Song Release: “Joy From the Jailhouse”
Written by Joy Dame
Performed & Released by Tyler Philip Ratcliffe
In May of this year, worship leader and songwriter Joy Dame shared a new song with her friend and fellow writer, Tyler Philip Ratcliffe. She told Tyler that she believed he was the one who needed to carry it. At that moment he was in the middle of other projects and was not able to take it on right away.
They met again in July and spent time talking about the kind of songs the church truly needs right now. Joy brought up the song again and expressed how strongly she felt that it needed to be released so the church could hear it. On the drive home, Tyler could not shake what she said. He decided he would surprise her by tracking the song and preparing resources so worship teams could use it as well.
A writing session was scheduled for Monday July 27. Tyler planned to tell Joy that his own worship team was already preparing to introduce the song. She did not arrive for the session.
The next morning he learned that after leading worship the day before, she stepped off the platform and suffered a heart attack and stroke.
Joy never had the chance to hear the song reach the place she hoped for, but her vision continues. Tyler chose to carry the song forward as she intended and now offers it to the church as a gift and an act of worship.
Today we honor her by releasing “Joy From the Jailhouse”, written by Joy Dame and performed by Tyler Philip Ratcliffe. This song reflects her heart for worship and her desire to strengthen the church with hope.