Pioneers of dance music in the 1980s and one of the first bands to effectively and popularly synthesize keyboard- and guitar-based music, New Order's members hailed from Salford and Macclesfield, England out of the ashes of Joy Division, are noted as being one of the first bands to bridge the gap between Post-Punk and Dancefloor. They were Factory Records' highest selling artist. They also funded Factory's famous Manchester club, The Haçienda. The band partnered with Quincy Jones's American label Qwest, recorded with legendary hip-hop producer Arthur Baker (on 1983's single "Confusion" and 1984's "Thieves Like Us"), and they embraced Ibizan club culture on the album, Technique.
The band was formed in 1980 by the three surviving members, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris of Joy Division after the lead singer Ian Curtis committed suicide. Morris' girlfriend (and later wife) Gillian Gilbert joined in October 1980 on keyboards and occasional guitar shortly after contributing guitar to the second release of New Order's first single "Ceremony". Their early music followed in the same vein as Joy Division, most notably on debut album Movement. This is mostly seen now as a 'transitional' album where the new 4-piece band was trying to find a new identity.
They continued to develop their music and their identity with tracks such as "Procession" and "Temptation" until 1983 when, under the influence of early electro funk and Italo-Disco tracks (most notably Klein & MBO's Dirty Talk), they released "Blue Monday", arguably their most famous song and the biggest-selling 12" single of all time. This came in such a detailed Peter Saville-designed sleeve (replicating a floppy disc) that it is claimed by some that the band's record company, Factory, lost money on every copy sold.
The release of "Blue Monday" coincided with the album Power, Corruption & Lies which further developed their dance/rock crossover. Other albums followed in 1985 (Low-Life), 1986 (Brotherhood) and 1989 (Technique, influenced heavily by Ibiza's acid house scene). In 1990 the band scored their sole number 1 hit with a song written by Keith Allen and performed with the England football team, "World in Motion", the official England World Cup song. One more album, Republic followed in May 1993, which was released by London Records after the collapse of Factory in November 1992.
The band effectively split in 1993 to pursue solo projects, but returned with a triumphant gig at the Reading Festival in 1998. After the recording of 2001's Get Ready album Gillian Gilbert left the band amicably for family reasons - her and Stephen's daughter Grace had been diagnosed with Transverse myelitis and she came to the decision that it would be easier for the band to replace her than her husband. They have since gone on to produce one more album with the help of Phil Cunningham of Marion when they released their last album, Waiting For The Sirens' Call.
Hook left acrimoniously in 2007 and according to him, the band has effectively broken up. However, Sumner, Cunningham and Morris repeatedly denied that the band was over, and that if Hook no longer wanted to be in the band, that was his choice. Hook has since threatened to take legal action if they attempt to continue as New Order. In 2009, Sumner, Morris and Cunningham announced that they did not plan on continuing on as New Order without Hook. However, in September 2011 it was announced that they will reform as New Order for two concerts in October (Brussels and Paris), without Hook but with Gillian Gilbert. Hook's replacement is Tom Chapman, who is also in Bad Lieutenant with Sumner, Morris and Cunningham. The charity gigs in Brussels and Paris were very successful and New Order decided to go on tour in 2012. They played various concerts all over the world and also some big festivals in the summer.
Discography (studio albums):
Movement (1981)
Power, Corruption & Lies (1983)
Low-Life (1985)
Brotherhood (1986)
Technique (1989)
Republic (1993)
Get Ready (2001)
Waiting for the Sirens' Call (2005)
Lost Sirens (2013)
Music Complete (2015)
Collaborations and other projects:
Shortly after the split, Sumner and Cunningham formed Bad Lieutenant. The band's debut album Never Cry Another Tear, released in 2009, features Morris on drums on several tracks, although he is not an official member of the band and has committed to continue musical projects with Gillian Gilbert. The band's various solo projects understandably seemed to contain elements of the New Order 'sound', and gave some clues as to each member's contribution to the band.
Bernard Sumner worked with Johnny Marr (formerly of The Smiths) and Neil Tennant (of The Pet Shop Boys) in the 'supergroup', Electronic. Peter Hook formed the bands Revenge and, later, Monaco. These projects gained some commercial success. Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert recorded two albums of songs as The Other Two, and also did scoring work for film and television.
Each of New Order's four original members have, at various times, acted as producers and/or guest musicians under the moniker of Be Music for a myriad of Factory labelmates and other artists, including: Section 25, A Certain Ratio, Happy Mondays, Paul Haig, The Stockholm Monsters, The Stone Roses, and Stanton Miranda.
Regret
New Order Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The name and the address
Of everyone I've ever known
It's nothing I regret
Save it for another day, 'cause
The school is out
And the kids have run away
Have a conversation on my telephone
Wake up everyday, that would be a start
I would not complain 'bout my wounded heart
I was upset, you see
Almost all the time
You used to be a stranger
Now you are mine
I wouldn't even trust you
I've not that much to give
We're dealing in the limits
And we don't know who with
You may think that I'm out of hand
That I'm naive, I'll understand
On this occasion, it's not true
Look at me, I'm not you
I would like a place I can call my own
Have a conversation on the telephone
Wake up everyday, that would be a start
I would not complain 'bout my wounded heart
I was a short fuse
Burning all the time
You were a complete stranger
Now you are mine
I would like a place I can call my own
Have a conversation on the telephone
Wake up everyday, that would be a start
I would not complain 'bout my wounded heart
Just wait 'til tomorrow
I guess that's what they all say
Just before they fall apart
At its core, New Order's song 'Regret' is a reflection on the fleeting nature of life, relationships, and personal identity. The lyrics convey a sense of disconnection from oneself and others, accompanied by a longing for a sense of ownership and belonging. The opening lines, "Maybe I've forgotten / The name and the address / Of everyone I've ever known," set the stage for an introspective exploration of memory and the past. However, the singer quickly dismisses any sense of regret, choosing to live in the present moment instead.
Despite expressing a desire for stability, the chorus reveals the paradoxical nature of the singer's emotional state. They long for a place and routine to call their own, but also confess to having a "wounded heart." The lyrics "I wouldn't even trust you / I've not that much to give / We're dealing in the limits / And we don't know who with" add to the sense of disillusionment and uncertainty that permeates the song.
The final verse, "I was a short fuse / Burning all the time / You were a complete stranger / Now you are mine," is a poignant reflection on the ephemeral nature of relationships. The notion that a stranger can suddenly become an important part of one's life and identity highlights the fluidity of personal connections.
Overall, 'Regret' is a deeply personal and introspective song that touches on universal themes of memory, identity, and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe I've forgotten
Perhaps my memory has failed me
The name and the address
The specific details of individuals elude me
Of everyone I've ever known
I struggle to recollect those from my past
It's nothing I regret
My forgetfulness is not a source of sorrow
Save it for another day, 'cause
There is no need to dwell on this now
The school is out
There is freedom from bondage of the past
And the kids have run away
The past is gone, and the future is open to infinite possibilities
I would like a place I can call my own
A space to call home would be marvelous
Have a conversation on my telephone
To interact with others without judgment on a telephone would be heavenly
Wake up everyday, that would be a start
To wake up and start anew each day is a good beginning
I would not complain 'bout my wounded heart
I will not whine about the scars on my heart from the past
I was upset, you see
I was distraught and emotional
Almost all the time
It felt like eternity, but it was a brief period
You used to be a stranger
We were once unfamiliar
Now you are mine
But now our relationship has changed
I wouldn't even trust you
My trust in you has diminished significantly
I've not that much to give
I have little to offer in this relationship
We're dealing in the limits
Our relationship is constrained by what we have left
And we don't know who with
We are unsure of each other's intentions and motivations
You may think that I'm out of hand
Perhaps you believe that I am reckless or impulsive
That I'm naive, I'll understand
If you view me as inexperienced, I can comprehend that
On this occasion, it's not true
However, your perception of me is incorrect in this situation
Look at me, I'm not you
We have contrasting personality types
Just wait 'til tomorrow
Delay your reaction until the next day
I guess that's what they all say
This is what most people typically say in this situation
Just before they fall apart
Right before they disintegrate or break down
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Hague, Stephen Morris, Bernard Sumner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@andremattos6308
Lyrics
Maybe I've forgotten
The name and the address
Of everyone I've ever known,
It's nothing I regret
Save it for another day, 'cause
The school is out
And the kids have run away
I would like a place I can call my own
Have a conversation on my telephone
Wake up everyday, that would be a start
I would not complain 'bout my wounded heart
I was upset, you see
Almost all the time
You used to be a stranger
Now you are mine
I wouldn't even trust you
I've not that much to give
We're dealing in the limits,
And we don't know who with
You may think that I'm out of hand
That I'm naive, I'll understand
On this occasion, it's not true
Look at me, I'm not you
I would like a place I can call my own
Have a conversation on the telephone
Wake up everyday, that would be a start
I would not complain 'bout my wounded heart
I was a short fuse
Burning all the time
You were a complete stranger
Now you are mine
I would like a place I can call my own
Have a conversation on the telephone
Wake up everyday, that would be a start
I would not complain 'bout my wounded heart
Just wait 'till tomorrow
I guess that's what they all say
Just before they fall apart
@shessomethingelse1639
These five songs have saved me More than once while having a hard Time
- The Cure - Lovesong
- The Jesus And Marychain -Just Like Honey
- The Cure - This Twilight Garden
- David Bowie - Heroes
And this Beautiful song; New Order - Regret
Thank you Mom <3
@BOOMBABY2020
this song still sounds like perfection in 2024
@pastexpiry2013B
A fire hydrant sounds like perfection compared to the music of 2024
@dwhitman3092
YES it does!
@johnnywen2246
❤ this is it ❤
@lenmoore9109
A perfect marriage of lyrics, vocals, and instrumentation.
@HelloThere-eh9uv
I’ve always loved New Order and their songs have bookmarked my life. I’ve recently been diagnosed with stage IV cancer and am not expected to have very long. It’s so frightening. I know they’re on tour, but the nearest date to me is in October and it’s very possible I won’t be here then. Listening to this reminds me of being so happy and genuinely without a worry in the world. I feel so sad knowing where that young woman was heading. I wish we could just do the happy bits, over and over. x
@jackiehill6357
Oh man, I'm so sorry. Hugs to you. I hope you're able to make it happen. ❤
@carolefletcher
I'm so sorry. I hope you're still with us. I hope you still see them.
@cleomoon
Sending you courage. All Gods bless you.
@krisovcov
❤