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From Safety To Where Lyrics
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?
No, I don't know just why
Which way to turn
I've got this ticket to use
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
Don't know which way to turn
The best possible use
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?
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My favourite Joy Division song bar none, it's over 25 years old and yet I've never heard anything so futuristic.
Obviously Ian Curtis was not a Marxist (quite the opposite) but I agree this does seem to be about different 'phases' of the development of society:
"Just passing through till we reach the next stage But just to where - well it's all been arranged"
As in 'Ceremony' he refers to the "wheels turning" - I think Curtis was acutely aware of the grand themes of history and of his own place within them, which is probably what makes Joy Division songs so epic.
The politics of Ian Curtis are very interesting, he obviously wasn't a nazi or a fascist and was quite the opposite, his wife claims he voted for the Tories but he seems to be much more left wing because a lot of the songs in my opinion are about have people being treated ok for example Novelty.
This reminds me of a quote from the Sopranos, where Dr. Melfi says "the choice between freedom and security. The child often switches between them". I think Ian had trouble with the loss of innocence, so this song may be about deciding weather to stay in the safety of home or leaving. Hence from safety (home) to where (Ian has no idea what the world has in store for him).
This was orginaly supposed to be on Unknown Pleasures. Great song aswell.
its about society taking two steps forward and then one back. There is rebellion and crime, and it seems like the place is just going backwards. He can't wait until he gets out, but doesn't know where is a better place. He is just passing through, he is not part of that society.
I don't see it as about society I see it as being about starting out in JD. His life's got direction, unlike earlier 'childlike ways', but he's not sure if he should really go forward with it as he thinks (correctly) that he might not like where it takes him. Trying to reassure himself that he's just passing through, but he knows he's not really in control.