First Lyrics to Closing Lyrics (A Series) Pt.1: Atrocity Exhibition

One of the most impressive and fascinating components of Ian's writing was definitely all of his sets of different lyrics to each song. Throughout Joy Division's approximately three year span career, just about every song went through some sort of rewrite or live variation. I love this about their songs. Common motifs of his I've always liked include knowledge, failure, Christianity and Catholicism, lines, polarity (inside and outside, black and white), loss of control, fear, lack of fear, love, and death. He had the spirit, plain and simple. Just lose the feeling. ;)

I am very convinced that Deborah Curtis did not publish all of Ian's writings, which is understandable; I'm sure he had volumes and volumes of text. Alternate lyrics to a lot of his songs, including "Komakino", where one chapter entitled Walk With Me, Take Hold and See is from an early live version of the song before the studio version.

In honor of that, this is going to be part 1 in an occasional series of posts I'm going to make on this blog. This'll be where I compare an early set of lyrics to a later set of lyrics for one Joy Division song. Sometimes I may compare multiple sets of lyrics of just one song to each other. When you couple in a lot of the live variations to certain songs, you can get all sorts of results. My first choices are...the studio versions to Atrocity Exhibition.

The very first recorded set of lyrics actually came from the first studio session. The very earliest live version that we even know of is from June 16, 1979, when they played at The Odeon in Canterbury. Unfortunately, that concert was not recorded (as far as I know). The song was actually as early as June 1979. Funny, given how much later the 'Closer' version was. Very fitting, considering their differences.

The Piccadilly Radio version is a lot rougher and colder, it seems. The recording equipment to begin with wasn't especially great; you can hear a lot of hiss in it. But that's what I like about it; it's closer to most of the live versions. The 'Closer' version is obviously much more refined, and sounds kind of mystic, especially with that brand new last verse at the end. I don't like that version as much, but they're both incredible.

Piccadilly Radio Session (June 4, 1979) (First Studio Session)

Asylums with doors open wide

Where people could pay to see inside

For entertainment, they watch his body twist

Behind his eyes, he says, “I exist.”

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside…

In arenas, he kills for a prize

Wins a minute to add to his life

But the sickness is drowned by cries for more

Pray to God, make it quick; watch him fall

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside…

This is the way

This is the way

This is the way

This is the way

Meet the architects of law face to face

See the horrors of a faraway place

See the ones who could hardly succeed

See that we’re the real atrocities

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside!

Step inside!

Step inside!

You wanna see some more?! Step inside!

You wanna see some more?! Step inside!

You wanna see some more?! Step inside!

You wanna see some more?! Step inside!

And now, for the retort...

‘Closer’ Album Version (March 18-30, 1980)

Asylums with doors open wide

Where people can pay to see inside

For entertainment, they watch his body twist

Behind his eyes, he says, “I still exist…”

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside…

In arenas, he kills for a prize

Wins a minute to add to his life

But the sickness is drowned by cries for more

Pray to God, make it quick; watch him fall

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside…

This is the way

This is the way

This is the way

This is the way

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside…

You’ll see the horrors of a faraway place

Meet the architects of law face to face

See mass murder on a scale you’ve never seen

And all the ones who try hard to succeed

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside…

And I picked on the whims of a thousand or more

Still pursuing the path that’s been buried for years

All the deadwood from jungles and cities on fire

Can’t replace or relate, can’t release or repair

Take my hand and I’ll show you what was and will be

"We never really listened to his lyrics; in fact, we never really talked about his lyrics that much."

-Bernard Sumner