CMAT was a guest on Jo Whiley Sofa Sessions on BBC Radio 2 this week and played a cover of one of her favourite songwriters – the outsider singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston.
The song is ‘Joy Without Pleasure’,from Johnston’s album Joy Is Pain from 1981 and the performance is from Maida Vale.
Most recently CMAT was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize.
[Verse 1]
When I was a little kid
And all the people they looked big
I never exactly understood
How to tell the trees from the wood
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[Chorus]
Joy without Pleasure
Ain’t no fun, ain’t no fun at all
Joy without Pleasure
Ain’t no fun, ain’t no fun at all
[Verse 2]
My Mama she took me aside one day
She said you better have fun while you play
‘Cause someday you’ll wake up and you’ll be old
And all of your youth will be gone away
And you work in a factory and you earn your pay
And your fingers will rot and your mind will decay
You’ll be happy, so happy with your family and house
But you’ll never, you’ll never enjoy yourself
[Chorus]
Joy without Pleasure
Ain’t no fun, ain’t no fun at all
Joy without Pleasure
Ain’t no fun, ain’t no fun at all
[Verse 3]
The Son of Charles Dickens had a little red hen
Danced the watusi like it was a sin
They tried to enjoy it but they feel so guilty
Guilt won’t allow you to enjoy a stolen apple
[Chorus]
Joy without Pleasure
Ain’t no fun, ain’t no fun at all
Joy without Pleasure
Ain’t no fun, ain’t no fun at all
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
