Backing vocals for the track are provided by Dawn Zee, who regularly tours with the band.
The song is tuned flat. Whenever New Order performs this song live, the song's key is a semitone up.
Singer/guitarist Bernard Sumner originally gifted the song to German record label Mastermind for Success and it was recorded by label artist Corvin Dalek. However, DJ Pete Tong heard the song and declared it to be the best New Order single since "Blue Monday", leading Sumner to reconsider the gift and have New Order record and release it.
A special version was also released that featured classic New Order and Joy Division songs from the Reading Festival, 30th August 2001. It also includes a brand new cover.
The single was B-sided by a variety of remixes, and an original song titled "Behind Closed Doors".
At Moby's 2001 Area One concert, Billy Corgan joined New Order and sang backup vocals on this song.
Crystal
New Order Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Hey)
We break easy
(Hoo)
I'm a poor man
(Hey)
If you leave me
(Hoo)
(Hey)
Then forgotten
It was summer
(Hey)
Now it's autumn
(Hoo)
I don't know what to say
You don't care anyway
I'm a man in a rage
With a girl I betrayed
Here comes love
It's like honey
You can't buy it with money
You're not alone anymore (Whenever you're here with me)
You shook me to the core
You shook me to the core
(Hoo, hey)
We're like crystal
It's not easy
(Hoo)
With your love
(Hey)
You could feed me
(Hoo)
Every man (every man)
(Hey)
And every woman (every woman)
Needs someone
(Hey)
So keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming (keep it coming)
I don't know what to say
You don't care anyway
I'm a man in a rage
With a girl I betrayed
Here comes love
It's like honey
You can't buy it with money
You're not alone anymore
You shook me to the core
You shook me to the core
I don't know what to say
You don't care anyway
I'm a man in a rage
With a girl I betrayed
Here comes love
It's like honey
You can't buy it with money
You're not alone anymore
You shook me to the core
You shook me to the core
You shook me to the core
You shook me to the core
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
The song "Crystal" by New Order is a reflection on the fragility of relationships and how they can break easily like crystal. The opening lines "We're like crystal, we break easy" sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer admits he is a "poor man" and "applauded then forgotten" - suggesting that he is not wealthy or famous, but still experiences love and loss like everyone else. The chorus "I'm a man in a rage with a girl I betrayed, here comes love" reveals the complicated emotions of the singer towards the person who he potentially hurt, but who also brings him love.
The line "It was summer, now it's autumn" signifies the passage of time and how relationships can change and come to an end. The lyrics "Here comes love, it's like honey, you can't buy it with money" highlights how love is valuable and cannot be purchased. The repeated refrain "You shook me to the core" suggests that the singer has been deeply affected by their relationship, and that this person has had a significant impact on his life.
Overall, "Crystal" is a melancholic yet hopeful song about the ups and downs of relationships, the importance of love, and how it can transform someone.
Line by Line Meaning
We're like crystal
We are fragile and vulnerable
We break easy
We are easily damaged or broken
I'm a poor man
I am not wealthy or powerful
If you leave me
If you go away from me
I'm applauded
I am praised and celebrated
Then forgotten
But soon after, I am ignored and abandoned
It was summer
It was a time of happiness and warmth
Now it's autumn
Now it is a time of sadness and loss
I don't know what to say
I am at a loss for words
You don't care anyway
You are indifferent and apathetic
I'm a man in a rage
I am angry and frustrated
With a girl I betrayed
Because I have hurt the person I love
Here comes love
Now love is coming back to me
It's like honey
Love is sweet and irresistible
You can't buy it with money
Love is not something that can be purchased
You're not alone anymore (Whenever you're here with me)
You are no longer lonely when you are with me
You shook me to the core
You have deeply affected me emotionally
With your love
With your love and affection
You could feed me
You could provide for me and sustain me
Every man (every man)
Every person, every human being
And every woman (every woman)
Including every woman
Needs someone
Needs to have a companion or partner
So keep it coming
So keep giving me love and attention
Keep it coming
Don't stop giving me love and attention
Keep it coming
Keep providing me with support and affection
Keep it coming
Keep showing me love and care
Keep it coming
Keep giving me what I need emotionally
Keep it coming (keep it coming)
Continue providing me with love and support
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Paul David Morris, Gillian Lesley Gilbert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fabiopedrazzi
We're like crystal (Hey)
We break easy (Hoo)
I'm a poor man (Hey)
If you leave me (Hoo)
I'm applauded (Hey)
Then forgotten
It was summer (Hey)
Now it's autumn (Hoo)
I don't know what to say
You don't care anyway
I'm a man in a rage
With a girl I betrayed
Here comes love
It's like honey
You can't buy it with money
You shook me to the core
You shook me to the core
We're like crystal (Hey)
It's not easy (Hoo)
With your love (Hey)
You could feed me (Hoo)
Every man (Hey)
And every woman (Hoo)
Needs someone (Hey)
So keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
I don't know what to say
You don't care anyway
I'm a man in a rage
With a girl I betrayed
Here comes love
It's like honey
You can't buy it with money
You're not alone anymore
You shook me to the core
You shook me to the core
I don't know what to say
You don't care anyway
I'm a man in a rage
With a girl I betrayed
Here comes love
It's like honey
You can't buy it with money
You're not alone anymore
You shook me to the core
You shook me to the core
You shook me to the core
You shook me to the core
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
@impresosrimactalleresgrafi8107
We're like crystal
We break easy
I'm a poor man
If you leave me
I'm applauded
Then forgotten
It was summer
Now it's autumn
I don't know what to say
You don't care anyway
I'm a man in a rage
With a girl I betrayed
Here comes love
It's like honey
You can't buy it with money
You're not alone anymore (Whenever you're here with me)
You shook me to the core
You shook me to the core
We're like crystal
It's not easy
With your love
You could feed me
Every man
And every woman
Needs someone
So keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming
Keep it coming (keep it coming)
I don't know what to say
You don't care anyway
I'm a man in a rage
With a girl I betrayed
Here comes love
It's like honey
You can't buy it with money
You're not alone anymore
You shook me to the core
You shook me to the core
I don't know what to say
You don't care anyway
I'm a man in a rage
With a girl I betrayed
Here comes love
It's like honey
You can't buy it with money
You're not alone anymore
You shook me to the core
You shook me to the core
You shook me to the core
You shook me to the core
Keep it coming
@chatorink1208
this song came out in 2001 and looks like it was recorded last week.
Unbeliveble!!!
@anthonystewart677
I'm not a huge New Order fan, but this hit the spot the very first time I heard it and it still does. That performance they did on Jools Holland was fantastic as well. I also loved that "Get The Message" track, by Sumner and Marr in their band Electronic.
@bonoman1987
Very, Very strong track. The intro is spectacular, and then when the keyboardist hits that single note, we're catapulted into the stratosphere....One of the best songs ever...
@Chris-om8si
❤❤❤
@deadstar44
This is not the real intro. Listen to the album version, they cut the actual beautiful intro. It builds up with a female voice ad-libbing over a bed of atmospheric synths then the drums enter when the female singer hits the high note. It's even more cooler when they unleash the guitars and the bass after that prelude.
@altonyoung3734
You mean The Killers😉
@gonadman2
@@deadstar44 You're dead right. I couldn't work out what this was missing until I went back and grabbed my CD!
@goldenboy2674
This song hasn't aged on bit. Even the music video looks just as good.
@bs27v1b
@Patrick Whelpley Fresh really doesn't matter if it's good. I guess we found something that is actually good.
@jamescorbett5729
As an 1980s New Order fan, this brought tears to my eyes the first time I heard it.