Joy
Teh Cult Lyrics

The lyrics to The Cult’s song “Joy” seem to describe the state of being in a highly intoxicating and exalted state of mind. The first line, “I poisoned myself but I survived the thrill of life,” feels like a confession of indulging in substances, but still enjoying the rush that comes with it. The second line, “I altered my state of mind so I could fly,” feels like a continuation of this idea - that the singer purposely changed their mental state to experience a feeling of transcendence. The third line, “Traveled beyond my pedestrian ties, my innocence and their sweet lies,” furthers this idea of breaking free of societal constraints and romanticized expectations of life. The last line, “I rode in that car as far as it would take me,” ends with the singer fully surrendering to the thrill of the moment, taking a risk and seeing where it leads them.

The chorus, “I don't need no gun, walk into the sun, find what's going on, find what's going down…” is repeated multiple times throughout the song. It feels like a challenge to authority, a desire to live life under one’s own terms, without the need for external validation or approval. This idea of finding what’s going on or going down hints at a search for truth and experience, something that can only be found by immersing oneself fully in the present moment. The mention of “fun” throughout the chorus feels like a shift towards the hedonistic - that the singer desires pleasure and enjoyment above all else, regardless of consequences.

The final verse of the song is interesting in contrast to the other verses. The line “Crazy hippie girl soft lips make me swirl, more than I can feel, mystery to me” feels like a departure from the rest of the song’s themes of drugs and transcendence, instead focusing on the thrill of physical passion. The line “your horses they are frightening me” feels like a warning, a moment of realization that the rush of the moment can be dangerous. The last line, “Had my child son I'm a young king now, hey mysterious life, holy criticized yeah, joy de vivre,” feels like an attempt to sum up the song’s themes of searching for joy and freedom, despite societal pressure and constraints.