This song is a message to the punk rock movement, the words Ian directly addressing people in his audience, and his distaste with the guys in spiked leather who would spit on him from the crowd.
I read somewhere that Joy Division never intended their songs to have a unique interpretation.
I read somewhere that Joy Division never intended their songs to have a unique interpretation.
I think this song is full of bitterness and irony.
I think this song is full of bitterness and irony.
At first I thought it was a critique against the injustice, cruelty and craziness of a life lived by the rules of mainstream, conventional society and the system, a subject he also touches in Candidate ("We're living by your rules, that's all that we know."), in my opinion.
At first I thought it was a critique against the injustice, cruelty and craziness of a life lived by the rules of mainstream, conventional society and the system, a subject he also touches in Candidate ("We're living by your rules, that's all that we know."), in my opinion.
But the world "novelty" does not really fit. I agree it must refer to the punk movement (explosion) of his time and the novel tactics...
But the world "novelty" does not really fit. I agree it must refer to the punk movement (explosion) of his time and the novel tactics it used (situationism) to make itself heard. I think he was predicting quite justly that it would lose its power, once the novelty had passed, and would be alienated from its purpose by the consumerist system. Which it did, punk is widely considered just a music genre today focusing on its superficial characteristic, while its revolutionary and political content has faded.
So my (possible wrong) opinion is that he is describing the evolution of the punk movement, both with sympathy and criticism, and its reception and eventual defeat by mainstream society.
Definitely he's criticizing the idea of compromising your ideals to become part of a group for the safety it brings, I read these parts as completely sarcastic.
This is fast turning into one of my favorite songs.
I'm sorry, but you are grasping at straws and sounding like the biggest defeatist. As my paternal grandmother used to say, "Bite the Bullet" cause you only have one life and attitude means EVERYTHING. Punk is still alive. Members of the genre have, perhaps, watered down the messages, but that may have more to do with the state of affairs in countries such as Britian and the U.S. where life has become much more comfortable for everyone (compared to what it was during wartime; the depression; etc)
I'm sorry, but you are grasping at straws and sounding like the biggest defeatist. As my paternal grandmother used to say, "Bite the Bullet" cause you only have one life and attitude means EVERYTHING. Punk is still alive. Members of the genre have, perhaps, watered down the messages, but that may have more to do with the state of affairs in countries such as Britian and the U.S. where life has become much more comfortable for everyone (compared to what it was during wartime; the depression; etc)
This song is a message to the punk rock movement, the words Ian directly addressing people in his audience, and his distaste with the guys in spiked leather who would spit on him from the crowd.
I read somewhere that Joy Division never intended their songs to have a unique interpretation.
I read somewhere that Joy Division never intended their songs to have a unique interpretation.
I think this song is full of bitterness and irony.
I think this song is full of bitterness and irony.
At first I thought it was a critique against the injustice, cruelty and craziness of a life lived by the rules of mainstream, conventional society and the system, a subject he also touches in Candidate ("We're living by your rules, that's all that we know."), in my opinion.
At first I thought it was a critique against the injustice, cruelty and craziness of a life lived by the rules of mainstream, conventional society and the system, a subject he also touches in Candidate ("We're living by your rules, that's all that we know."), in my opinion.
But the world "novelty" does not really fit. I agree it must refer to the punk movement (explosion) of his time and the novel tactics...
But the world "novelty" does not really fit. I agree it must refer to the punk movement (explosion) of his time and the novel tactics it used (situationism) to make itself heard. I think he was predicting quite justly that it would lose its power, once the novelty had passed, and would be alienated from its purpose by the consumerist system. Which it did, punk is widely considered just a music genre today focusing on its superficial characteristic, while its revolutionary and political content has faded.
So my (possible wrong) opinion is that he is describing the evolution of the punk movement, both with sympathy and criticism, and its reception and eventual defeat by mainstream society.
Definitely he's criticizing the idea of compromising your ideals to become part of a group for the safety it brings, I read these parts as completely sarcastic.
This is fast turning into one of my favorite songs.
I'm sorry, but you are grasping at straws and sounding like the biggest defeatist. As my paternal grandmother used to say, "Bite the Bullet" cause you only have one life and attitude means EVERYTHING. Punk is still alive. Members of the genre have, perhaps, watered down the messages, but that may have more to do with the state of affairs in countries such as Britian and the U.S. where life has become much more comfortable for everyone (compared to what it was during wartime; the depression; etc)
I'm sorry, but you are grasping at straws and sounding like the biggest defeatist. As my paternal grandmother used to say, "Bite the Bullet" cause you only have one life and attitude means EVERYTHING. Punk is still alive. Members of the genre have, perhaps, watered down the messages, but that may have more to do with the state of affairs in countries such as Britian and the U.S. where life has become much more comfortable for everyone (compared to what it was during wartime; the depression; etc)
Yeah thanks, I know you mean well, but I am a pessimistic person. Also sorry for double-posting, perhaps a mod can delete the second message?
Yeah thanks, I know you mean well, but I am a pessimistic person. Also sorry for double-posting, perhaps a mod can delete the second message?