[INTRO] [Warm sunset atmosphere, nostalgic male humming, emotional but uplifting, driving through the city after the storm, grateful and reflective energy.] [Soft vinyl crackle] [Warm guitar and synth pads] [Male humming: “Oh-oh-oh…”] [Spoken] Yeah… Ye yea.. cmon (woo) Funny how life works… You spend so much time askin’, “Why me?” Then one day… You wake up and ask… “Oh… why such joy?” [HOOK] [Melodic singing] Oh, why such joy? Why I’m smilin’ through the noise? After all them sleepless nights and all them broken little toys. Maybe God was makin’ room, maybe pain had a purpose. Maybe all them closed doors finally led me to the surface. Oh, why such joy? I was drownin’, now I float. Had to lose a lot of people just to find a little hope. Now the sun hit different, got me feelin’ like a boy. I look up and ask myself… Oh, why such joy? [VERSE 1] [Conversational rap] I used to wake up with the weight of the world on my shoulders, Now I’m countin’ little blessings and they feel like giant boulders. Every scar became a lesson, every loss became a story, Never thought I’d see the day I’d thank God for all the worry. The J come first, put respect on my name. J for Jason, J for Journey through the pain. J for Joy ‘cause I finally found some peace. J for Just believe, don’t quit, don’t retreat. [Crowd chant] THE J COME FIRST! I had nights I thought the light would never find me, Now I see my dad in the stars when the sky behind me. Mama still fightin’, so I’m cherishin’ every second, Every breath a gift, every memory a blessin’. [PRE-HOOK] [Sung with harmonies] Ain’t perfect… Still got wounds… Still got fears… But today I’m grateful that I’m here. [HOOK] [Melodic singing] Oh, why such joy? Why I’m smilin’ through the noise? After all them sleepless nights and all them broken little toys. Maybe God was makin’ room, maybe pain had a purpose. Maybe all them closed doors finally led me to the surface. Oh, why such joy? I was drownin’, now I float. Had to lose a lot of people just to find a little hope. Now the sun hit different, got me feelin’ like a boy. I look up and ask myself… Oh, why such joy? [VERSE 2] [Rap] I ain’t rich but I’m rich in moments. Laughs with the family, man, I don’t take those for granted. One year I was lost, now I’m standin’ here planted. If tomorrow never comes, at least I know I lived candid. The J come first before the joy and the smiles, ‘Cause without the journey there’d be no reason for the miles. Without the rain there’d be no reason for the rainbow. Without the darkness, I would’ve never seen my halo. Still got dreams and I still got scars. Still got nights talkin’ to God and the stars. But if you ask me how I’m feelin’… Man, I’m finally enjoyin’ who we are. [BRIDGE] [Half-sung] Maybe the joy was always there… I just couldn’t see it. Maybe the pain had to break me… So I could believe it. [Choir] Oh-oh-oh… Why such joy? Oh-oh-oh… The J comes first. [Big cinematic choir, layered harmonies, crowd vocals singing "Oh, why such joy?", triumphant and emotional ending.] [FINAL HOOK] [Bigger vocals] Oh, why such joy? Why I’m smilin’ through the noise? After all them sleepless nights and all them broken little toys. Maybe God was makin’ room, maybe pain had a purpose. Maybe all them closed doors finally led me to the surface. Oh, why such joy? I was drownin’, now I float. Had to lose a lot of people just to find a little hope. Now the sun hit different, got me feelin’ like a boy. I look up and thank the Lord… For a little bit of joy. [OUTRO] [Male humming] Oh-oh-oh… The J come first… Jason… Journey… Joy… [Spoken] Maybe that’s why such joy… ‘Cause after everything… I’m still here. [Fade Out]
