic, as per usual. 37 minutes till a whole new album
@tylervoyer74
[Verse 1]
Every morning, I go insane
And I just want to break that chain
'Cause I heard that you found a friend
On a white horse in the desert sand
[Refrain]
There you go like a roly poly, and you rattle around my brain
I wanna make you proud of me, even if I can't ever see you again
[Verse 2]
Tell me that all we are is the sum of your love near and far
Wake me up when we have to start
Pounding through the changing scars like
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
[Refrain]
There you go like a roly poly, and you rattle around my brain
Somedays I just laugh, but others, I'm amazed
At thе way your love has stained
[Bridge]
I still leavе your dried-up paint
In the driveway and when it rains
The colors burst into my brain
A thousand roads that could have been
[Refrain]
There you go like a roly poly, and you rattle around my brain
I wanna make you proud of me, even if I can't ever see you again
@FSyafiqDanial
never let me down 🤩
@denisegreenstein
I just discovered you in SiriusXM! Your the best band out there today!
@b__w_4565
This sounds like that one song from ice age. Love it
@adrienchung4344
certified banger