After watching Control, the biopic of Ian Curtis, I can definitely say this song was written about his wife, Debbie, and the cheating he was doing with the French fan/journalist, Annik Honore, who traveled with the band on occasion. It seemed at this point the wheels were definitely not turning in his direction. The rumors, the letters his wife found, etc. I mean, if there is any real truth to that movie, so much of the ending concerning his love life is conveyed in this one song.
"All she (Debbie) asks the strength to hold me / then again the same old story (Annik)" <- kiss and make up with Debbie but he's still drawn to Annik and he knows he's going to cheat Debbie again.
But what really gets me in this song is that he wants to be positive, hopeful. He wants to repair his marriage, it's got to be this time, that he does the right thing, right? He's hurt her so much and he knows it. And the subtle dark note at the end, the avenues lined with trees, he wants either Debbie, Annik or whoever else loves him, to picture him, to picture happiness, to see the love he has for them all even after his death.
@rayliam your assessment is spot on from what I understand. This is all about Ian feeling conflicted about being pulled in two directions, not only with Annik and Debbie, but his two lives, one with the band and at home. Also, this is what Bernard was able to best estimate for the lyrics that Ian wrote, but some of it could be his best guess. The only Joy Division recordings that exist are one of a live show and one of a rehearsal, both of which aren't the clearest vocally. The only thing I'd like to add is that the...
@rayliam your assessment is spot on from what I understand. This is all about Ian feeling conflicted about being pulled in two directions, not only with Annik and Debbie, but his two lives, one with the band and at home. Also, this is what Bernard was able to best estimate for the lyrics that Ian wrote, but some of it could be his best guess. The only Joy Division recordings that exist are one of a live show and one of a rehearsal, both of which aren't the clearest vocally. The only thing I'd like to add is that the line about the avenues all lined with trees I believe was an inside joke between Ian and Debbie about how he wanted to buy her a house on a nice avenue. Cheers!
After watching Control, the biopic of Ian Curtis, I can definitely say this song was written about his wife, Debbie, and the cheating he was doing with the French fan/journalist, Annik Honore, who traveled with the band on occasion. It seemed at this point the wheels were definitely not turning in his direction. The rumors, the letters his wife found, etc. I mean, if there is any real truth to that movie, so much of the ending concerning his love life is conveyed in this one song.
"All she (Debbie) asks the strength to hold me / then again the same old story (Annik)" <- kiss and make up with Debbie but he's still drawn to Annik and he knows he's going to cheat Debbie again.
But what really gets me in this song is that he wants to be positive, hopeful. He wants to repair his marriage, it's got to be this time, that he does the right thing, right? He's hurt her so much and he knows it. And the subtle dark note at the end, the avenues lined with trees, he wants either Debbie, Annik or whoever else loves him, to picture him, to picture happiness, to see the love he has for them all even after his death.
@rayliam Wow, I just wrote an interpretation but yours is really awesome!
@rayliam Wow, I just wrote an interpretation but yours is really awesome!
@rayliam your assessment is spot on from what I understand. This is all about Ian feeling conflicted about being pulled in two directions, not only with Annik and Debbie, but his two lives, one with the band and at home. Also, this is what Bernard was able to best estimate for the lyrics that Ian wrote, but some of it could be his best guess. The only Joy Division recordings that exist are one of a live show and one of a rehearsal, both of which aren't the clearest vocally. The only thing I'd like to add is that the...
@rayliam your assessment is spot on from what I understand. This is all about Ian feeling conflicted about being pulled in two directions, not only with Annik and Debbie, but his two lives, one with the band and at home. Also, this is what Bernard was able to best estimate for the lyrics that Ian wrote, but some of it could be his best guess. The only Joy Division recordings that exist are one of a live show and one of a rehearsal, both of which aren't the clearest vocally. The only thing I'd like to add is that the line about the avenues all lined with trees I believe was an inside joke between Ian and Debbie about how he wanted to buy her a house on a nice avenue. Cheers!
@DogEaredPage @rayliam you say the two directions he’s pulled in- I think also clearly life and death given the timing.
@DogEaredPage @rayliam you say the two directions he’s pulled in- I think also clearly life and death given the timing.