Joy Division 1977-1980 Lyrics

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Wise words and sympathy tell the story of our history


The Eternal

Procession moves on, the shouting is over
Praise to the glory of loved ones now gone
Talking aloud as they sit round their tables
Scattering flowers washed down by the rain

Stood by the gate at the foot of the garden
Watching them pass like clouds in the sky
Try to cry out in the heat of the moment
Possessed by a fury that burns from inside

Cry like a child, though these years make me older
With children my time is so wastefully spent
Burden to keep, though their inner communion
Accept like a curse an unlucky deal

Played by the gate at the foot of the garden
My view stretches out from the fence to the wall
No words could explain, no actions determine
Just watching the trees and the leaves as they fall

The Kill

First version, from the Warsaw Demo

Life can be skewed - good things are nice
Trusting on you - really no threats
The waiting is through - deciphering the scars
Just who fooled who - sit still in their cars
It's another, 'nother, 'nother, 'nother kill --

I can smell through you - your talking's a lie
They turn on to you, before they say "Die"
Wrapped in your trunk - to reach out the safe case
So I can detect - the longer it's taking
It's another, 'nother, 'nother, 'nother kill --

Dangerous cues - set by distraction
Deprived of all use, nor in satisfaction
Total destruction - the worst ever met
Kept in apartment - sublimely for you

Who's gone there backstage, to keep you in rocks?
Who's got the vision, that puts in the locks?
Loss of all resource - forced into your head
Just that it was - whacked into the air
It's another, 'nother, 'nother, 'nother kill --

Second version, released on Still

Moved in a hired car and I find no way to run
Hurts every moment longer - had no time for fun
Just something that I knew I had to do
But through it all I kept my eyes on you

I had an impulse to clear it all away
I used the tactics - make everybody pay
Just something that I knew I had to do
But through it all I kept my eyes on you

Oh I keep it all clean - I've paid the graces there
No kings of misuse - no sellers of flesh
Just something that I knew I had to do
But through it all I kept my eyes on you
Yeah through it all I kept my eyes on you
But through it all I kept my eyes on you

The Only Mistake

Made the fatal mistake like I did once before
A tendency just to take, till the purpose stood sour
Strain - take the strain - these days we love

Yeah, the only mistake was that you ran away
Avenues lined with trees planned your course for the day
Yeah, the only mistake, like I made once before
Yeah, the only mistake, could have made it before
Strain - take the strain - these days we love

And the only mistake led to rumours unfound
Led to pressures unknown - different feelings and sounds
Yeah the only mistake, like I made once before
Yeah the only mistake, could have made it before

These Days

Morning seems strange, almost out of place
Searched hard for you and your special ways
These days - these days

Spent all my time - learnt a killers' art
Took threats and abuse till I'd learnt the part
Can you stay - for these days?
These days - these days

Use outward deception to get away
Broken heart romance to make it pay
These days - these days

We'll drift through it all - it's the modern age
Take care of it all now these debts are paid
Can you stay - for these days?

They Walked in Line

All dressed in uniforms so fine
They drank and killed to pass the time
Wearing the shame of all their crimes
With measured steps they walked in line
They walked in line --

They carried pictures of their wives
And number tags to prove their lies
And made it through the whole machine
With dirty hearts and hands washed clean
They walked in line --

Full of a glory never seen
They made it through the whole machine
To never question any more
Hypnotic trance, they never saw
They walked in line --
They walked in line --
Walked in line --

Transmission

Radio - live transmission
Radio - live transmission
Listen to the silence, let it ring on
Eyes, dark grey lenses, frightened of the sun
We would have a fine time living in the night
Left to blind destruction, waiting for our sight

We would go on as though nothing was wrong
And hide from these days to remain all alone
Staying in the same place, staying out the time
Touching from a distance, further all the time

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio --

I could call out when the going gets tough
The things that we learned are no longer enough
No language, just sound, that's all we need know
To synchronize love to the beat of the show
And we could daaaaaance
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio --

Twenty Four Hours

So this is permanence - love's shattered pride
What once was innocence, turned on its side
A cloud hangs over me, marks every move
Deep in the memory of what once was love

Oh how I've realized, how I wanted time
Put into perspective, tried so hard to find
Just for one moment I thought I'd found my way
Destiny unfolded - I watched it slip away

Excessive flashpoints, beyond all reach
Solitary demands for all I'd like to keep
Let's take a ride out, see what we can find
A valueless collection of hopes and past desires

I never realized the lengths I'd have to go
All the darkest corners of a sense I didn't know
Just for one moment I heard someone call
Looked beyond the day in hand - there's nothing there at all

Now that I've realized how it's all gone wrong
Got to find some therapy - this treatment takes too long
Deep in the heart of where sympathy held sway
Got to find my destiny before it gets too late

Warsaw

I was there in the backstage when first light came around
I grew up like a changeling to win the first time around
I can see all the weakness - I can pick all the faults
I concede all the faith tests - just to stick in your throats
3-1-G --

I hung around in your soundtrack to mirror all that you've done
To find the right side of reason - to kill the three lies for one
I can see all the cold facts - I can see through your eyes
All this talk made no contact no matter how hard I tried
3-1-G --

I can still hear the footsteps - I can see only walls
I still don't make no contact, with no hearing at all
I just see contradiction - had to give up the fight
Just to live in the past tense - to make believe you were right
3-1-G --

Wilderness

I travelled far and wide through many different times
What did you see there? I saw the saints with their toys
What did you see there? I saw all knowledge destroyed

I travelled far and wide to prisons of the cross
What did you see there? The power and glory of sin
What did you see there? The blood of Christ on their skins

I travelled far and wide where unknown martyrs died
What did you see there? I saw the one-sided trials
What did you see there? I saw the tears as they cried
They had tears in their eyes
Tears in their eyes --

You're No Good For Me

Don't know what I'm doing - don't know where I'm going
Leading me to ruin - I should have traded you in
Yeah you think you're something but you're no good for me

Don't know if I care - don't know if I'm there
I just sit and stare - making love to thin air
Yeah you're being insulted but you're no good for me
Na na na na na na na na no good --

I get lots of goods - surprised at what you would
Don't call me no crud - I really think I'd do it
Yeah you think you're something but you're no good for me

Try to call the tune - I'll probably go and ruin it
I'll just get it groomed - all sorts of other clues
Yeah you're being insulted but you're no good for me

I defy the local peer group and their pressures
I can wash the dishes - my suits can take a rest
Yeah you think you're something but you're no good for me

I've forgotten how you feel - to me you're looking real
Come on let's make a deal - think of what you need
Yeah you think you're something but you're no good for me
Na na na na na na na na no good --

I've forgotten how you feel - to me you're looking real
Come on let's make a deal - think of what you need
Yeah you're being insulted but you're no good for me
Yeah you're being insulted but you're no good for me


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