| Joy Division – Dead Souls Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Insightful lyrics. Definite references to the Conquistadores who plundered the Americas. Also to the Imperialistic Roman Catholic Church who justified that plunder. Read Bartolome De La Casas, 'History Of The Destruction Of The Indies' for some insight to the atrocities committed in the name of civilization and religion. All done in a contemptuous mocking way. Ring the halls, references to monarcy/western civilization. I think Joy Division sometimes just liked the sound of nice titles. The book Dead Souls has nothing to do with these song lyrics. The 'figures of the past' keep calling the narrator of the song. In that sense they have never really died. In another version of the song there is an additional lyric that goes, 'And pour into a living sea/it draws me/it keeps calling me'. 'A duel of personalities' between the present and past. References to past lives and reincarnation. And a play on words, 'dual personalities'. |
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| Joy Division – Dead Souls Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Insightful lyrics. Definite references to the Conquistadores who plundered the Americas. Also to the Imperialistic Roman Catholic Church who justified that plunder. Read Bartolome De La Casas, 'History Of The Destruction Of The Indies' for some insight to the atrocities committed in the name of civilization and religion. All done in a contemptuous mocking way. Ring the halls, references to monarcy/western civilization. I think Joy Division sometimes just liked the sound of nice titles. The book Dead Souls has nothing to do with these song lyrics. The 'figures of the past' keep calling the narrator of the song. In that sense they have never really died. In another version of the song there is an additional lyric that goes, 'And pour into a living sea/it draws me/it keeps calling me'. 'A duel of personalities' between the present and past. References to past lives and reincarnation. And a play on words, 'dual personalities'. |
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| Joy Division – Candidate Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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sexual politics |
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| Joy Division – Heart and Soul Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Prophetic like Atrocity Exhibition. References to Christ, 'You take my place in the showdown'. Ancient legacies being destroyed, replaced by evil. If the past has been uprooted, what kind of future can a person have? Existence on these terms does not seem very hopeful. The present, therefore, isn't important. As Nietsche said, 'The past robs the present of its future'. The lyrics seem contradictory. Because the past has been destroyed by the present, leaving us no future. The tone is apocalyptic. In light of his suicide, however, he is obviously referring to himself and the hopeless situation he found himself in. |
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| Joy Division – Twenty Four Hours Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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A brilliant synthesis of fine lyrics, with a lot of Burroughs-type cut-ups - solitary demands, excessive flash-points, love shattered pride. 'Valueless collection of hopes and past desires' - brilliant line. A lot of closer has wilderness images, empty beaches. Metaphors for the emptiness Ian was feeling at the time. I think he had his moments, but couldn't open up to anyone. |
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| Joy Division – Passover Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Love the lines: Watching the real as it comes to a close brutally taking its time Sad but poignant too. |
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| Joy Division – Passover Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| In the song, however, the singer watches as they drop by the beach. There is some resolution. In other words, there is a problem. But the problem is overcome. Now we have to face another. | |
| Joy Division – A Means To An End Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| References, as in Heart And Soul, to Jesus Christ. Betrayal. Ian Curtis was brilliant with grand-scale analogies and references to the Bible and Ancient History. He was a genius. | |
| Joy Division – Transmission Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| On a more mundane level I think 'Transmission' may be about having sex while the radio is playing... | |
| Joy Division – Transmission Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Can you or someone please give the exact quote, because I have looked in the Book Of Thoth and never found the line... | |
| Joy Division – Transmission Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| There is an Ian Curtis interview where Ian talks about seeing the Velvet Underground on 'the telly' and being struck by 'the love' they seemed to exude during the performance. I also saw a Beatles documentary where one of the Beatles considered 'the love' to be integral to what the Beatles were. Was Joy Division about synchronizing love to with their audience? I wonder. | |
| Joy Division – Atrocity Exhibition Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Atrocity Exhibition. The title is from JG Ballard. Jon Savage says that Ian Curtis hadn't actually read the book when he wrote the lyrics (saw this on old interview on the net). 'This is the way' line apparently comes from T.S. Eliot's 'The Hollow Men'. I read Ballard's book to see how things fitted, and couldn't make head or tail of how it connected to the song. Martin Hannett was right, Ian curtis was like a gestalt conductor...so many things seemed to come together in his lyrics and performance. On the Picadilly Radio version, Ian sings 'See that we're the real atrocities'. It is certainly a song about suffering, exploitation of media. I thought I heard Ian sing, 'the architects of love' on a live version. There is so much to say. It definitely compares gladiator's experience to that of Ian's own performance. Burroughs is an important influence. Dante's inferno, which Ian was reading at the time, is referred to here. I am guessing, but how about a reference to Led Zeppellin in the lines 'what was it will be'. I always liked the part: Can't replace or relate, can't release or repair, take my hand and I will show you what was it will be... |
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