In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
So long sitting here, didn't hear the warning
Waiting for the tape to run
We've been moving around 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
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
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
Waiting for the tape to run
We've been moving around 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
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
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
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"I had all and then most of you"
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This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
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Yes, really.
Joy Division took their name from the novel "The House Of Dolls" by Jewish author Ka-Tzetnik 135633 (real name Yehiel De-Nur), an Auschwitz survivor (his pen name means "Concentration Camper", and 135633 was his number). He wrote about the horrors committed by the nazis. "The House Of Dolls" is about 'Joy Division' - Jewish women in concetration camps who were made into sex slaves for the pleasure of Nazi soldiers. He claimed it was inspired by the fate of his younger sister who did not survive the Holocaust.
The spoken part from 'No Love Lost' is taken directly from the book.
@nightandday - I realize you posted this in 2006 and I'm just now finding it here in 2023 but wanted to respond even though you may never see it. I'm a dedicated Gen Z rocker, but for some reason did not listen to Joy Division when it became popular on the New Wave radio station where I grew up. I think the most exposure I've ever had to JD was from various television shows using "Bela Lugosi Is Dead" in their soundtracks. Then a couple years ago I found a cover of No Love Lost by The Distillers at Reading Festival and I looked up the lyrics; they haunt me even now and especially now, since I found your entry here explaining the lyrics, how JD chose their name, and the history behind both. Thank you for these details which evoke so many feelings. They are terrible, devastating, heartbreaking, and yet a testament to the evils of Nazi power and control, and the miracle of those who survived and lived to share their lifestory.
this song seems to be a tribute to an author that ian curtis might have been fond of
This song has such a cool intro, and is very different to the other jd songs cos its spoken, well half spoken, but i really do like it.
yes well, the book is the same book he took the name joy division from (i think)
Their punkiest song - I actually thought it was the Buzzcocks when I first heard it
Miss ya Ian
What? This sounds NOTHING like Buzzcocks. There's no pop punk in this, it's way dirtier and garage-ier. It's catchy, but still got a JD sinister feel to it, and that relentlessly awesome bass line.
Seconding what user Nightandday said, Hes right. I have read the book (Hence my user name) and would definately recommend the book to Joy Division fans, You can tell it had really influenced Ian's music.
^actually, the phrase "no love lost" is used to show enmity. no respect or admiration towards (something/someone). it's a completely different idiom. idioms.thefreedictionary.com/no+love+lost
I don't know where the 'two-way mirror in the hall' part came from? as for the song, hands down makes up the best scene in the movie. The jacket was real.
Directly refers to the book "The House Of Dolls" and experiences of female exploits in concentration camps
"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."
Sadly, I think this is referring to a man who had raped the protagonist earlier brandishing his penis to rape her or another women in the "Joy Division" Nazi whorehouse.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_House_of_Dolls