Lyric discussion by PunkRocks64 

Cover art for Where Have You Been lyrics by Manchester Orchestra

After seeing them live tonight and hearing this song played (as well as speaking with Andy on the subject after the show), I can guarantee you that it is not "joy" but is "God."

And when playing the song live, he occasionally interchanges "Child" and "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost" with "God." The lyric "child" instead of "God" was brought to his attention by his mother.

He explained the meaning of this to me, saying that while many people in life have asked "God, where have you been?" at the same time God is perhaps saying "Child, where have you been?"