Thieves Like Us
Joy Division CrimethInc Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've watched your face for a long time
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
Oh, 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

Overall Meaning

The song, "Thieves Like Us," by Joy Division CrimethInc, is a poignant depiction of the nature of love, and the power it holds over us as humans. The lyrics reflect on the different ways in which people live their lives and how the concept of love fits into these lifestyles. The first verse talks about studying the cracks and wrinkles on someone's face, implying that they know them very well, but that person's life has changed, and they now live like a shadow in the rain. Love is mentioned, and it is clear that the singer believes that it belongs to them, yet it often dies quickly, making it a very fragile thing that is difficult to hold onto.


In the second verse, the singer describes living their own life in the valleys and the hills, on alcohol and pills. Despite this, they state that love is what makes life worth living. The verse ends with a repetition of the chorus, which emphasizes the belief that love belongs to them, even though it is uncool and unmentionable. The final sentence of the song, "It cuts your life like a broken knife," is a reference to the idea that love can hurt us deeply, but it is still worth experiencing.


Overall, "Thieves Like Us" is a beautifully written song about the power of love. It highlights the joy and pain that it brings, and how it can transform our lives for better or for worse.


Line by Line Meaning

I've watched your face for a long time
I have been observing your facial expressions for a while


It's always the same
You always have a constant look


I've studied the cracks and the wrinkles
I have examined the lines and creases on your face


You were always so vain
You possessed excessive pride in yourself


Well, now you live your life like a shadow
Now you live in obscurity, much like a shadow


In the pouring rain
In the midst of inclement weather


Oh, it's called love
The fervor felt towards another is commonly identified as love


Yes, it's called love
Indeed, it is called love


Oh, it's called love
Oh, the passionate feeling shared between two people is called love


And it belongs to us
It is an emotion that we personally hold


Oh, it dies so quickly
So transient, it perishes rapidly


It grows so slowly
Love takes a considerable amount of time to develop


But when it dies, it dies for good
When it does dissipate, it is extinguished wholly


It's called love
The intangible feeling is known as love


And it belongs to everyone but us
Everyone aside from us experience this emotion


I've lived my life in the valleys
I have lived my life in low areas


I've lived my life on the hills
I have lived my life in high areas


I've lived my life on alcohol
I pursued a life of alcoholism


I've lived my life on pills
I relied upon pills for my existence


And it belongs to us
Love, too, is an emotion we both share


It's called love
The intensity between two people is referred to as love


And it's the only thing that's worth living for
It's the only entity worth the pursuit of life


Oh, love is found in the east and west
Love can be encountered all across the globe


But when love is at home, it's the best
However, love is at its peak when experienced domestically


Love is the cure for every evil
Love is capable of being the remedy for every harmful aspect of the world


Love is the air that supports the eagle
Love, like air for flight, helps one soar to great heights


And it's so un-cool
Paradoxically, love's purity is often considered unfashionable


And somehow it's become unmentionable
For strange reasons, love is deemed inappropriate to discuss in some situations


And it belongs to every one of us
In actuality, all of us harbor love within our beings


And it cuts your life like a broken knife
Paradoxically, love can be capable of causing turmoil and pain




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: GILLIAN LESLEY GILBERT, PETER HOOK, STEPHEN PAUL DAVID MORRIS, BERNARD SUMNER, ARTHUR HENRY BAKER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions