Thieves Like Us
Joy Division / New Order Lyrics
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It's always the same
I've studied the cracks and the wrinkles
You were always so vain
Well, now you live your life like a shadow
In the pouring rain
Oh, it's called love
Yes, it's called love
And it belongs to us
Oh, it dies so quickly
It grows so slowly
But when it dies, it dies for good
It's called love
And it belongs to everyone but us
I've lived my life in the valleys
I've lived my life on the hills
I've lived my life on alcohol
I've lived my life on pills
But it's called love
And it belongs to us
It's called love
And it's the only thing that's worth living for
It's called love
And it belongs to us
It's called love
Yes it's called love
Oh, love is found in the east and west
But when love is at home, it's the best
Love is the cure for every evil
Love is the air that supports the eagle
It's called love
And it's so un-cool
It's called love
And somehow it's become unmentionable
It's called love
And it belongs to every one of us
It's called love
And it cuts your life like a broken knife
Oh love, love, love, love, love
It's called love
And it belongs to us
It's called love, love, love, love, love
It's called love
And it belongs to everyone of us
The song Thieves Like Us by Joy Division/New Order is a contemplative and introspective exploration of the elusive nature of love. The lyrics speak of the singer's observations of another person's face that has remained constant and unchanging despite the passage of time. The subject of the singer's attention may have been caught up in their vanity, but now lives in the shadows, lost in the deluge of the world around them. The singer then ponders over the strange nature of love - it grows so slowly, but dies quickly and for good. The melancholic and brooding tone of the song creates a pensive atmosphere that invites the listener to engage in a self-reflective process of questioning the limitations, complications and contradictions of love.
In the second verse, the singer reflects on their own life, which has been wrought with peaks and valleys, self-destructive habits and addictions. Yet love remains to be the only constant, the only thing that is truly worth living for, and the only thing that belongs to them. The chorus reiterates the idea that love is a ubiquitous and yet unattainable phenomenon that eludes everyone, and yet it is the only thing that connects us all. Love is a force that heals and elevates, but it is also uncool and taboo in the cultural narrative. The song's all-encompassing, universal nature, combined with its intimate and personal tone creates a unique emotional landscape that is both haunting and beautiful.
Line by Line Meaning
I've watched your face for a long time
I have spent a long time observing your face
It's always the same
Your expression is always unchanged
I've studied the cracks and the wrinkles
I have analyzed the imperfections on your face
You were always so vain
You were always excessively proud of yourself
Well, now you live your life like a shadow
Now you live your life like an insignificant or invisible person
In the pouring rain
In a situation that is uncomfortable or unpleasant
Oh, it's called love
The feeling that you and I have for each other is called love
Yes, it's called love
Indeed, that feeling is called love
And it belongs to us
We are the ones who experience this love
Oh, it dies so quickly
This love fades away quickly
It grows so slowly
It takes a long time for this love to develop
But when it dies, it dies for good
Once this love fades away, it does not return
And it belongs to everyone but us
Others experience love, but we do not
I've lived my life in the valleys
I have experienced times of hardship and depression
I've lived my life on the hills
I have experienced times of happiness and success
I've lived my life on alcohol
I have relied on alcohol to cope with my problems
I've lived my life on pills
I have relied on drugs to manage my issues
And it's the only thing that's worth living for
Love is the only thing that gives life meaning
Oh, love is found in the east and west
Love exists in all places and cultures
But when love is at home, it's the best
Love is most satisfying when experienced with loved ones
Love is the cure for every evil
Love can overcome all negative emotions or intentions
Love is the air that supports the eagle
Love is a necessary force that provides strength and support
And it's so un-cool
Love is not considered fashionable or trendy
And somehow it's become unmentionable
Love has become a taboo or forbidden subject
And it cuts your life like a broken knife
Love can cause pain or suffering like a dull or broken knife
It belongs to every one of us
Everyone has the capacity to experience or feel love
Oh love, love, love, love, love
An expression of love
It's called love,
The feeling between two people
And it belongs to us
This love belongs to us
It's called love, love, love, love, love
Repeatedly expressing the feeling between two people
And it belongs to everyone of us
All of us have the ability to experience this feeling of love
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GILLIAN LESLEY GILBERT, PETER HOOK, STEPHEN PAUL DAVID MORRIS, BERNARD SUMNER, ARTHUR HENRY BAKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind