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...
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...