Friday, February 8, 2013

University of London Union, London (February 8, 1980) ENTIRE Transcription

Joy Division 

Live at University of London Union, London (February 8, 1980) 

The following is my best attempt at decoding all the lyrics to all the songs in this Joy Division gig. I have several documents containing whole gigs entirely transcribed by myself, so I figured instead of giving you just one song in all its forms, I'll give you a whole gig today. I may do this again with a few other gigs.

This post also contains also any flavor text (as in vocals in between songs) in addition to all the lyrics. The flavor text will appear in italics.


Track-List:
1. Dead Souls
2. Glass
3. A Means to an End
4. Twenty-Four Hours
5. Passover
6. Insight
7. Colony
8. These Days
9. Love Will Tear Us Apart
10. Isolation
-Encore Break-
11. The Eternal
12. Digital


I originally intended on having every gig transcript I post on my blog on the day of the month it originally happened, starting with the January 1980 dates. Sadly, that didn't happen as planned, and I don't really intend on doing it. This one gig, though, will be the special exception. 33 years ago today, the ULU Joy Division gig happened. And it must've been glorious.

The concert was recorded by Duncan Haysom, whom you can clearly hear cheering after each song. There are multiple recordings, but the most common and famous one is Duncan's. It's the one that was used for the 2007 remaster of Closer and was also re-remastered in November 2012 by Analog Loyalist for his blog. I used the 2012 remaster to decode the gig.

Duncan remembers: "At the start of the gig Ian was about to intro the band when Steve cut in and started the drumming on Dead Souls so Ian just started dancing. The second chorus is sung by Hooky because the lead to Ian's microphone fell out...It fell out twice; I can't remember if Hooky picked up the vocals on the other time. Ian just dropped the mic to the floor and walked away when it happened on the chorus...There may be some more photos of this gig.”

Peter Hook had to sing the second chorus and the “Calling me...” chorus by himself. Ian came back for the final chorus. It seems Peter Hook only sang the first three lines of each chorus (except the “Calling me...” one). 

The gig overall is excellent. Not sure if it's one of their best, though. The quality and clarity of the sound is heavily improved by Analog's remasters, but multiple equipment problems during the gig itself continually plague the sound, all throughout. Stephen's drums really sound screwed up; only the cymbals sound normal. Ian's vocals are also screwed up, as Duncan states...

However, this is the quintessential Closer gig. SIX songs from the album were played at this gig (including rarities like "The Eternal"), which is more than any other known gig. Only "Atrocity Exhibition", "Heart and Soul", and "Decades" were left out. The gig also has the LWTUA single - "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and "These Days", which kinda went alongside the Closer album, just as the Transmission single went with Unknown Pleasures. Couple that with the older songs "Digital", "Glass", "Insight", and "Dead Souls", and you have a pretty well rounded gig that can be taken as a visible evolution of the band's career.

Side Note: Still, I wish they would've used the Lyceum Ballroom (February 29, 1980) gig for the 2007 Closer remaster instead. Why? Well, FIVE songs from the Closer album were played at that gig (including "The Eternal" and "Heart and Soul"), the LWTUA single, the synth rendition of "She's Lost Control" (implemented in late February 1980), and most importantly the very rare appearances of "Incubation" and "Komakino", which were Closer outtakes. Also a five-song long soundcheck, which has extra versions of "Incubation" and "Komakino" as well.

This is gig has the absolute BEST version of "Passover" I've ever heard. One of my favorite live JD songs, for sure!

As far as we know, this gig debuts "Isolation". The somewhat different lyrics makes it show.

Ian played his coffin guitar on “The Eternal” (according to Analog Loyalist); sounds during that song are akin to that of “Love Will Tear Us Apart”. I'm pretty sure Ian didn't normally play guitar on “The Eternal”, but this being an early version, they were probably still figuring things out. It also doesn't sound like Bernard plays both keyboards simultaneously at any point in the song (Bernard had two keyboards; one he used for the normal synth drones and the second for the chirping bird sound effects), unlike at the Lyceum Ballroom gig.




Audience member: Yee-hah! 
Audience member: Warsaw! 

Dead Souls 

Someone take these dreams away 
That point me to another day 
A jewel of personalities 
Break all true realities 

And keep calling me 
They keep calling me 
Keep on calling me 
They keep calling me 

Where figures from the past stand tall 
And mocking voices ring the halls 
Imperialistic house of prayer 
Conquistadors who took their share 

They keep calling me 
They keep calling me 
Keep on calling me 

Calling me... 
Calling me... 
Calling me... 
Calling me... 

They keep calling me 
Keep on calling me 
They keep calling me 
They keep calling me 



Glass 

*Drums start up 
Audience member: HOOKY! Warsaw! 
Audience member: Yay! 
Audience member: Hooky! 


Hearts fail, young hearts fail 
Any time, wearing down 
On the run, on the ground 
Take it quick, take it neat 
Take it quick, take it neat 
Take it quick, take it neat, take it quick, take it neat, take it quick... 
Take it neat 

Hearts fail, young hearts fail 
Any time, wearing down 
Overheat, overtired 
Put your hands where they're safe 
Keep your hands where they're safe 
Do it again 
Do it again and again and again 
Do it again and again and again 
Do it again and again and again 
Do it again and again and again 

Any time, pressurized 
Turn around and do it again 
Any time, pressurized 
Turn around and do it again 
Turn around and do it again 
Turn around and do it again 
Do it again 
Do it again and again and again 
Do it again and again and again 
Do it again and again and again 
Do it again and again and again 
Do it again and again and again 

Audience member: Hooky!



A Means to an End 

A legacy, so far removed 
One day will be improved 
Eternal rights, we left behind 
We were the better kind 
Two the same, set free too 
I put my trust in you 
I put my trust in you 
I put my trust in you! 
I put my trust in you! 

Fought all good, stood side by side 
Our friendship never died 
...With points to prove 
Our vision touched the sky 
Captives souls, depart too soon 
I put my trust in you 
I put my trust in you 
I put my trust in you 
I put my trust in you! 
I put my trust in you! 

A house somewhere, on foreign soil 
Where aging lovers call 
Had to see your final needs 
Where dogs and vultures eat 
Come to this, I turn to go 
I put my trust in you 
I put my trust in you 

I put my trust in you! 
I put my trust in you! 
In you, in you, in you 
Put my trust in you, in you 



Twenty-Four Hours 

So this is permanence, love's shattered pride 
What once was innocence, turned on its side 
A cloud hangs over me, marks every move 
Deep in the memory, what once was love 

Oh, how I realized how I wanted time 
Put into perspective, all I had to find 
Just for one moment, thought I had my way 
Looked beyond the day in hand, I watched it slide away 

Excessive flash-points, beyond all reach 
Solitary demands for, all I'd like to keep 
Let's take a ride out, see what we can find 
Valueless collection of hopes and past desires 

Oh, how I realized how I needed time 
Put into perspective, all I had to find 
Just for one moment, thought I had my way 
Looked beyond the day in hand, I watched it slide away 

Now that I've realized, how it's all gone wrong 
Gotta find some therapy; this treatment takes too long 
Deep in the heart of, sympathy held sway 
Gotta find my destiny before it gets too late 

Audience member: Warsaw! 



Passover 

This is the crisis I knew had to come 
Destroying the balance I kept 
Moving, unsettling, and turning around 
Wondering what will come next 
Is this a role that you wanted to live? 
I was foolish to ask for so much 
Without the protection and infancy's guard 
It all falls apart at first touch 

Watching the reel as it comes to a close 
Brutally taking its time 
People who change for no reason at all 
It's happening all of the time 
Can I go on with this chain of events, 
Disturbing and purging my mind? 
Back out of my duties when all's said and done 
I know that I'll lose every time 

Moving along in our God-given ways 
Safety is sat by the fire 
Sanctuary from these feverish smiles 
Left with a mark on the door 
Is this the gift that I wanted to give? 
Forgive and forget's what they teach 
Or pass through the deserts and wastelands once more 
And watch as they drop on the beach 

This is the crisis I knew had to come 
Destroying the balance I'd kept 
Turning around to the next set of lives 
Wondering what will come next... 

Audience member: Warsaw! Warsaw! Warsaw! Warsaw! 
Audience member: Love will tear us apart! 



Insight 

Guess your dreams always end 
They don’t rise up, just descend 
I don’t care anymore 
Lost the will to want more 
Not afraid, not at all 
I watch them all as they fall 
But I remember, when we were young 

Those with habits that waste 
Sense of style and good taste 
Making sure you were right 
Hey, don’t you know you were right? 
Not afraid anymore 
I keep my eyes on the door 
But I remember… 

Tears and sadness for you 
More upheaval for you 
Reflects a moment in time 
Special moment in time 
Yeah, we wasted our time 
We didn't really have time 
But we remember, when we were young 

All God’s angels beware 
All you judges beware 
You sons of chance, take good care 
For all the people not there 
Not afraid anymore 
I'm not afraid anymore 
Oh, I’m not afraid anymore 
Oh, I’m not afraid anymore 

Audience member: Warsaw! Warsaw! 
Audience member: Love will tear us apart! 
Audience members: Yay! Wooh! 
Audience member: Disorder! 



Colony 

A cry for help, a hint of anesthesia 
The sound from broken homes, we used to always meet here 
I watch all Hell break loose, confined and don't repair 
Is this what life's about? Is this the dream we share? 

Can you help me, can you spare some time? 
No apologies, 'cause all these thoughts were mine 
Hope to find some friends that I can lead astray 
Betray father's sleep, witness dormant grave 

I can't see why all these confrontations 
I can't see why all these dislocations 
No family life just made me feel uneasy 
Stood alone, here in this colony 
In this colony 
In this colony 
In this colony 
In this colony 

Dear God in his wisdom took you by the hand 
Dear God in his wisdom made you understand 
Dear God in his wisdom took you by the hand 
Dear God in his wisdom made you understand 
Dear God in his wisdom took you by the hand 
Dear God in his wisdom made you understand 
Dear God in his wisdom took you by the hand 
Dear God in his wisdom made you understand 
In this colony 
In this colony 
In this colony 
In this colony 

Audience member: Warsaw! Warsaw! 
Audience member: Lost control! 



These Days 

Morning seems strange, almost out of place 
Searched hard for you and your special ways 
In these days, these days 

Spent all my time, learned a killer's art 
Took threats and abuse, till I learned my part 
Can you stay, for these days? 

These days 
These days 

Used outward deceptions to get away 
Broken hot romance to make it pay 
These days, these days 

These days 
These days 

Drag through it all, it's the modern age 
Take care of it all, now these debts are paid 
Can you stay, for these days? 

Audience member: Warsaw! Warsaw! 
Audience member: Lost control! She's lost control! 
Audience member: Disorder! 
Audience member: Piano's coming to drag him, now. 
Audience member (in response to the above statement): What? 
Audience member: Oh my God...oh my. 



Love Will Tear Us Apart 

When routine bites hard, and ambitions are low 
And resentment rides high, but emotions won’t grow 
And we’re changing our ways, taking different roads 
Then, love, love will tear us apart again 
Love, love will tear us apart again 

Why is the bedroom so cold? Turned away on your side 
Is my timing that flawed? Our respect runs so dry 
Yet there’s still this appeal that we’ve kept through our lives 
But love, love will tear us apart again 
Love, love will tear us apart again 

Do you cry out in your sleep? All my failings exposed 
There’s a taste in my mouth as desperation takes hold 
Yet it’s something so good, just can’t function no more 
But love, love will tear us apart again 
Love, love will tear us apart again 
Love, love will tear us apart again 
Love, love will tear us apart again 

Audience member: Lost control! 
Audience member: Transmission! (cut off on Duncan's tape) 



Isolation 

Fear, everyday, every evening 
Calls her aloud from above 
Case is secluded for reasons 
Painstaking devotion and love 
Surrendered to self preservation 
Those who just care for themselves 
A blindness that touches perfection 
But hurts just like anything else 

Isolation, isolation, isolation, isolation 

Mother, I tried; please believe me 
Doing the best that I can 
Ashamed of the things I’ve been put through 
Ashamed of the person I am 

Isolation, isolation, isolation, isolation 

Those who could see all the beauty 
Of things I could never describe 
This is my one consolation 
This is my one lucky prize 

Isolation, isolation, isolation, isolation, isolation, isolation 

Ian: K you. 



-Encore Break- 

*Audience screaming and calling for an encore 
Duncan: More! More! 
*Whistles 
Duncan: Oh, you bastard. 
Audience member: I know they're gonna come back.

*Cheering escalates (probably signaling the band coming back) 
Audience member: Lost control! 
Duncan(?): 'Bout fucking time. 
Audience member: She's lost control! 
Audience member: Transmission! 
*Miscellaneous requests 
Audience member: Exercise One! 
Audience member: WARSAW! WARSAW! WARSAW! 
*Audience quiets as Peter plays first note of bass for “The Eternal” 
Audience member: She's lost control! (sounds like 'Minister Trout!') 



The Eternal 

Audience member: As I said, their electric guitar... 
*A bit more chatter 

Procession moves on, the shouting is over 
Praise to the glory, of loved ones now gone 
Talking, they shout, as they sit ‘round their tables 
Scattering flowers, washed down by the rain 
Played by the gate, at the foot of the garden 
Watching them pass, like clouds in the sky 
Try to cry out, in the heat of the moment 
Stood by a fury that burns from inside 

Cry like a child, though these years make me older 
With children, my time is so wastefully spent 
A burden to keep, though their inner communion 
Accept like a curse an unlucky deal 
Stood by the gate, at the foot of the garden 
My view stretches out from the fence to the wall 
No words could describe, no actions determine 
Just watching the trees and the leaves as they fall 

Audience member: Lost control! 



Digital 

Feel it closing in… 
Feel it closing in… 
The fear of whom I call 
Hearing someone call 
Feel it closing in 
Feel it closing in 
Day in, day out 
Day in, day out 
Day in, day out 
Day in, day out 
Day in, day out 
Day in, day out 
Day in, day out 
Day in, day out 

Feel it closing in 
Patterns start to form 
Feeling cold then warm 
Patterns on the wall 
Feel it closing in 
Feel it closing in 
Day in, day out 
Day in, day out 
Day in, day out 
Day in, day out 
Day in, day out 
Day in, day out 
Day in, day out 
Day in, day out 

Still, I look around 
To see just what happened 
Stood by the door alone 
And now it’s fade away 
I see you fade away 
Don’t ever fade away 
I need you here today 
Don’t ever fade away 
Don’t ever fade away 
Fade away, fade away, fade away 
Fade away, fade away, fade away, fade away 
Fade away, fade away, fade away, fade away 

Ian: Thank you, goodnight. 
*Audience calls for more

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