Joy Division
Live at Paradiso, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (January 11, 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.
Set 1:
1. Passover
2. Wilderness
3. Digital
4. Day of the Lords
5. Insight
6. New Dawn Fades
7. Disorder
8. Transmission
Set 2:
9. Love Will Tear Us Apart
10. These Days
11. A Means to an End
12. Twenty-Four Hours
13. Shadowplay
14. She's Lost Control
15. Atrocity Exhibition
16. Atmosphere
17. Interzone
Again, one of their best gigs. Certainly the longest, at over 71 minutes (longer if you count the pieces not recorded), and the best sounding by far. This was the start of their short January 1980 European tour.
“Passover” is incomplete (missing the beginning) on all versions and the lyrics start with the third verse. In between "Transmission" and "LWTUA", the band took a quick one minute break. The gig was actually meant to be two sets in one, which is awesome.
This gig has been EXTREMELY well documented, despite few pictures from the gig appearing online. Pretty much all the additional info you could ever want about the gig may be found in this forum thread from the JoyDiv website. Please check it out:
http://lwtua.websitetoolbox.com/post/Paradiso-Amsterdam...Filmed-6009831
The performance itself wasn't perfect. It seems that Ian kept moving to and away from the microphone all throughout the gig. Either that, or Terry Mason was drunk that night and could barely maintain Ian's mic clarity/volume, since it's all over the place. Also, the band makes quite a few mistakes. Peter's bass playing during "LWTUA" is pretty messy.
During Interzone, sadly you can't hear Ian too well (again, due to either his mic or him). In italics, I only wrote down what I could hear for sure when he sang alongside Peter Hook. There are spaces between the song lines signaling where Ian should be singing but can't be heard.
Passover
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?
Perfection and all, what they teach
Pass 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
Turning around to the next set of lives
Wondering what will come next...
Ian: Q. (faint)
*Lots of electric crackling and feedback
Wilderness
I traveled far and wide to courts of ancient kings
What did you see there?
I saw the saints with their toys
What did you see there?
I saw our knowledge destroyed
I traveled far and wide to many different lands
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
Digital
Feel it closing in…
Feel it closing in…
Power in a wall
See it moves and fall
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
Shadows 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
Now as 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
Don’t ever fade away
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
Ian: Q. Turn the fallback up, Terry, please.
Day of the Lords
This is the room, the start of it all
No portrait so fine, only sheets on the walls
I've seen the nights, filled with bloodsport and pain
And the bodies obtained, the bodies obtained
Where will it end?
Where will it end?
Where will it end?
Where will it end?
These are your friends, from childhood, through youth
Who goaded you on, wanted more proof
Withdrawal pain is hard, drew you right in
So distorted and thin, distorted and thin
Where will it end?
Where will it end?
Where will it end?
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?
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
Oh, I've seen the nights filled with bloodsport and pain
And the bodies obtained, the bodies obtained, the bodies obtained
Where will it end?
Where will it end?
Where will it end?
Where will it end?
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
Oh, 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
I’m not afraid anymore
Oh, I’m not afraid anymore
New Dawn Fades
Ian: Turn the foldback up, please.
Change of speed, change of style
Change of scene, with no regret
A chance to watch, admire the distance
Still occupied, though you forget
Different colors, different shades
Over each mistakes were made; I took the blame
Directionless, so plain to see; a loaded gun won't set you free
So you say
We'll share a drink and step outside
An angry voice and one who cried
Oh, I'll give you everything and more
The strain's too much, can't take much more
Oh, I've walked on water, danced through fire
Can't seem to take it anymore
It was me...me
Waiting for me this time, hoping for something more
It was me...me
Watching it fade away, wherein the world is dead
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
Oh, I 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 got the spirit, lose the feeling; let it out somehow
What means to you what means to me, and we will meet again
Oh, I’m watching you, I watch it all, I take no pity from your friends
But who is right, who can tell, and who gives a damn right now?
I got a spirit, but lose the feeling; let it out somehow
Oh, I got the spirit, lose the feeling; let it out somehow
Oh, I got the spirit...
Lose the feeling!
Oh, I got the spirit, lose the feeling
I got the spirit
Lose the feeling, feeling, feeling, feeling, feeling, feeling...
Transmission
Radio, live 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 staying all 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
Oh, I would call out when the going gets tough
The things that we’ve learned seemed no longer enough
No language, just sound, is all I need know
To synchronize love to the beat of the show
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
*Audience cheers
*Silence, as the band takes a break
*Synth noise (that sounds like Atmosphere), bass plays single note repeatedly
*Ian plays a chord on his guitar, bass stops
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
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, learnt a killer's art
Took threats and abuse, till I made my part
Can you stay, for these days?
These days
These days
Use outward deceptions to get away
Broken hot romance to make it pay
Can you stay for these days?
These days
These days
We'll 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?
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
Oh, I've put my trust in you
Oh, I put my trust in you
Oh, I put my trust in you
We fought for good, stood side by side
Our friendship never died
On stranger waves, lows and highs
Our vision touched the sky
Captive souls, depart too soon
Oh, I put my trust in you
Oh, I've put my trust in you
Oh, I've put my trust in you
Oh, I put my trust in you
House somewhere, foreign soil
Where aging lovers call
It's come to this, hope to go
No life can't do it alone
Stranger part, racist still
Oh, I put my trust in you
Oh, I put my trust in you
Oh, I put my trust in you
Oh, 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 this memory, what once was love
Oh, how I realized how I needed time
But into perspective, things I had to find
Just for one moment, thought I'd got my way
Looked beyond the day in hand, there's no way left to pay
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 wanted time
Thought into perspective, see I had to find
Just for one moment, thought I'd heard a call
Looked beyond the day in heard, there's no one there at all
Now that I realized, how it's all gone wrong
Gotta find some therapy; before it takes too long
I knew a time pull, just to make a day
Gotta find my destiny before it gets too late
Shadowplay
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
Oh, I was moving through the silence without motion, waiting for you
In a room with no window in the corner, I found truth
In the shadowplay, acting out your own death; knowing no more
As the assassins all grouped in four lines dancing on the floor
Yeah, with cold steel odor on their bodies made a move to connect
Well, 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
To the center of the city in the night, waiting for 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
Yeah, she gave away 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 said, "I've lost control again."
And she turned around and took me by the hand
And said, "I've lost control again."
Then how I'll never know 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."
Then 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
And I had to 'phone a friend to state her case
And say, "She's lost control again."
And she showed up all the errors and mistakes
And said, “I've lost control again.”
But she expressed herself in many different ways until
She lost control again
I'd 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
Welcome to the Atrocity Exhibition.
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
You’ll see the crime, a scale never faced
You'll see mass murder on a scale you’ve never seen
And see the...time, no feel
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…
STEP INSIDE!
STEP INSIDE!
You wanna see some more?! Step inside!
Wanna see some more?! Step inside!
Wanna see some more?! Step inside!
Wanna see some more?! Step inside!
*Audience cheers, calls for encore
*Audience members call out for what sort of sounds like “Atmosphere”
*Bumping noises, sounds like someone hitting stage
Ian: Q. (faint)
*Synth chords for Atmosphere, bass note plays
Atmosphere
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 walk 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
They're hunting by the rivers, through the streets, every corner
Abandoned too soon
Laid down with due care
Don't walk away
Interzone
I walked through the city limits
Attracted by some force within it
Around a corner where a prophet lay
Saw the bed where the body lay
A wire fence where the children played
And I was looking for a friend of mine
And I had no time to waste
Yeah, looking for some friends of mine
The car screeched, hear the sound on dust
Metallic blue turned red with rust
Pulled in close by the building’s side
In a group, all forgotten youth
Are turned on to a knife-edged view
And I was looking for a friend of mine
And I had no time to waste
Yeah, looking for some friends of mine
Down the dark streets, the houses looked the same
I walked round and round, they nailed me to a train
Trying to find a clue, had to find a way to get out!
Trying to find away
Saw twelve windows, ten in a row
The light shined like a neon show
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 a friend of mine
And I had no time to waste
Yeah, looking for some friends of mine
Ian: K you, goodnight.
*Audience applauds, what sounds like a bass playing minutely
