In 2017, Switchfoot as a band, almost stopped. They said they were taking a break for the "foreseeable future", which in band talk usually means it's the end. During the time after that announcement, however, many things happened that brought the band back together. It was out of this hiatus that the album this song comes from, Native Tounge, came to life.
This song itself was written in a hospital waiting room, praying for a family member that had fallen into bad health. But it eventually became the anthem for keyboardist Jerome Fontamillas who was diagnosed with cancer. "Jerome was like “That’s my song!” And we just said, “Yeah dude, that’s totally your song. 'Joy Invincible.'” Basically, hallelujah nevertheless. No matter what the circumstances are with his health and cancer, he was like “I still have joy underneath, and I have hope.” That’s the one that became his anthem, and our anthem for him."
It especially became important as 2020 and the pandemic rolled in. Before they released it as a single, they got vocalist Jenn Johnson to sing it as a duet with Jon, and the rest is history.
The core meaning of this song, has shined through as it has become important for so many reasons and so many people. No matter what the pain you have, you must say "Hallelujah, nevertheless!" and find that there is a "joy invincible" that will take you through the pain.
In 2017, Switchfoot as a band, almost stopped. They said they were taking a break for the "foreseeable future", which in band talk usually means it's the end. During the time after that announcement, however, many things happened that brought the band back together. It was out of this hiatus that the album this song comes from, Native Tounge, came to life.
This song itself was written in a hospital waiting room, praying for a family member that had fallen into bad health. But it eventually became the anthem for keyboardist Jerome Fontamillas who was diagnosed with cancer. "Jerome was like “That’s my song!” And we just said, “Yeah dude, that’s totally your song. 'Joy Invincible.'” Basically, hallelujah nevertheless. No matter what the circumstances are with his health and cancer, he was like “I still have joy underneath, and I have hope.” That’s the one that became his anthem, and our anthem for him."
It especially became important as 2020 and the pandemic rolled in. Before they released it as a single, they got vocalist Jenn Johnson to sing it as a duet with Jon, and the rest is history.
The core meaning of this song, has shined through as it has become important for so many reasons and so many people. No matter what the pain you have, you must say "Hallelujah, nevertheless!" and find that there is a "joy invincible" that will take you through the pain.