these days
¿ìÀÖ·ÖÁÑ(Joy Division) Lyrics
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Searched hard for you and your special ways.
These days, these days.
Spent all my time, learnt a killer's art.
Took threats and abuse 'till I'd learned the part.
Can you stay for these days?
Used outward deception to get away,
Broken heart romance to make it pay.
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?
The opening lines of Joy Division's song 'These Days' set a disconcerting tone for the entire piece. The singer suggests that something is off-kilter, that the morning doesn't seem quite right, suggesting a sense of dislocation or detachment. The lyrics subsequently refer to the singer's search for someone and their unique qualities - the use of 'special' implying that there is something rare or valuable about this person. Yet when the lyrics switch back to the refrain, it becomes more ambiguous - is the singer asking if the other person will stay for the strange morning, or for the 'killer's art' they have learnt? There's a sense that this relationship is intense, but fraught, maybe even dangerous.
The lyrics of the second verse references the idea of wearing a persona or a mask in order to achieve something. The 'killer's art' could be interpreted as the way in which someone navigates the world - adopting a harder exterior, or learning tough ways of surviving. The idea of taking 'abuse' until you've learned the part also implies something about the ways in which we might conform or fit into certain patterns, even if they are harmful or destructive. The following lines say, "Used outward deception to get away, Broken heart romance to make it pay," hinting that the singer has maybe used other people, or put on a facade, in order to escape the confines of their reality. The final lines in the verse come back to the idea of time - the 'these days' refrain is repeated, emphasising the idea that time is shifted or different somehow in the singer's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Morning seems strange, almost out of place.
The singer feels disoriented and unsure about their current situation.
Searched hard for you and your special ways.
The singer has been trying to find a person they care deeply about.
These days, these days.
The phrase serves as a refrain, emphasizing that the themes in the song are ongoing.
Spent all my time, learnt a killer's art.
The artist has devoted all their time and energy to something that has required a lot of skill and practice.
Took threats and abuse 'till I'd learned the part.
The artist has endured hardship and abuse, but persevered until they mastered a particular role or task.
Can you stay for these days?
The singer is asking if the person they are addressing can stick around during this difficult period of their life.
Used outward deception to get away,
The singer has resorted to dishonesty in order to escape a problematic situation.
Broken heart romance to make it pay.
The artist has engaged in a romance that ultimately ended in heartbreak, but that may have been motivated by financial gain.
We'll drift through it all, it's the modern age.
The artist is resigned to the fact that they will likely have to coast through their difficulties, as society's values have changed and made it harder to connect with people.
Take care of it all now these debts are paid.
The artist feels that they have taken care of their responsibilities, and that now they can move forward.
Contributed by Ian H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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