Shadowplay

Joy Division

About Shadowplay

"Shadowplay" is a song by the English rock band Joy Division. The song appeared on their 1979 debut album Unknown Pleasures.


Year:
1979
3:50
130 
#1

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To the center of the city where all roads meet, waiting for you,
To the depths of the ocean where all hopes sank, searching for you,
I was moving through the silence without motion, waiting for you,
In a room with a 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,
And with cold steel, odor on their bodies mad a move to connect,
But 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.

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Joy Division

Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis (vocals and occasional guitar), Bernard Sumner (guitar and keyboards),Peter Hook (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Stephen Morris (drums and percussion). more »

2 fans

Written by: Bernard Sumner, Ian Kevin Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Paul David Morris

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Band Formation
"Shadowplay" is a song by Joy Division, an English rock band formed in Salford in 1976. The group consisted of vocalist Ian Curtis, guitarist and keyboardist Bernard Sumner, bassist Peter Hook, and drummer Stephen Morris.
Album Appearance
The track originally appeared in their debut album, "Unknown Pleasures" which was released in June 1979.
Record Labels
The song was issued by two major record labels, the Warner Music Group and Factory Records.
Songwriting Trio
"Shadowplay" is credited to all four members of Joy Division, displaying the collaboration within the band.
Unique Style
The song displays distinctive features of Joy Division's style, combining post-punk and synthesizer music with gothic rock overtones.
Key Song Components
The song's lyrics were written by vocalist Ian Curtis, with instrumental compositions provided by Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Stephen Morris.
Song Interpretation
Stephen Morris, the drummer of the band, claimed that the dark and ominous song was influenced by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky’s ‘Crime and Punishment’.
Notable Performances
The band recorded a performance of "Shadowplay" for British Television show 'The Other Side of Midnight' hosted by Tony Wilson - who also cofounded Factory Records, the label to which they were signed.
Cover Versions
Numerous artists have covered "Shadowplay," including The Killers who performed it for the soundtrack of the film adaptation of author Bret Easton Ellis's novel, 'The Rules of Attraction'.
Legacy and Influence
"Shadowplay" continues to be celebrated for its influence on bands including U2, Radiohead, The Cure, and the aforementioned, The Killers.

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