Back in May, a close friend of mine who has always been a mentor in my songwriting pulled me aside and shared a new song she had written.

She really believed I was supposed to carry this one, but at the time I was right in the middle of other projects and couldn’t pick it up yet.

We met again in July and had one of those long talks about the kind of songs the church really needs. That same song came up again, and she told me how strongly she felt that it needed to be out in the world.

On my way home that night I kept thinking about it, and I decided I was going to surprise her by tracking it and putting together the resources so churches could use it too.

We had a writing session scheduled for Monday July 27th. I was planning to tell her that my worship team was already preparing to use the song. She didn’t show up that day.

I found out that after leading worship the day before, she stepped off the platform and suffered a heart attack and stroke. She never got to hear this song reach the place she hoped it would.

It means a lot to me to carry her song forward and offer it to the church the way she intended. So here is Joy From the Jailhouse, written by Joy Dame.

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LYRICS

[VERSE 1]
The things that I don’t wanna do
I find myself still running to
I’m caught in these chains
And covered in stains
I confess to this unpleasant truth

[VERSE 2]
You’ve got the same problem as me
A sinner who longs to be free
Thank God He forgives
We’re learning to live when
His grace is all that we need, yeah

[CHORUS]
So let praise arise from everyone now
Our shackles have fallen
Down to the ground
For we have been freed by
The King and his crown
Shout joy from the jailhouse
The walls have come down

[VERSE 3]
Oh, I’m leaving my old self behind
I’m finished with changing my mind
I’m a brand new creation
There’s no condemnation
For those who are in Jesus Christ

[CHORUS]
So let praise arise from everyone now
Our shackles have fallen
Down to the ground
For we have been freed by
The King and his crown
Shout joy from the jailhouse
The walls have come down

[BRIDGE]
We Shout joy
We Shout joy
Oh let the redeemed of the Lord
Tell His story
He’s working all things for our good
And His glory
So this is our testimony

[CHORUS]
So let praise arise from everyone now
Our shackles have fallen
Down to the ground
For we have been freed by
The King and his crown
Shout joy from the jailhouse
The walls have come down

[TAG]
Shout joy from the jailhouse
The walls have come down