Wallflower of Music

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Les Bain Douches, Paris, France (December 18, 1979) ENTIRE Transcription

Joy Division

Live at Les Bain Douches, Paris, France (December 18, 1979)

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. Passover
2. Wilderness
3. Disorder
4. Love Will Tear Us Apart
5. Insight
6. Shadowplay
7. Transmission
8. Day of the Lords
9. Twenty-Four Hours
10. Colony
11. These Days
12. A Means to an End
13. She’s Lost Control
14. Atrocity Exhibition
15. Interzone
16. Warsaw

This gig, in my opinion, is one of the better overall JD gigs. The second European gig before the short European tour in January 1980 (the first was at Plan K, October 1979), Joy Division played a great, long performance, showcasing some of their best songs. The recording of the gig is in superb quality. Well, for the most part. The soundboard hasn't been completely released, but the show, no matter how or where you listen to it, is still very listenable. Highly recommended, if you can still find it.

Thanks to Darkman, who first transcribed "A Means to an End" from this show and shared it with me.

Peter Hook sings the lead vocal on “Interzone”, while Ian sings the backing vocal. It’s really hard to decipher what Ian is saying here (or even hear him singing at all, since the song is only available in a low-fi audience recording), so I’ll just be providing the lyrics to what Peter’s singing.

Passover

This is a crisis I knew had to come

Destroying the balance I kept

Unsettling, and doubting, and turning around

Wondering what will come next

This is her goal that you wanted to live

I was foolish to ask for so much

Without the protection, an infancy's guard

It all falls apart at first touch

Watching the reel as it comes to a close

Brutally taking its time

Women who die for no reason at all

It's happening all of the time

Can I go on with this train 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 cross on the door

Is this the gift that I wanted to give?

Forgive and forget's what they preach

Or drift through the deserts and wastelands once more

And watch them washed up on the beach

This is the crisis I knew had to come

Destroying the balance I'd kept

Moving along to the next set of lives

Wondering what will come next...

Wilderness

I traveled far and wide through courts of ancient kings

What did you see there?

I saw the saints with their toys

What did you see there?

I saw all knowledge destroyed

I traveled far and wide through many different times

I traveled far and wide through prisons of the cross

What did you see there?

The power and glory of sin

What did you see there?

The blood of Christ on their skins

I traveled far and wide through many different times

I traveled far and wide where unknown martyrs died

What did you see there?

I saw the one-sided trials

What did you see there?

I saw the tears as they cried

They had tears in their eyes, tears in their eyes

Tears in their eyes, tears in their eyes

Disorder

I’ve been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand

Could these sensations make me feel the pleasures of a normal man?

These sensations barely interest me for another day

I’ve got the spirit, lose the feeling; take the shock away

It’s getting faster, moving faster now; it’s getting out of hand

We’re on the tenth floor down the backstairs; it’s a no man’s land

Lights are flashing, cars are crashing; getting frequent now

I’ve got the spirit, lose the feeling; let it out somehow

What means to you what means to me and we will meet again

I’m watching you, I watch it all; I take no pity from your friends

Who is right, who is so, and who gives a damn right now?

I’ve got the spirit, lose the feeling; let it out somehow

Got the spirit, lose the feeling; let it out somehow

I got the spirit, but lose the feeling!

I got the spirit…

Feeling, feeling, feeling, feeling, feeling

Bernard(?): What a good title from the moment we played.

Love Will Tear Us Apart

When routine bites hard, and ambition is low

And resentment rides high, but emotions won’t grow

And we’re changing our ways, taking different roads

Well, 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? All our feelings run dry

Yet there’s still 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

Yeah, there’s this 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

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 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

Shadowplay

Ian: Turn the vocals up, please.

To the center of the city where all roads meet waiting for you

To the depths of the ocean where all hope sank searching for you

I was moving through the silence without motion, waiting for you

In a room where the window in the corner, I found truth

In the shadowplay, acting out your own death; knowing no more

As the assassins all grouped four lines dancing on the floor

Yeah, with cold steel odor on their bodies made a move to connect

I could only stare in disbelief as the crowds all left

I did everything, everything I wanted to

I let them use you, for their own ends!

To the center of the city in the night, waiting for you

Transmission

Radio, live transmission

Listen to the silence; let it ring on

Eyes, dark gray lenses, frightened of the sun

We would have a fine time, living in the night

Left to blind destruction, waiting for our sight

We would go on as though nothing was wrong

Hide from these days, we remained all alone

Stayed in the same place, just staring all the time

Touching from a distance, further all the time

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

I would call out when the going gets tough

The things that we’ve learned seem no longer enough

No language, just sound, is all we need know

To synchronize love to the beat of the show

And we could DANCE!

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

Day of the Lords

This is the room, the start of it all

No portrait so fine or machines on the walls

I’ve seen the nights, filled with blood-sport and pain

And the bodies obtained, the bodies obtained

Where will it end?

These are your friends, from childhood through youth

Who goaded you on, demanded more proof

Withdrawal pain is hard, and drew you right in

So distorted and thin, distorted and thin

Where will it end?

This is the car at the edge of the road

There’s nothing disturbed, all the windows are closed

I guess you were right when we talked in the heat

There’s no room for the weak, no room for the weak

Where will it end?

Where will it end?!

This is the room, the start of it all

Through childhood, through youth, I remember it all

I’ve seen the nights, filled with blood-sport and pain

And the bodies obtained, the bodies obtained, the bodies obtained…

Where will it end?

Where will it end?!

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, now I realized, how I wanted time

Put into perspective, really have to find

Just for one moment, thought I heard a call

Looked into the day in hand, there’s no one there at all

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

A valueless collection of hopes and desires

Oh, how I realized, how I needed time

Put into perspective, with hopes I had to find

Just for one moment, heard somebody call

Looked into the day in hand, there’s no one there at all

Now that I realized how it’s all gone wrong

Gotta find some therapy, this treatment takes too long

Deep in the heart of where sympathy held sway

Gotta find my destiny, before it slides away

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 are mine

Hope to find some friend to maybe lead astray

To witness dormant sleep, see father's grave

I can't see why all these dislocations

I can't see why all these confrontations

No family life just made me feel uneasy

Stood right here, inside this colony

In this colony

Dear God in his wisdom took you by the hand

God in his wisdom made you understand

Dear God in his wisdom took you by the hand

God in his wisdom made you understand

Yeah, God in his wisdom took you by the hand

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

These Days

Morning seems strange, almost out of place

Searched hard for you and your special ways

In these days

These days

I spent all my time, learnt a killer's art

Took threats and abuse till I learned the part

Can you stay for these days?

These days

Used outward deceptions to get away

Broken our romance to make it pay

Can you stay for these days?

These days

We'll drift through it all, it's the modern age

Take care of it all, now these debts are paid

Can you stay for these days?

A Means to an End

A legacy so far removed

One day we’ll be improved

Simple trials, the truth is gone

Shed life we've never known

A different life, to set free

One day we’ll be improved

I put my trust in you

We fought for good, stood side by side

Our friendship never died

On stranger waves, the highs and lows

Our vision touched the sky

Captive souls, the fruit is sin

I put my trust in you

House somewhere, foreign soil

Where aging lovers call

Is this your goal, your final right

I took my time with him

I turn to go, took time to see

I put my trust in you

In you, in you, in you

Put my trust, in you, in you

In you, in you, in you

She’s Lost Control

Confusion in her eyes that says it all

She's lost control

And she's clinging to the nearest passerby

She's lost control

And she gave the secrets of her past and said

"I've lost control again."

And of a voice that told her when and where to act

She shed, "I've lost control again."

And she turned to me and took me by the hand

And said, "I've lost control again."

And how I'll never just why or understand

She said, "I've lost control again."

And she screamed out, kicking on her side

And said, "I've lost control again."

She's seized up on the floor; I thought she'd die

She said, "I've lost control again."

She's lost control again

She's lost control

She's lost control again

She's lost control

Well, I had to 'phone her friend to state her case

And say, "She's lost control again."

Then she showed up all the errors and mistakes until

She lost control again

And she expressed herself in many different ways until

She lost control again

And walked upon the edge of no escape, then laughed

"I've lost control again."

She's lost control again

She's lost control

She's lost control again

She's lost control

Atrocity Exhibition

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 still exist."

This is the way, step inside

In arenas, he kills for a prize

Wins a minute to add to his life

Yeah, 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

This is the way, step inside

You'll see mass murder on a scale you've never seen

You'll see the ones who try hard to succeed

You'll meet the architects of law face to face

See the horrors of a faraway place

This is the way, step inside

This is the way

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step in...

INSIDE!

You wanna see some more?! Step inside!

Wanna see some more?! Step inside!

Interzone

I walked through the city limits

Attracted by some source within it

Around a corner where some prophet lay

A wire fence, where the children played

And I was looking for some friends of mine

Yeah, looking for some friends of mine

Metallic blue turned red with rust

A hidden view, all forgotten youth

Are turned to a knife-edged view

And I was looking for some friends of mine

Yeah, looking for some friends of mine

The houses looked the same

I walked ‘round and ‘round

Nail me to a train

Had to find a way

Had to find a way to GET OUT!

Saw some windows, ten in a row

The light shined like a neon show

No place to stop, no place to go

I guess they died some time ago

And I was looking for some friends of mine

Yeah, looking for some friends of mine

Warsaw

I was there in the backstage

When first light came around

I grew up not a changeling

To win the first time around

I could see all the weakness

I could pick all the faults

But I concede all the faith tests

Just to stick in your throats

31G, 31G, 31G

Hung around in your soundtrack

To mirror all that you've done

Find the right side of reason

Kill the three lies for one

I could see all the cold facts

I could see through your eyes

All this talk made no contact

No matter how hard we tried

31G, 31G, 31G

I can still hear the footsteps

I can see only walls

I slid into your man-traps

With no hearing at all

I just see contradiction

Had to give up the fight

Just to live in the past tense,

To make believe you were right

31G, 31G, 31G

3, 5, 0, 1, 2, 5

Ian: Thank you, goodnight.

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed!

Monday, December 31, 2012

First Lyrics to Closing Lyrics (A Series) Pt.8: I Remember Nothing

Happy New Year's Eve, everyone! Been a busy day for me...renovations and stuff.

Hours before 2012 ends and 2013 starts, I figured I'd make another post in my little series. Don't worry; it'll continue on into the new year. Just to recap, this is going to be a part of a 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.

As I mentioned before, for this post, I was going to do either "I Remember Nothing" or "Exercise One". I decided to do I Remember Nothing.

"I Remember Nothing" was either an opener or a closer (minus encores) to every JD gig it was performed in. It is also the closer to the first JD album Unknown Pleasures. Along with "In a Lonely Place", this was arguably one of their eeriest, loneliest, darkest songs. This is an interesting song; Ian plays guitar, while Bernard plays synth. Live versions seemed to indicate where New Order would take a lot of their early music, especially with songs like "Temptation" and their version of "In a Lonely Place".

Not too many JD versions of this song exist; like "Candidate", it seemed it wasn't a favorite of either the band or the audience. As such, I have decoded EVERY known version and am posting them here. If I'm missing any version, please let me know.

The song was already in existence and played live before Unknown Pleasures. The lyrics, again, like "Candidate", were fully developed in the album version, but then morphed and amputated slightly for all future versions, which is both a crying shame and really strange for a JD song. True, the album version had overdubs to include more vocals/lyrics and they couldn't exactly replicate that for live versions, but Peter Hook could've sang with Ian during gigs AND Ian could've sang more lyrics than he did for the live versions. Anyway, most versions last about 6 minutes, including the album version, but there are also versions that range from about 5 minutes to 8 minutes long.

First known version, first live version. Closed the concert (or would have, if not for "Sister Ray", which I don't know was an encore or not). Despite the horrendous quality of the recording, you can actually pick out a few of Ian's lyrics. But it was difficult, and I may or may not have gotten some of them wrong. If you have any corrections, please let me know. Also, the date of this version is debatable, but I listed it as its most likely date.

Band on the Wall, Manchester (March 13, 1979) [?]

We were strangers

We were strangers for way too long

For way too long

We were strangers

We strangers

Strangers

Second version, second live version. Closed the concert, with "No Love Lost" as the encore. I find it strange that this version has less lyrics than the last version. Perhaps that could be used to date the previous version more accurately, but I dunno. Probably just Ian still figuring out the song. This version lasts almost exactly 5 minutes and has the least amount of lyrics of any version:

Bowdon Vale Youth Club, Altrincham (March 14, 1979)

We were strangers

We were strangers for way too long

For way too long...

Strangers

Ooh...strangers

Third version, studio version. The overdubbed vocals are the ones in parentheses. The line with asterisks was extremely hard to decipher; Ian mumbles it, but that's what it sounds like to me. Let me know if you have a different interpretation. All future versions would only include snippets of these lyrics:

'Unknown Pleasures' Album Version (April 1979)

We were strangers

We were strangers for way too long

For way too long

We were (violent) strangers for way too (violent) long

*In therapy...*

Get weak all the time, may just pass the time

Me in my own world

Yeah, you there beside

The gaps are enormous; we stare from each side

We were strangers for way too long

Violent, more violent, his hand cracks the chair

Moves on reaction, then slumps in despair

Trapped in a cage and surrendered too soon

Me in my own world, the one that you knew

(For way too long)

(We were strangers for way too long)

We were strangers

We were strangers for way too long

For way too, aw, long

Fourth version. The first time the song opened a concert. Also, interesting history with this version. The taper of the gig was Duncan Haysom. Duncan remembers: “A month or so after Ian's death, when I first met Rob Gretton at Rough Trade in London, with six of my Joy Division master tapes, it was the Futurama tape that he wanted to hear first. He put on “I Remember Nothing” and I said he should fast forward to “Wilderness” as he'd be able to assess the tape better. He just smiled and said "I can tell fine with this track". He handed me a copy of Licht Und Blindheit/Sordide Sentimental and about 6 of those Flexi freebies. Rob was a really nice bloke.”:

Futurama One Festival, Leeds (September 8, 1979)

We were strangers

We were strangers for way too long

Way too long

Way too long...

Violent

Get weak all the time

May just pass the time

Me in my own world

You there beside

We were strangers for way too long

We were strangers, way too long

Fifth version. Also an opener:

Electric Ballroom, London (October 26, 1979)

We were strangers

We were strangers for way too long

For way too long

For way too long...

Violent

Get weak all the time

May just pass some time

Me in my own world

You there beside

We were strangers

We were strangers for way too long

Sixth version. Closed the concert, with "Transmission" as the encore. There is video footage of this version, and it's extremely atmospheric, dark, and creepy. Ian is terrifying. This is also the longest version, lasting almost 8 minutes:

Apollo Theatre, Manchester (October 28, 1979)

We were strangers

We were strangers for way too long

For way too long

For way too long...

Violent

Get weak all the time

May just pass the time

Me in my own world

You there beside

We were strangers

We were strangers, strangers

Way too long, for way too long...

Seventh and final version. Opened the concert:

Winter Gardens, Bournemouth (November 2, 1979) [Last Known Performance]

We were strangers

We were strangers for way too long

For way too long

For way too long...

Violent

Get weak all the time

May just pass the time

Me in my own world

You there beside

Just like strangers, way too long

And that's all I have today. Thank you all so much for reading my blog and following it. Happy New Year once again. Hope you all have a fantastic year. :)

-Wallflower

Friday, December 28, 2012

First Lyrics to Closing Lyrics (A Series) Pt.7: Candidate

I'm in a pretty prolific mood, so why not another one?

Just to recap, this is going to be a part of 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.

Today's choice is a lesser known/celebrated song in the JD catalog: Candidate.

This song is one of my friend's personal favorite JD songs. Cheers, Darkman! :)

Despite two studio recordings, "Candidate" was rarely played live. At least, all recordings of gigs we have point to that conclusion. As such, I have decoded EVERY known version and am posting them here. If I'm missing any version, please let me know.

Every version seemed to differ significantly in some way or another, either with length, guitar riffs, or vocals. The earliest known version, the studio version found on Unknown Pleasures, is both the longest running version (about 3 minutes) and the most lyrically complete (with three verses and a closing chorus). After that, all versions seemed to be shorted significantly (to about 2 minutes, two verses, and no chorus).

It's curious as to why they did this. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any other JD song where Ian established a full set of lyrics for it early on, then started just completely amputating them.

First known version, first studio version:

‘Unknown Pleasures’ Album Version (April 1979)

Forced by the pressure, the territories marked

No longer the pleasure; I've since lost the heart

Corrupted from memory; no longer the power

It’s creeping up slowly, that last fatal hour

Oh, I don’t know what made me, what gave me the right

To mess with your values, and change wrong to right

Please keep your distance, the trail leads to here

There’s blood on your fingers, brought on by fear

I campaigned for nothing; I worked hard for this

I tried to get to you, you treat me like this

It’s just second nature; it’s what we’ve been shown

We’re living by your rules; that’s all that we know

I tried to get to you

Oh, I tried to get to you

Second version, second studio version:

Piccadilly Radio Session (June 4, 1979)

Forced by the pressure, the territories marked

No longer the pleasure, I've since lost the heart

Corrupted from memory, relinquish the power

It’s creeping up slowly, that last fatal hour

Please keep your distance, the trail leads to here

There’s blood on your fingers, brought on by fear

I campaigned for nothing; I worked hard for this

I tried to get to you, you treat me like this

Third version, first live version. This is the strangest and most unique version of all. It is only about 1:30 minutes long and only has one verse (which, btw, has a break between each of the four lines):

Roots Club, Leeds (July 11, 1979)

Forced by the pressure, the territories marked

No longer the pleasure, I've since lost the heart

Corrupted from memory, relinquish the power

It’s creeping up slowly, that last fatal hour

Fourth version. This is the most familiar live version, because it was included on both the Heart and Soul boxset and the 2007 2CD remaster of Unknown Pleasures. I assume this is the version that the Control movie's live version was based on, given the similar composition:

The Factory/Russell Club, Manchester (July 13, 1979)

Forced by the pressure, the territories marked

No longer the pleasure, I've since lost the heart

Corrupted from memories, no longer the power

It’s creeping up slow, that last fatal hour

Please keep your distance, the trail leads to here

Blood on your fingers, brought on by fear

I campaigned for nothing; I worked hard for this

I tried to get to you, you treat me like this

Fifth version (Ian screws up the last lines of the first verse; I can't make out the final line too well). The taper of this gig was apparently asked to leave the venue. He managed to record just four songs. "Candidate" was the last one he recorded:

Nashville Ballrooms, London (August 13, 1979)

Forced by the pressure, the territories marked

No longer the pleasure, I’ve since lost the heart

Corrupted from memory, I worked hard for this

No one could tell me, the blood on...

Please keep your distance, the trail leads to here

There's blood on your fingers, brought on by fear

I campaigned for nothing; I worked hard for this

I tried to get to you, you treat me like this

Sixth and final version:

Civic Hall, Guildford (November 1, 1979) [Last Known Performance]

Forced by the pressure, the territories marked

No longer the pleasure, I’ve since lost the heart

Corrupted from memory, no longer the power

It’s creeping up slowly, that last final hour

Please keep your distance, the trail leads to here

Blood on your fingers, brought on by fear

I campaigned for nothing; I worked hard for this

I tried to get to you, you treat me like this

And that's all, folks. Again, please let me know if I missed any version. Thanks for reading. Next one will probably be either "I Remember Nothing" or "Exercise One". :)

Thursday, December 27, 2012

First Lyrics to Closing Lyrics (A Series) Pt.6: Transmission

A belated Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all! And if you don't like either of those, then Happy Shut-The-Fuck-Up. Anyway, here's another lyrical comparison.

Just to recap, this is going to be a part of 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.

Today's choice is a song that lyrically really didn't receive too much variation through Joy Division's career and is often regarded as one of their poppiest and best songs: Transmission.

I can think of no other Joy Division song that was recorded in the studio or performed live more times than this song. FIVE different studio recordings (counting the Peel session), a performance live on TV, and ENDLESS amounts of concert performances. Dear God...one of their few songs that attracted a lot of attention to the band, alongside "She's Lost Control" and "Love Will Tear Us Apart".

Deborah Curtis, in her book Touching From a Distance, said this of Transmission: "The Paris gig [Les Bain Douches] later in December was attended by a young Frenchman called Franck Essner. After hearing 'Transmission' on the radio, he and his friends had tried to set up a publication of a fanzine and intended to use this as a means of acquainting themselves with the band that wrote the song they loved so much. Towards the end of the afternoon, Franck managed to talk Rob [Gretton] into the idea of an interview and they exchanged addresses. Later, he sat next to Ian for dinner and they became friends."

It has been documented that Ian only wanted one album (Unknown Pleasures) and one single. After the "Transmission" single was released, his ambitions were realized, and he wanted out of the music business. However, by the time the single was released on November 16, 1979, the band was beginning to get really huge. So Ian persevered, leading to the Closer album and the "Love Will Tear Us Apart" single. This always made me wonder. Ian only wanted ONE album, right? Well, originally, the RCA sessions from May 1978 were going to be the first album, before the deal fell through. Had those sessions been released as a proper album, would Ian have stayed in the music business, due to the band's popularity, and thus still killed himself? Keep in mind, in 1978, they were still very unknown and hadn't played too many gigs. Not to mention, we have no idea how well the album would have been received. My guess is that it would not have gotten the same universally well-received reviews as Unknown Pleasures. If the album had been officially released, followed by a single in 1979, I wonder what would have happened differently. Would Ian have met Annik? Would the material for Closer have been created? Would Ian have been several suicide attempts? One can only wonder...

Anyway, back on track! There's no way I'm going to document every version of "Transmission"; not only because there are so many, but especially given how the song didn't go through much lyrical change, as aforementioned. So, I have decided to include every studio version and a FEW live versions, each with extremely slight variation. I go in chronologically order for the first few versions, so I will be referring to the first few as "first", "second", "third", etc, but then I will start to skip around a bit.

First known version, first studio version. This is the only version that significantly differs from every other version of the song (which is understandable, given how early it is), both musically and lyrically. It has a lot of spacey, weird effects akin to the kind you would perhaps expect from the Moog that they used live for the siren sounds in "Disorder". The guitar riffs differ in some places, and Ian doesn't scream the "And we could dance" line:

RCA Sessions, Arrow Studios, Manchester (May 3-4, 1978)

Radio, live transmission

Listen to the silence; let it ring on

Eyes, dark gray lenses, frightened of the sun

We would make a fine pair, living in the night

Left to blind destruction; take away our sight

We could go on as though nothing was wrong

And hide from the days to remain all alone

Stayed in the same place, staring all the time

Touching from a distance, further all the time

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

And I could call out when the going gets tough

And we could make contact if we just holler

No language, just sound, is all that I know

We'll synchronize love to the beat of the show

And we could dance

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

Second version, second studio version. This is when the lyrics and music start becoming more modern, like how you would expect them to be:

1^st Peel Session (January 31, 1979)

Radio, live transmission

Listen to the silence; let it ring on

Eyes, dark gray lenses, frightened of the sun

We would have a fine time, living in the night

Left to blind destruction, waiting for our sight

We would go on as though nothing was wrong

Hide from these days to remain all alone

Stayed in the same place, just staying out the time

Touching from a distance, further all the time

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

And I would call out when the going gets tough

The things that we've learned are no longer enough

No language, just sound, is all we need know

To synchronize love to the beat of the show

And we could DANCE!

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

Third version, third studio version. I ALWAYS loved the double guitar riff after the second "Radio, live transmission" line in this version (and I think it's pretty exclusive to this version as well). There are also a few changes in the bass riff, which I also like:

Genetic Demo, Eden Studios, London (March 4, 1979)

Radio, live transmission

Listen to the silence; let it ring on

Eyes, dark gray lenses, frightened of the sun

We would have a fine time, living in the night

Left to blind destruction, waiting for our sight

We would go on as though nothing was wrong

Hide from these days, we remained all alone

Stayed in the same place, just staying out the time

Touching from a distance, further all the time

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

I would call out when the going gets tough

The things that we've learned are no longer enough

No language, just sound, is all we need know

To synchronize love to the beat of the show

And we could DANCE!

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

Fourth version, first known live version. I'm pretty sure this is also the earliest version where you can hear Peter Hook singing backing vocals on the choruses. Bernard Sumner might also be doing this, but I can't really distinguish his voice. Ian sings like his normal enigmatic self, while Peter pretty much barks and growls through the song:

Live at the Bowdown Vale Youth Club, Altrincham (March 14, 1979)

Radio, live transmission

Listen to the silence; let it ring on

Eyes, dark gray lenses, frightened of the sun

We would have a fine time, living in the night

Left a blind destruction, waiting for our sight

We would go on as though nothing was wrong

Hide from these days, we remained all alone

Stayed in the same place, just staying out the time

Touching from a distance, further all the time

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

Oh, I would call out when the going gets tough

The things that we've learned are no longer enough

No language, just sound; all we need know

To synchronize love to the beat of the show

And we could DANCE!

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

Alright, I'm skipping ahead now to the fourth studio version. This was the demo version they recorded before the Single version. Ian sings really badly here, and his voice cracks on the word "beat":

1^st Transmission Single session, Central Sound Studios, Manchester (Mid-July 1979)

Radio, live transmission

Listen to the silence; let it ring on

Eyes, dark gray lenses, frightened of the sun

We would have a fine time, living in the night

Left to blind destruction, waiting for our sight

We would go on as though nothing was wrong

Hide from these days, we remained all alone

Staying in the same place, staring out the time

Touching from a distance, further all the time

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

I would call out when the going gets tough

The things that we've learned are no longer enough

No language, just sound, is all we need know

To synchronize love to the beat of the show

And we could DANCE!

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

And here is the fifth and final studio version, which became the "Transmission" single version:

“Transmission” Single, Strawberry Studios, Stockport (July 28-August 4, 1979)

Radio, live transmission

Listen to the silence; let it ring on

Eyes, dark gray lenses, frightened of the sun

We would have a fine time, living in the night

Left to blind destruction, waiting for our sight

We would go on as though nothing was wrong

Hide from these days, to remain all alone

Stay in the same place, just staying out the time

Touching from a distance, further all the time

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

Well, I could call out when the going gets tough

The things that we've learned are no longer enough

No language, just sound, is all we need know

To synchronize love to the beat of the show

And we could DANCE!

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

And let's skip ahead again. From here on out, these are all just random live versions with slight differences here and there:

Futurama One Festival, Leeds (September 8, 1979)

Radio, live transmission

Listen to the silence; let it ring on

Eyes, dark gray lenses, frightened of the sun

We would have a fine time, living in the night

Left to blind destruction, waiting for our sight...

Sight

We would go on as though nothing was wrong

Hide from these days, we remained all alone

Stayed in the same place, just stayed out the time

Touching from a distance, further all the time

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

I would call out when the going gets tough

Things that we've learned seemed no longer enough

No language, just sound, is all we need know

To synchronize love to the beat of the show

And we could DANCE!

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

“Something Else” BBC2 TV (September 15, 1979)

Radio, live transmission

Listen to the silence; let it ring on

Eyes, dark gray lenses, frightened of the sun

We would have a fine time, living in the night

Left to blind destruction, waiting for our sight

We would go on as though nothing was wrong

Hide from these days, we remained all alone

Stayed in the same place, just staying out the time

Touching from a distance, further all the time

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

Oh, I would call out when the going gets tough

The things that you’ve learned are no longer enough

No language, just sound, is all we need know

To synchronize love to the beat of the show

And we could DANCE!

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

Live at The Warehouse, Preston (February 28, 1980)

Radio, live transmission

Listen to the silence; let it ring on

Eyes, dark gray lenses, frightened of the sun

We would have a fine time, living in the night

Left to blind destruction, waiting four our sight

We would go on as though nothing was wrong

Hide from these days, we remained all alone

Staying in the same place, just staring all the time

Touching from a distance, further all the time

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

I would call out when the going gets tough

The things that we've learned seem no longer enough

No language, just sound, is all we need know

To synchronize love to the beat of the show

And we could DANCE!

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

Now this very last version actually DOES differ significantly in the last verse. It's hard to tell what Ian is saying, since he mumbles through it (given how many times he's sang the song up to this point, how could he forget the lyrics?), but I did my best to decode it (if anyone has a different interpretation please let me know). Just read it and you'll see just how weird it is:

High Hall, Birmingham University (May 2, 1980) [Last Live Performance/Version]

Radio, live transmission
Radio, live transmission

Listen to the silence, let it ring on
Eyes, dark gray lenses, frightened of the sun
We could have a fine time, living in the night
Left to blind destruction, waiting for our sight
Sight...

We would go on as though nothing was wrong
Hide from these days, we remained all alone
Stayed in the same place, just staying out the time
Touching from a distance, further all the time

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio

I would go on as though nothing was wrong
And hide from these days where Zeus was wrong
Head to the same place, just staring at no lie
Get to the bottom of, we wouldn't shine
And we could DANCE!

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio!
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio!
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio!
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio!

Well, that about wraps it up. Thanks for reading, I hope you found this post informative and thought-provoking, and have a glorious New Year! :)

-Wallflower

Sunday, November 18, 2012

First Lyrics to Closing Lyrics (A Series) Pt.5: Atmosphere

It's been a while...here's another one.

Just to recap, this is going to be a part of 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.

Today's choice is going to be a little bit shorter. Like the very first "First To Closing Lyrics" post, I will only be taking a look at one song's two studio versions: Chance/Atmosphere.

Often regarded as one of JD's best songs, "Atmosphere" is a time-honored capsule of JD itself. It's one of my personal favorite songs of theirs, like anyone.

Most people nowadays know that the first version of the song was originally called "Chance", as that version was included on the Heart and Soul boxset. The song was an in-studio improvisation, done during the Piccadilly Radio Sessions on June 4, 1979. At the time, no name was given to it, so Martin Hannet dubbed the song "Chance". The lyrics of that early version were pretty different than what they would ultimately become.

The song held its name for live shows, apparently until the gig at Royalty Theatre, Kingsway, London on June 17, 1979. Rob Gretton’s physical set-list from that show was published in 2006 and apparently the name “Chance” was crossed out and replaced with the name “Atmosphere”. Who renamed it, I don't know, but from then on, the song was known by that name.

First version:

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

Walk in silence

Walk away in silence

See the danger, always danger

Endless talking, life rebuilding

Don’t walk away

Face the danger

Walk in silence

Don’t walk away in silence

See the danger, always danger

Rules are broken

False emotions

Don’t walk away

People like you find it easy

Always in tune, walking on air

They’re hunting in pacts, by the rivers through the streets

It may happen soon, then maybe you’ll care

Walk away, walk away

From danger

I…I’m just crossing the line

Just crossing the line

Trying to get by

Back where I was, back where I was…

See me crossing the line

Don’t walk away

From the danger…

Just crossing the line…

(The full version has never been released in any form, unfortunately...the song fades out with the closing "Just crossing the line..." lines.)

Lyrically, "Chance" is a lot longer and more fragile than the later version. Ian sings it with a great deal of insecurity, it seems. I guess he wasn't used to improvising with lyrics (as you can tell in some of the IALP rehearsals). I actually prefer these lyrics. I wish Ian had kept the choruses. FYI, I plan on covering the constant "line" imagery that I keep seeing in Ian's lyrics sometime...

The second, more famous version (that Anton Corbijn's video used):

‘Sordide Sentimental’ Studio Session (October-November 1979)

Walk in silence

Don’t walk away in silence

See the danger, always danger

Endless talking, life rebuilding

Don’t walk away

Walk in silence

Don’t turn away in silence

Your confusion, my illusion

Worn like a mask of self hate

Confronts and then dies

Don’t walk away

People like you find it easy

Naked to see, walking on air

Hunting by the rivers, through the streets; every corner

Abandoned too soon, set down with due care

Don’t walk away in silence

Don’t walk away

And there you have it! Atmosphere's evolution. I plan on covering the many live versions of "Atmosphere" some other time. Ian would change the lyrics and combine these two drafts CONSTANTLY during live shows.

Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading.

-Wallflower