Released in 2017, this song was written for marginalized communities – specifically for queer youth, those defying gender norms, undocumented immigrants, and anyone feeling misrepresented and mistreated. The song explores the resilience of the human spirit, this time through a narrative of rising above the judgments of others by leaning on the wisdom of those who came before us.

Placing “The Joke” immediately after “Grinnin’ in Your Face” represents an invitation into community healing. While Son House historically warned us to guard our hearts against violence, Brandi Carlile invites us to courageously open them as our ultimate tool for survival. She reminds us that our joy, our unapologetic authenticity, and our refusal to be defeated are not just acts of defiance – they are the very foundation of a future we build.

Much like Cat Clyde’s “Not Like You,” this anthem relies on establishing a firm boundary against an oppressive system. However, where Clyde’s narrator protects their individual autonomy, Carlile builds a collective “us.” Yet, this solidarity also reveals what can eventually get in the way of deeper connection: the reliance on a “them.” While rallying against an oppressor is a beautiful, necessary state of survival, a collective identity permanently anchored in an “us versus them” binary keeps us tethered to the same endless loop and focused on people rather than the systems that these people all live in. This leaves us with a vital question: How do we fiercely celebrate our shared resilience, without our joy being forever defined by rising above structural violence? It is posited that true connection isn’t found in following the rules together, but rather in joyfully and defiantly erasing them together. Specifically, there's a moment where the music moves completely out of the established groove, and the audience is invited into joyful, playful chaos. In this space, I ask: What happens when we willingly get "out of line"? What new musical reality might we create together?