This is why events unnerve me
They find it all, a different story
Notice whom for wheels are turning
Turn again and turn towards this time
All she asks is the strength to hold me
Then again the same old story
Word will travel, oh so quickly
Travel first and lean towards this time

Oh, I'll break them down, no mercy shown
Heaven knows it's got to be this time
Watching her, these things she said
The times she cried
Too frail to wake this time

Oh, I'll break them down, no mercy shown
Heaven knows, it's got to be this time
Avenues all lined with trees
Picture me and then you start watching
Watching forever
Forever
Watching love grow, forever
Letting me know, forever


Lyrics submitted by numb, edited by lokithecat

Ceremony Lyrics as written by Ian Kevin Curtis Bernard Sumner

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Ceremony song meanings
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52 Comments

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  • +20
    General Comment
    this song is easily a candidate for best song of all time.
    EdwinMontoyaZorrillaon June 29, 2011   Link
  • +10
    General Comment
    the "ceremony" is a funeral "Notice whom for wheels are turning Turn again and turn towards this time" = the turning wheels of the hearse and funeral procession heading toward the cemetary. Avenues all lined with trees=the avenues that the funeral procession takes to get to the destination. "All she asks is the strength to hold me" the narrator is remembering her dying words, i suppose. "Too frail to wake this time" can only be about someone dying.
    mliem411on June 30, 2011   Link
  • +8
    General Comment
    I cry every time i hear this song... it's so deep. I might be wrong or too romantic but to me it's about love. It could describe the strange sesation that you feel when you see (in a ceremony), after long time, a person you loved in the past. You know that it's "the same old story" and that this person will never change her habits but you can't deny that you like her in everything she does. So what you can do? You can just sit and watch love grow ...forever...
    vivienleion October 26, 2010   Link
  • +6
    General Comment
    I listen to this on repeat and I imagine my own inevitable suicide. Oh I'll break them down, no mercy shown Heaven knows, it's got to be this time Avenues all lined with trees Picture me and then you start watching Watching forever, forever, forever forever forever forever forever forever forever forever
    backinburntcityon December 17, 2010   Link
  • +5
    General Comment
    apparently this was the last song written by joy division before ian curtis killed himself. i think this is about frustration with the world, everyone sees things differently. when love forces us to join, problems arise.
    Jinxxon June 21, 2005   Link
  • +4
    General Comment
    one of my all-time favorites..it makes you feel infinite
    tamiltigaon December 27, 2006   Link
  • +4
    General Comment
    I think its a love song, a tragic, vulnerable, apologetic love song.
    virtualitaon September 15, 2007   Link
  • +4
    General Comment
    The best part about this song for me is that I just can't fuckin figure out what it means!
    ajklopotoskion April 29, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    firstly, i think this song is about reunions, seeing people you havent seen in a really long time.... the 1st verse brings up the fact that whenever you meet people you havent seen in awhile, there are different stories, but in the end its all just the same, its as though not many people seem to change.. "notice whom for wheels are turning" <-- talk about who's become successful and made something of themselves.. the 2nd verse deals with his frustration with the people he disliked or dislikes. "ill break them down, no mercy shown" entangled in that, is his love for someone, the reason he hates these people is because they treated the girl he loved like crap. in summary, i think its about the frustration of a kind person aimed at people who didnt realise the long term effects of their mistreatment of others.
    Schr4nzon June 18, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    i based my old band of 5 years entirely on this song/version from substance. We once played a show and someone said we sounded like this song. almost brought a tear to my eye....think it's about his daughter actually...just imagine what the last joy division album could have been....
    poly800rockon March 24, 2006   Link

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