Isolation
Bernard Albrecht/Bernard Sumner/Ian Curtis/Joy Division/Peter Hook/Stephen Morris Lyrics

In fear every day, every evening,
The singer is consumed by fear and it haunts him constantly, even at night.

He calls her aloud from above,
The singer cries out for help, likely to a higher power such as God.

Carefully watched for a reason,
The singer feels that he is being closely watched or monitored, but doesn't know why.

Painstaking devotion and love,
Despite his fear and isolation, the singer has deep love for someone and is devoted to that person.

Surrendered to self preservation,
The singer has given up on taking risks or putting himself in danger, choosing instead to prioritize his own survival.

From others who care for themselves.
The singer feels disconnected from others, who he perceives to be primarily concerned with their own survival and wellbeing.

A blindness that touches perfection,
The singer is so consumed by fear and isolation that he is blind to everything else, even things that might seem perfect or beautiful to others.

But hurts just like anything else.
Despite his blindness, the singer is still capable of feeling pain and hurt just like anyone else.

Isolation, isolation, isolation.
The singer repeats the word 'isolation' multiple times, emphasizing the theme of loneliness and disconnection.

Mother I tried please believe me,
The singer asks his mother to believe that he has done his best, likely referring to some previous failure or mistake.

I'm doing the best that I can.
The singer is reassuring himself and others that he is doing everything in his power to cope with his situation.

I'm ashamed of the things I've been put through,
The singer feels a sense of shame and embarrassment at the trials and tribulations he has faced, which are likely related to his isolation and fear.

I'm ashamed of the person I am.
The singer feels a deep sense of shame and self-loathing, likely due to the impact that his isolation and fear have had on him.

But if you could just see the beauty,
Despite his negative emotions, the singer believes that there is still a beauty or goodness in the world that he can see.

These things I could never describe,
The singer struggles to articulate or explain the beauty and goodness that he perceives in the world, perhaps because he is so consumed by negative emotions.

These pleasures a wayward distraction,
The beauty and goodness that the singer sees can be interpreted as a distraction from his isolation and fear, but he still values them deeply.

This is my one lucky prize.
The beauty and goodness that the singer sees are his one source of happiness or luck in an otherwise difficult and isolating experience.

Isolation, isolation, isolation, isolation, isolation.
The song ends with a repetition of the word 'isolation', emphasizing the loneliness and disconnection that the singer feels.