Verse 1 They met in ’58 at a five-and-dime He was grease on his hands, she was small-town shy Two paper cups and a jukebox song Didn’t take too much to know it was on He worked the mill, she kept the books Sunday mornings and coffee cups Raised two kids on a worn-out floor Same front steps, same screen door Chorus Joy comes in the mourning Not the way we think it should Not in easy, not in perfect Not in everything turned good Sometimes love just keeps on standing When the dream is almost gone Yeah joy comes in the mourning When you learn to hold on Verse 2 Years got heavy like years will do Silver in her hair, thin in his shoes Then one winter his mind slipped slow Little by little he let things go Forgot the names, forgot the days Forgot the streets and the old highways Some nights he’d wake up scared and lost She’d talk him down and watch the clocks Chorus And joy comes in the mourning Not the way we think it should Not in easy, not in perfect Not in everything turned good Sometimes love just keeps on standing When the dream is almost gone Yeah joy comes in the mourning When you learn to hold on Verse 3 She bathes him gentle, like he’s a boy Sings the hymns they both enjoyed Tells him stories he used to tell About first dates and wedding bells He don’t know her half the time But she knows him, and that’s just fine She kisses his cheek and says his name Even when he don’t do the same Bridge She ain’t praying for easy now Just enough strength to show up somehow What she wanted ain’t what she got But what she’s got means more than it’s not Chorus (Lift) And joy comes in the mourning Not the way we think it should Not in easy, not in perfect Not in everything turned good Sometimes love just keeps on standing When the dream is almost gone Yeah joy comes in the mourning When you learn to hold on Outro The world calls blessing getting your way But she’s learned different these long gray days Some things break, some things change But you can find Joy anyway
