Joy Division 1977-1980 Lyrics

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Wise words and sympathy tell the story of our history


Komakino

This is the hour when the mysteries emerge
A strangeness so hard to reflect
A moment so moving goes straight to your heart
The vision that's never been met
The attraction is held like a weight deep inside
Something I'll never forget

The pattern is set, the reaction will start
Complete but rejected too soon
Looking ahead in the grip of each tear
Recalls the life that we knew
The shadow that stood by the side of the road
Always reminds me of you

How can I find the right way to control
All the conflicts inside, all the problems beside
As the questions arise, and the answers don't fit
Into my way of things, into my way of things

Leaders of Men

Born from some mother's womb - just like any other room
Made a promise for a new life - made a victim out of your life
When your time's on the door and it drips to the floor
And you feel you can touch - all the noise is too much
And the seeds that are sown are no longer your own
Just a minor operation - to force a final ultimatum
A thousand words are spoken loud - reach the dumb to fool the crowd
When you walk down the street and the sound's not so sweet
And you wish you could hide - maybe go for a ride
To some picture arcade where the future's not made
A nightmare situation - infiltrate imagination
Smacks of past holy wars - by the wall with broken laws
The leaders of men - born out of your frustration
The leaders of men - just a strange infatuation
The leaders of men - made a promise for a new life
No saviour for our sakes - to crush the internees of hate
Self-induced manipulation - to crush all thoughts of mass salvation

Love Will Tear Us Apart

When routine bites hard, and ambitions are low
And resentment rides high, but emotions won't grow
And we're changing our ways, taking different roads
Then love, love will tear us apart again --

Why is the bedroom so cold? You've turned away on your side
Is my timing that flawed - our respect run so dry?
[on the Peel version, Ian sings here:
Is my timing that flawed - have our feelings run dry?]
Yet there's still this appeal that we've kept through our lives
Love, love will tear us apart again --

You cry out in your sleep - all my failings expose
There's a taste in my mouth, as desperation takes hold
Just that something so good just can't function no more
When love, love will tear us apart again --

New Dawn Fades

A change of speed, a change of style
A change of scene, with no regrets
A chance to watch, admire the distance
Still occupied, though you forget
Different colours, different shades
Over each mistakes were made - I took the blame
Directionless, so plain to see
A loaded gun won't set you free - so you say

We'll share a drink and step outside
An angry voice and one who cried
We'll give you everything and more
The strain's too much, can't take much more
Oh I've walked on water, run through fire
Can't seem to feel it anymore
It was me-ee, waiting for me
Hoping for something more
Me-ee, seeing me this time
Hoping for something else

No Love Lost

So long sitting here, didn't hear the warning
Waiting for the tape to run
We've been moving round in different situations
Knowing that the time would come
Just to see you torn apart
Witness to your empty heart
I need it - I need it - I need it --

The following verse is in the unreleased (Warsaw) version only:

Two-way mirror in the hall
They like to watch everything you do
Transmitters hidden in the wall
So they know everything you say is true
Turn it on - don't turn it on - turn it on

The released version contains this spoken extract from the book The House Of Dolls:

Through the wire screen, the eyes of those standing outside looked in at her as into the cage of some rare creature in a zoo. In the hand of one of the assistants she saw the same instrument which they had that morning inserted deep into her body. She shuddered instinctively. No life at all in the house of dolls. No love lost. No love lost

Both versions then converge again:

You've been seeing things in darkness, not in learning
Hoping that the truth will pass
No life underground, wasting never changing
Wishing that this day won't last
To never see you show your age
To watch until the beauty fades
I need it - I need it - I need it --

Novelty

When the people listen to you, don't you know it means a lot
Cause you've got to work so hard for everything you've got
Can't rest on your laurels now - not when you've got none
You'll find yourself in the gutter, right back where you came from

Someone told me being in the know is the main thing
We all need the security that belonging brings
Can't stand on your own in these times against all the odds
I don't want to act uncool like all the other sods (in the original version)
You'll just fall behind like all the other sods (in the later version)

You slap our backs and pretend you knew
About all the things that we were gonna do
What ya gonna do, what ya gonna do when it's over?

You're all on your own now - don't you think that it's a shame
But you're the only one responsible to take the blame

The original version concludes:
When ya gonna grow up and act, and be yourself
Cause pretty soon you'll find yourself nailed to the shelf
Grab it while you can, but don't ever relax
Cause there's always someone gonna stab your back
What ya gonna do, what ya gonna do when it's over?

The later version omits that bit and concludes:
So what ya gonna do when the novelty has gone?
Yeah what ya gonna do when the novelty has gone?
You slap our backs and pretend you knew
About all the things that we were gonna do
What ya gonna do, what ya gonna do when it's over?

Passover

This is a crisis I knew had to come - destroying the balance I'd kept
Doubting, unsettling and turning around - wondering what will come next
Is this the role that you wanted to live - I was foolish to ask for so much
Without the protection and infancy's guard - it all falls apart at the first touch

Watching the reel as it comes to a close - brutally taking its time
People who change for no reason at all - it's happening all of the time
Can I go on with this train of events - disturbing and purging my mind
Back out of my duties, when all's said and done
I know that I'll lose every time

Moving along in our God given ways - safety is sat by the fire
Sanctuary from these feverish smiles - left with a mark on the door
Is this the gift that I wanted to give - forgive and forget's what they teach
Or pass through the deserts and wastelands once more
And watch as they drop by the beach

This is a crisis I knew had to come - destroying the balance I'd kept
Turning around to the next set of lives - wondering what will come next

Shadowplay

To the centre of the city where all roads meet, waiting for you
To the depths of the ocean where all hopes sank, searching for you
Moving through the silence without motion, waiting for you
In a room with a window in the corner I found truth

In the shadowplay, acting out your own death, knowing no more
As the assassins all grouped in four lines, dancing on the floor,
And with cold steel, odour on their bodies, made a move to connect
I could only stare in disbelief as the crowds all left

I did everything, everything I wanted to
I let them use you for their own ends
To the centre of the city in the night, waiting for you
To the centre of the city in the night, waiting for you

She's Lost Control

Confusion in her eyes that says it all - she's lost control
And she's clinging to the nearest passer-by - she's lost control
And she gave away the secrets of her past and said: I've lost control again.
And of a voice that told her when and where to act
She said: I've lost control again.

And she turned to me and took me by the hand and said: I've lost control again
And how I'll never know just why or understand she said: I've lost control again
And she screamed out, kicking on her side and said: I've lost control again
[on the Peel version, Ian sings here:
And she kicked out, screaming on her side and said: I've lost control again]
And seized up on the floor - I thought she'd die
She said: I've lost control
She's lost control again - she's lost control --

Well I had to phone her friend to state her case and say she's lost control again
And she showed up all the errors and mistakes and said: I've lost control again
But she expressed herself in many different ways until she lost control again
And walked upon the edge of no escape and laughed: I've lost control
She's lost control again - she's lost control --

Sister Ray

Jimmy came from Carolina
Wants to know a way to earn a dollar
Says he's just as big as ever
Just like Sister Ray says
I'm searching for my mainline
I couldn't hit it sideways
I'm searching for my mainline
I couldn't hit it sideways

Jimmy's got a new piece
Lying cold for the quarter line
Took it out of his suitcase
Shot him dead right on the floor
Hey man, you shouldn't do that
Don't you know you'll stain the carpet
Hey man, you shouldn't do that
Just like Sister Ray says

Too busy sucking on a ding dong
Hey don't you know you'll stain the carpet
Too busy sucking on my ding dong
Hey you know you shouldn't do that
I'm searching for my mainline
I couldn't hit it sideways
I'm searching for my mainline
Going to count one, two, three, four

Jimmy came from Carolina
Wants to know a way to earn a dollar
Says he didn't like the weather
It's just like Sister Ray says
Hit on it Jim - hit on it Jim --
Had a good night - had a good night --

Jimmy's got a new piece
Cold heart for the fingering
Took it out in front of him
Shot him dead right on the floor
Hey man, you shouldn't do that
Hey don't you know you'll stain the carpet
Hey man, you shouldn't do that
Don't you know you'll stain the carpet
It's just like Sister Ray said
Just like Sister Ray said
Had a good night - had a good night --
Just like Sister Ray said

Something Must Break

Two ways to choose - on a razor's edge
Remain behind - go straight ahead
Room full of people - room just for one
I can't break out now - the time just won't come

Two ways to choose - which way to go
Decide for me - please let me know
Looked in the mirror - saw I was wrong
If I could get back to where I belong
Where I belong

Two ways to choose - which way to go
Had thoughts for one - designs for both
If we were immortal - we were not there
Washed up on the beaches - struggling for air

I see your face still in my window
Torments yet calms - won't set me free
Something must break now - this life isn't mine
Something must break now - wait for the time
Something must break

Sound of Music

The Still version, followed [in brackets] by the Peel version where it differs

See my true reflection - cut off my own connections
I can see life getting harder [I can see it getting harder]
So sad is this sensation - reverse the situation
I can't see it getting better

I'll walk you through the heartbreaks - show you all the out-takes
I can't see it getting higher
Systematically degraded - emotionally a scapegoat
I can't see it getting better [I can't see it getting higher]

Perverse and unrealistic - try to make it all stick
I can't see it getting better [I can see it getting harder]
Hollow now I'm burnt out - all I need's a way out
I can't see life getting higher [I can't see it getting higher]

Love - life - makes you feel we're higher [Love - life - don't you feel higher]
Love of life makes you feel higher [Love - life - don't you feel higher]
Higher, higher, higher, higher --


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