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.
Us
Mt. Joy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When everyone is just swinging in the dark
When every river's over run I'll swim across my parents lawn
And wonder how we argue 'til we're gone
So sing for me that golden key, the one that would remind me
Of deeply falling for you
A smile is worth a kingdom come when love is but a siren song
It hit me like a brick and then it's gone
So sing to me sweetly, don't apologize for what you had to do
A 35 a photograph, it's grainy but I see your laugh
In that ancient summer sunburn where our love was born
And everything was perfect but you were staring at the surface
And I always got the feeling you'd start digging
Love for heaven, love for Satan, neither's worth a conversation
I just hope you get where you belong in the siren song
The lyrics to Mt. Joy's song "Us" depict a complex and conflicting relationship that is filled with both love and uncertainty. The opening line, "Love for heaven, love for Satan, neither's worth the conversation," suggests that the singer is questioning the value and significance of love itself. It implies that regardless of whether love is pure and heavenly or dark and sinister, it ultimately fails to bring about meaningful conversations or resolutions.
The following lines, "When everyone is just swinging in the dark, When every river's overrun I'll swim across my parents' lawn," reflect a sense of isolation and confusion amidst a chaotic world. The singer feels like everyone is groping in the dark without direction or understanding. Despite the confusion, the singer is determined to navigate through difficult circumstances, symbolized by swimming across their parents' lawn.
The chorus presents a longing for a past love and the hope of rekindling the deep emotions shared. The line, "So sing for me that golden key, the one that would remind me of deeply falling for you," expresses a desire for the other person to remind them of the intense connection they once had. The singer believes that a simple smile is enough to reignite those feelings, even if love is nothing more than a seductive and transitory siren song.
The second verse reminisces about a specific memory, represented by a photograph taken in an ancient summer. The grainy image captures a moment of joy, symbolized by the other person's laughter. However, the singer also acknowledges the surface-level nature of the relationship. Despite the initial perfection, there was always a sense that the person they loved was only interested in superficial aspects. This creates a feeling of longing and frustration, as the singer wanted a deeper connection.
The song concludes with the repeated line, "Love for heaven, love for Satan, neither's worth a conversation, I just hope you get where you belong in the siren song." Here, the singer acknowledges that discussing the pros and cons of love is ultimately futile. They focus their attention on wishing for the other person to find their rightful place within the seductive yet elusive melodies of the siren song.
Overall, "Us" delves into the complexities of love and the frustrations that arise when deeper connections are lacking in a relationship. It explores the hope for rekindling lost emotions, while also acknowledging the transient and uncertain nature of love itself.
Line by Line Meaning
Love for heaven, love for Satan, neither's worth the conversation
It's not worth discussing or debating the merits of love for heaven or love for Satan
When everyone is just swinging in the dark
In a world full of uncertainty and confusion
When every river's over run I'll swim across my parents lawn
Even in the face of chaos and overflowing challenges, I'll find a way forward
And wonder how we argue 'til we're gone
Reflecting on the pointless arguments that consume us until our time is up
So sing for me that golden key, the one that would remind me
Please sing a song that holds the key to reminding me of a deep love
Of deeply falling for you
Of completely and intensely falling in love with you
A smile is worth a kingdom come when love is but a siren song
A genuine smile is precious when love is just an enticing but deceptive call
It hit me like a brick and then it's gone
Love struck me suddenly and intensely, but it faded away just as quickly
So sing to me sweetly, don't apologize for what you had to do
Sing a sweet song to me without feeling the need to apologize for your actions
A 35 a photograph, it's grainy but I see your laugh
An old photograph, not of the best quality, but I can vividly see your joyful expression
In that ancient summer sunburn where our love was born
Referring to a past summer where our love first flourished
And everything was perfect but you were staring at the surface
Despite everything being seemingly perfect, you were fixated on superficial aspects
And I always got the feeling you'd start digging
I always had the sense that you would delve deeper and uncover hidden truths
I just hope you get where you belong in the siren song
I simply hope that you find your rightful place in the alluring but deceptive song of love
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Matthew Quinn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind