Temptation
New Order Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just like a feeling inside, it's no joke
And though it hurts me to see you this way
Betrayed by words, I'd never heard, too hard to say
Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home
Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home
Each way I turn, I know I'll always try
To break this circle that's been placed around me
From time to time, I find I've lost some need
That was urgent to myself, I do believe
Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home
Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home
Oh, you've got green eyes
Oh, you've got blue eyes
Oh, you've got grey eyes
Oh, you've got green eyes
Oh, you've got blue eyes
You've got grey eyes
And I've never seen anyone quite like you before
No, I've never met anyone quite like you before
Bolts from above hurt the people down below
People in this world, we have no place to go
Bolts from above hurt the people down below
People in this world, we have no place to go
Bolts from above hurt the people down below
People in this world, we have no place to go
Bolts from above hurt the people down below
People in this world, we have no place to go
Oh, it's the last time
Oh, it's the last time
Oh, it's the last time
Oh, it's the last time
Oh, it's the last time
Oh, I've never met anyone quite like you before
Oh no, I've never met anyone quite like you before
The lyrics to New Order’s song "Temptation" speak to the struggle of trying to break free from a life that is confining and seeking a sense of liberation. The song begins with the lyric “Heaven, a gateway, a hope,” which seems to suggest a desire for something greater, a sense of transcendence. When the singer says, “Just like a feeling inside, it’s no joke,” he underscores the earnestness and emotional intensity of that desire. However, this desire seems to clash with the struggle the singer has with a particular person or situation. The lyric “Betrayed by words, I’d never heard, too hard to say” suggests that there has been some profound miscommunication or lack of communication that has caused the singer pain.
The chorus of the song, which repeats the lines "Up, down, turn around / Please don’t let me hit the ground / Tonight I think I’ll walk alone / I’ll find my soul as I go home," seems to capture the sense of disorientation that the singer feels. They are looking for a way out and need to find their own path forward. The song’s bridge, which features a repetition of the line “Bolts from above hurt the people down below / People in this world, we have no place to go,” suggests a sense of powerlessness and vulnerability. The singer and those around them are at the mercy of outside forces and have no control over their situation.
Overall, "Temptation" is a song that speaks to the often-conflicting desires for freedom and stability, and it highlights the struggle to find a way forward in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Heaven, a gateway, a hope
Heaven is seen as a gateway to hope and salvation
Just like a feeling inside, it's no joke
The feeling of hope is real and not a joke
And though it hurts me to see you this way
The singer is pained to see someone suffering
Betrayed by words, I'd never heard, too hard to say
The person's suffering is caused by words that were never spoken and are now impossible to say
Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home
The artist is searching for their soul and is afraid of falling but will walk alone to find it
Each way I turn, I know I'll always try
To break this circle that's been placed around me
The singer is determined to break free from the cycle of pain and suffering, no matter which direction they turn
From time to time, I find I've lost some need
That was urgent to myself, I do believe
Sometimes, the singer realizes that they've let go of something important that they once believed was urgent
Oh, you've got green eyes
Oh, you've got blue eyes
Oh, you've got grey eyes
The artist is marveling at the unique beauty of the person they are speaking to
And I've never seen anyone quite like you before
No, I've never met anyone quite like you before
The person being addressed is particularly unique and special to the artist
Bolts from above hurt the people down below
People in this world, we have no place to go
Suffering can come from unexpected sources and can hurt anyone, leaving people feeling lost and without a place to turn
Oh, it's the last time
Oh, it's the last time
Oh, it's the last time
Oh, it's the last time
Oh, it's the last time
Oh, I've never met anyone quite like you before
Oh no, I've never met anyone quite like you before
The singer is saying goodbye to the person they are addressing, and is reflecting again on their uniqueness and one-of-a-kind nature
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Gillian Lesley Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Paul David Morris, Bernard Sumner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Atif_Ph.D._Kate_Bush_Fan_Club
A heaven, a gateway, a hope
Just like a feeling inside, it's no joke
And though it hurts me to treat you this way
Betrayed by words I've never heard, too hard to say
Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight, I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home
Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight, I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home
Ooooo
Each way I turn I know I'll always try
To break this circle that's been placed around me
From time to time I find I've lost some need
It was urgent to myself, I do believe
Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight, I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home
Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight, I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home
Oh, you've got green eyes
Oh, you've got blue eyes
Oh, you've got grey eyes
Oo, you've got green eyes
Oh, you've got blue eyes
You've got grey eyes
And I've never seen anyone quite like you before
No, I've never met anyone quite like you before
Bolts from above hit the people down below
People in this world, we have no place to go
Bolts from above hit the people down below
People in this world, we have no place to go
Bolts from above hit the people down below
People in this world, we have no place to go
Bolts from above hit the people down below
People in this world, we have no place to go
Oh, it's the last time, oh, it's the last time
Oh, it's the last time, oh, it's the last time
Oh, it's the last time
Oh, I've never met anyone quite like you before
Oh, no, I've never met anyone quite like you before
@christianschunke4469
"Temptation"
Heaven, a gateway, a hope
Just like a feeling inside, it's no joke
And though it hurts me to treat you this way
Betrayed by words, I'd never heard, too hard to say
Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home
Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home
Each way I turn, I know I'll always try
To break this circle that's been placed around me
From time to time, I find I've lost some need
That was urgent to myself, I do believe
Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home
Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home
Oh, you've got green eyes
Oh, you've got blue eyes
Oh, you've got grey eyes
Oh, you've got green eyes
Oh, you've got blue eyes
Oh, you've got grey eyes
And I've never seen anyone quite like you before
No, I've never met anyone quite like you before
Bolts from above hurt the people down below
People in this world, we have no place to go
Bolts from above hurt the people down below
People in this world, we have no place to go
Bolts from above hurt the people down below
People in this world, we have no place to go
Bolts from above hurt the people down below
People in this world, we have no place to go
Oh, it's the last time
Oh, it's the last time
Oh, it's the last time
Oh, it's the last time
Oh, it's the last time
Oh, I've never met anyone quite like you before
Oh no, I've never met anyone quite like you before
@mindjoystudio6436
My heart aches when I hear this. This is the soundtrack to the most wonderfully innocent days of my young adulthood with my now husband. I love it so much. I remember playing the tape in my little Panasonic boom box with a broken handle and scratches all over it. It was the only electronic item I had and it was all I needed. Thank you New Order.
@yrysroda8592
That's a really sweet story :)
@betonunes6911
São coisas que fazem parte da nossa vida , pessoas que são felizes , espalham felicidade e gente como eu , vive um dia após o outro ! Tudo de bom para vocês !
@sportsviewlondonboxingnews545
Proper days 🙏💙
@malcolmcog
Panasonic boom box with a broken handle; liar !
@HarrisonMessias
God bless you both, great story !!!
@robertmoss279
I listen to New Order every day and sing along to all their songs. I’m 67 and grew up with this band, young people ask me what are you listening to pops?
When I tell them we have new converts.
Songs like this never get old and never fade. Peace
@jumofi
Simply this mate
@737sunset
In 1987, I bought 'Substance' at the mall. I sat in the parking lot and listened to the whole album. It is still one of my favorites. The lyrics. These folks are genius.
@naglione
Which Mall?