The Garden, a PJ Harvey Discussion Site

Song of joy is about a woman who became trapped in a marriage. She grew very unhappy in time, so the husband murders her in frustration. PJ's song Joy speaks of a un-wed woman named Joy who is also unhappy and claims she is trapped and "can not move".

Throughout the song she speaks of the character joy in third person. Near the end she switches from third person POV to first person "I've been believing in nothing since I was born it was never was a question" insinuating she is Joy. The song ends with her screaming a strained "no". I think this was to mirror nick caves joy as she was murdered.

It seems there is definetly a connection. I suppose she could have done it to express that she mightve felt trapped in her short relationship with nick and he murdered her innocence

Not really sure how to use this forum so I hope I've done it right :)

That's an interesting take!
Joy is based on a short story by Flannery O'Connor, titled "Good Country People". But Polly and Nick Cave seem to share a love for Flannery O'Connor, so sure why not, could be

Thank you, this is relevant to my investigations of Is This Desire? which are ongoing and will be for some time! I think it's not impossible that PJH was engaging in some kind of commentary on Cave's song, as the track 'Green Eyes' she recorded with Pascale Comelade must be related to his with the same title.