It also closes side one of Unknown Pleasures.
The song lasts 4 minutes and 47 seconds.
Recorded from April 1st - April 17th 1979.
It was recorded in Strawberry Studios in England.
Producers are credited as Martin Hannett and all the members of Joy Division.
Songwriters are all the four members of Joy Division (Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Ian Curtis)
New Dawn Fades
Joy Division Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A change of scene, with no regrets
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
So you say
We'll share a drink and step outside
An angry voice and one who cried
We'll give you everything and more
The strain's too much, can't take much more
Oh, I've walked on water, run through fire
Can't seem to feel it anymore
It was me, waiting for me
Hoping for something more
Me, seeing me this time
Hoping for something else
The lyrics of Joy Division's song New Dawn Fades describe an individual undergoing a significant change, leaving behind their past and embracing their future. The opening lines "A change of speed, a change of style, a change of scene, with no regrets" imply that the person is taking control of their life and moving in a new direction. The subsequent line, "A chance to watch, admire the distance," suggests that the person is reflecting on their past experiences and learning from them, even if they are no longer a part of their life.
The lines "Different colors, different shades, over each mistake were made, I took the blame" are open to interpretation but could potentially be referring to how the person has made mistakes in the past, but is willing to take responsibility for them and learn from them. The following lines "Directionless, so plain to see, a loaded gun won't set you free, so you say" may be referencing the individual feeling lost or unsure of their direction, and recognizing that turning to harmful coping mechanisms such as drugs or alcohol won't solve their problems.
The latter half of the song implies a sense of hopelessness and feeling stuck in their current situation. The lines "Oh, I've walked on water, run through fire, can't seem to feel it anymore" suggest that the person has been through intense experiences in the past but is now struggling to feel any sense of excitement or fulfillment. The closing lines "It was me waiting for me, hoping for something more, me seeing me this time, hoping for something else" imply a desire for change and a newfound determination to improve their circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
A change of speed, a change of style
The singer is looking for a change in his life and tries to adopt a new pace and a new way of expressing himself.
A change of scene, with no regrets
The singer moves on from his past experiences without any regrets and seeks to change his surroundings.
A chance to watch, admire the distance
The singer realizes that he needs some distance to appreciate what he truly possesses and only then will he be able to understand and admire it.
Still occupied, though you forget
The singer is busy living his life, but sometimes forgets that he needs to pause and appreciate the small things of life.
Different colors, different shades
The singer realizes that life is made up of different colors and shades, with each color representing a different experience or emotion.
Over each mistakes were made
The singer acknowledges that mistakes were made in the past, but they led him to where he is now and he has to accept them.
I took the blame
The singer accepts the responsibility for his mistakes and tries to move forward.
Directionless, so plain to see
The singer feels lost and unable to find his direction, and this is clearly evident to him and those around him.
A loaded gun won't set you free
The singer realizes that using violence or force to escape from his problems is not the solution and will only bring more trouble.
So you say
The singer hears the advice of others, but is not sure whether to follow it or not.
We'll share a drink and step outside
The singer and his friends will share a drink and go outside to talk more openly and honestly about their problems and lives.
An angry voice and one who cried
The singer and his friend will have a heated argument and one of them will end up crying because of their emotions.
We'll give you everything and more
The singer's group of friends promises to support and help him in any way they can, and will go above and beyond to do so.
The strain's too much, can't take much more
The singer is feeling overwhelmed and stressed by his problems and is not sure how much more he can handle.
Oh, I've walked on water, run through fire
The singer has faced many challenges and difficulties in his life and has overcome them all, but now he can't seem to feel anything anymore.
Can't seem to feel it anymore
The singer has become numb to his emotions and can no longer feel anything, making it hard for him to connect with others and himself.
It was me, waiting for me
The singer realizes that he was the one holding himself back from achieving his goals and desires, and that he needs to overcome his own obstacles.
Hoping for something more
The singer desires more out of life and himself, and is hoping to find it by overcoming his obstacles and challenges.
Me, seeing me this time
The singer is finally seeing himself for who he truly is and accepting his flaws and strengths.
Hoping for something else
The singer is hopeful for a new experience or challenge that will help him grow as a person and lead a more fulfilling life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bernard Sumner, Ian Kevin Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Paul David Morris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Miau
on New Dawn Fades
I really like the fact that this explanation is thorough and provides some insight regarding the song's meaning, seen by the line by line meaning. It is true that the listener is open to interpretations, the way that they personally perceive the song, how it might resonate with them on an intimal level. Though, like the majority of songs, there is a "standard definition" , I would say that everyone is open to their own interpretations based on the overall perspective of the listener. Like this analysis,, I have my own respective one. This is by far one of the most "optimistic" meanings granted to the song. Personally, I always correlated the sing with a more pessimistic meaning, but like any other form of art, songs are open to interpretation and thats what makes it all special and awesome.