Joy Division 1977-1980 Lyrics

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Wise words and sympathy tell the story of our history


Exercise One

When you're looking at life in a strange new room
Maybe drowning soon, is this the start of it all?
Turn on your TV, turn down your pulse
Turn away from it all, it's all getting too much
[on the Peel version, Ian sings the previous two lines as:
Turn down your TV, turn down your pulse
Turn away from it all, because it's getting too much]

When you're looking at life, deciphering scars
Just who fooled who, sit still in their cars
The lights look bright when you reach outside
Time for one last ride before the end of it all

Failures (of the Modern Man)

Don't speak of safe messiahs - a failure of the modern man
To the centre of our life's desires - as a whole not an also ran
Love in a hollow field - break the image of your father's son
Drawn to an inner feel - he was thought of as the only one
He was thought of as the only one

He no longer denies - all the failures of the modern man
No, no, no, he can't pick sides - sees the failures of the modern man
Wise words and sympathy - tell the story of our history
New strength gives a real touch - sense and reason make it all too much
With a strange fatality - broke the spirits of a lesser man
Some other race could see - in his way he was the only one
In his way he was the only one

He no longer denies - all the failures of the modern man
No, no, no, he can't pick sides - sees the failures of the modern man
Now that it's right to decide - in his time he was a total man
Taken from Caesar's side - kept in silence just to prove who's wrong
He no longer denies - all the failures of the modern man
No, no, no, he can't pick sides - sees the failures of the modern man
All the failures of the modern man

From Safety to Where...?

No, I don't know just why
No, I don't know just why
Which way to turn
I've got this ticket to use

Through childlike ways, rebellion and crime
To reach this point and retreat back again
The broken hearts, all the wheels that are turned
The memory's scarred and the vision is blurred

No, I don't know which way
Don't know which way to turn
The best possible use

Just passing through 'till we reach the next stage
But just to where - well it's all been arranged
Just passing through but the break must be made
Should we move on or stay safely away?

Glass

Hearts fail - young hearts fail
Anytime - pressurised
Overheat - overtired
Take it quick - take it neat
Clasp your hands - touch your feet
Take it quick - take it neat --

Hearts fail - young hearts fail
Anytime - wearing down
On the run - underground
Put your hand where it's safe
Leave your hand where it's safe
Do it again
Do it again and again and again --

Anytime - that's your right
Told ya we should do it again
Overheat - overtired
Don't you wish to do it again --
Anytime - that's all right
Don't you wish to do it again --
I bet you wish you do it again
Do it again --

Gutz

Don't talk to me girl - you know it's not nice
Don't laugh at murder - I won't pay the price
The facts are too high-powered, such a big thrill
I'd give that mess up 'cos it makes you so ill

Blame bad things on me, whatever you do
When I come home I will be different from you
You're such a cheap talk - you're really trussed up
Don't wanna talk to you - just left with your mum

Don't be a puppet - always rush you around
One just for your photo - try and tie me down
I won't tell him I talk like this all night
He must be worried 'cos you're sounding so trite

Respect is only normal - the way to your lives
Ever tried to sleep around with some bag for a wife
We'll never change you if you start acting that way
If we don't keep our heads alive, I'll never get a say
You know what's special - it's as black as I say
Can you see me, just ourselves - no comment, copycat!

Heart and Soul

Instincts that can still betray us
A journey that leads to the sun
Soulless and bent on destruction
A struggle between right and wrong
You take my place in the showdown
I'll observe with a pitiful eye
I'd humbly ask for forgiveness
A request well beyond you and I
Heart and soul, one will burn --

An abyss that laughs at creation
A circus complete with all fools
Foundations that lasted the ages
Then ripped apart at their roots
Beyond all this good is the terror
The grip of a mercenary hand
When savagery turns for good reason
There's no turning back, no last stand
Heart and soul, one will burn --

Existence - well what does it matter
I exist on the best terms I can
The past is now part of my future
The present is well out of hand --
Heart and soul, one will burn --
One will burn, one will burn
Heart and soul, one will burn

(Living in the) Ice Age

I've seen the real atrocities, buried in the sand
Stockpiled safety for a few, while we stand holding hands
I'm living in the ice age --

Nothing will hold, nothing will fit
Into the cold - it's not an eclipse
Living in the ice age --

Searching for another way, see them hide behind the door
Live in holes and disused shafts - hopes for little more
I'm living in the ice age --

Nothing will hold, nothing will fit
Into the cold, no smile on your lips
Living in the ice age --

Inside the line

Hey - you - you too [repeats in the background]
I could make the choice for you
Just sticks close to you - it's all around me
Everything I try to do
I can't even seem to find the room to move

But you think you're number one
Actors though the film has gone
Crowded in a room for one
Darkness when the lights are on
Turn me on for good - it's so exciting
Slogans on the wall don't need no underlining
I can't even seem to find the room to move

Shackled up in fantasy
Hoping for some time to breathe
Some might get your chance too easy
I just want some time to breathe
Just sticks close to you - it's all around me
Everything I do - they're always trying to crowd me
I can't even seem to find the room to move

Watching every move I make
Choice of one that's hard to take
In fact it's just a big mistake
The facts that make it feel like you.

Ranks form inside the line
Ready for the perfect crime.
Say there is no right or wrong
I don't know what's right or wrong
I don't know what's right or wrong

Insight

Guess the dreams always end - they don't rise up just descend
But I don't care anymore - I've lost the will to want more
I'm not afraid, not at all - I watch them all as they fall
But I remember when we were young

Those with habits of waste - their sense of style and good taste
Of making sure you were right - hey, don't you know you were right?
I'm not afraid anymore - I keep my eyes on the door
But I remember --

Tears of sadness for you - more upheaval for you
Reflects a moment in time - a special moment in time
Yeah, we wasted our time - we didn't really have time
But we remember when we were young

And all God's angels beware - and all you judges beware
Sons of chance take good care - for all the people out there
I'm not afraid anymore - I'm not afraid anymore

Interzone

The second "voice" [in brackets below] was added in the later version

I walked through the city limits
[Someone took me in to do it]
Attracted by some force within it
[Had to close my eyes to get get close to it]
Around the corner where a prophet lay
[Saw the place where she'd a room to stay]
A wire fence where children play
[Saw the bed where the body lay]
And I was looking for a friend of mine
[And I had no time to waste]
Yeah, looking for some friends of mine

The car screeched - hear the sound on dust
[Heard a noise - just a car outside]
Metallic blue turned red with rust
[Pulled in close by the building's side]
In a group all forgotten youth
[Had to think, collect my senses now]
Turned on to a night with you
[Find some place where my friends don't go]
And I was looking for a friend of mine
[And I had no time to waste]
Yeah, looking for some friends of mine

Down the dark streets [Getting darker now]
The houses looked the same [Faces look the same]
And I walked round and round [No stomach, torn apart]
Nail me to a train [Had to think again]
Trying to find a clue [Trying to move away]
Trying to find a way to get out [Had to move away and keep out]

Four, twelve windows, ten in a row
[Behind a wall I looked down low]
The lights shine like a neon show
[Inserted deep felt a warmer glow]
No place to stop, no place to go
[No time to lose, had to keep on going]
I guess they died some time ago
[I guess they died some time ago]
And I was looking for a friend of mine
[And I had no time to waste]
Yeah, looking for some friends of mine

I Remember Nothing

We were strangers - we were strangers, for way too long
Violent violent, were strangers
Get weak all the time - we just pass the time
Me in my own world - yeah you there beside
The gaps are enormous - we stare from each side
We were strangers, for way too long

Violent, more violent his hand cracks the chair
Moves on reaction, then slumps in despair
Trapped in a cage and surrendered too soon
Me in my own world, the one that you knew
We were strangers - for way too long --

Isolation

In fear every day, every evening
He calls her aloud from above
Carefully watched for a reason
Painstaking devotion and love
Surrendered to self-preservation
From others who care for themselves
A blindness that touches perfection
But hurts just like anything else
Isolation --

Mother I tried, please believe me
I'm doing the best that I can
I'm ashamed of the things I've been put through
I'm ashamed of the person I am
Isolation --

But if you could just see the beauty
These things I could never describe
These pleasures a wayward distraction
Is this my one lucky prize?
Isolation --


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