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.
Shame of the Nation
New Order Lyrics
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Ooh hoo, ah ah ah ah
Ooh hoo, ah ah ah ah
State of the nation
Our salvation
State of the nation, ah ah ah ah
You can walk (you can walk), or you can run (run)
You don't have to be someone
Upon an ocean born to lose
My brother said that he was dead
I saw his face and shook my head
Do you see where we can't be
We're losing our blood in the sea
'Cause it's the state of the nation (state of the nation)
That's holding our salvation (our salvation)
'Cause it's the state of the nation (state of the nation)
That's holding our salvation (ah ah ah ah)
State of the nation (ooh)
Is causing death inflation (ah ah ah ah)
Oh, the state of the nation (state of the nation)
Is causing death inflation (ah ah ah ah)
Ooh, ah ah ah ah
From my home I traveled far
I drove in my stolen car
When it broke down, I kissed the ground
'Cause I don't kiss when you're around
I don't find that I have been
The portrait of an only son
If that's the case, then who could tell
Where my story had begun?
'Cause it's the state of the nation (state of the nation)
That's holding our salvation (our salvation)
'Cause it's the state of the nation (state of the nation)
That's holding our salvation (ah ah ah ah)
The state of the nation (ooh)
Is causing death inflation (ah ah ah ah)
Oh, the state of the nation (state of the nation)
Is causing death inflation (ah ah ah ah)
State of the nation
State of the nation
State of the nation
State of the nation
State of the nation
State of the nation
State of the nation
State of the nation
State
Ooh, ah ah ah ah
Ooh, ah ah ah ha
Ooh, ah ah ah ah
Ooh, ah ah ah ah
Even now
Our salvation
Ooh, ah ah ah ah
Even now
I'm all alone
Behind a wall that's made of stone
I think about (think about) where we have been
And all the sights that could be seen
I know it all could be worthwhile
If only I could force a smile
Now we turn our backs to the sea
The shame of a nation we'll never be
'Cause it's the state of the nation (state of the nation)
That's holding our salvation (our salvation)
Yes it's the state of the nation (state of the nation)
That's holding our salvation (ah ah ah ah)
The state of the nation (state of the nation, ooh))
Is causing death inflation (ah ah ah ah)
Oh, the state of the nation (ooh)
Is causing death inflation (ah ah ah ah)
Ooh, ah ah ah ah
Ooh, ah ah ah ah
Ooh, our salvation
State of the nation (ah ah ah ah)
Our salvation
State of the nation (ooh ah ah ah ah)
Our salvation
State of the nation (ooh ah ah ah ah)
Our salvation
The song "Shame of the Nation" by New Order discusses the sad state of the nation, which is affecting people's lives while it holds their salvation. The song starts with a repetition of "ooh hoo" and "ah ah ah ah," which sets the tone for the song's contemplative and melancholic character. The song discusses the sad state of the nation, which causes death inflation, essentially causing the shame of the nation. The lyrics talk about the singer's experiences with the dubious state of the country, like traveling alone or with a brother who seems dead, alluding to the fact that life in the nation is becoming more dangerous and unstable.
The verses suggest that the state of the nation is the reason why the people of the country are losing their faith and feeling of safety. The chorus repeats that the state is holding on to the salvation, which alludes to the idea that people feel powerless and trapped under the clutches of the country's government or situation. The song ends with a hope that "it all could be worthwhile if only I could force a smile," but things have gone out of control, and the shame of the nation will always haunt them, causing death inflation and suffering.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh hoo, ah ha ha ha
Introduction
Ooh hoo, ah ah ah ah
Introduction
State of the nation
The current condition of the country
Our salvation
Our way out of the current condition
State of the nation, ah ah ah ah
The current condition of the country
You can walk (you can walk), or you can run (run)
You have a choice in how you tackle the current condition
You don't have to be someone
You don't have to conform to expectations
I went on (I went on) a summer cruise
Narrator went on vacation
Upon an ocean born to lose
The ocean is an unlucky place
My brother said that he was dead
Narrator's brother claimed he was dead
I saw his face and shook my head
Narrator couldn't believe the claim
Do you see where we can't be
Acknowledging limitations
We're losing our blood in the sea
Fighting a losing battle
'Cause it's the state of the nation (state of the nation)
The current condition of the country
That's holding our salvation (our salvation)
Preventing us from improving our situation
'Cause it's the state of the nation (state of the nation)
The current condition of the country
That's holding our salvation (ah ah ah ah)
Preventing us from improving our situation
State of the nation (ooh)
The current condition of the country
Is causing death inflation (ah ah ah ah)
The current condition is leading to more deaths
Oh, the state of the nation (state of the nation)
The current condition of the country
Is causing death inflation (ah ah ah ah)
The current condition is leading to more deaths
From my home I traveled far
Travelled long distance from home
I drove in my stolen car
Narrator drove a stolen car
When it broke down, I kissed the ground
Narrator was relieved the car broke down before he got caught
'Cause I don't kiss when you're around
Narrator isn't an affectionate person
I don't find that I have been
Narrator doesn't think he's been
The portrait of an only son
Narrator doesn't fit the stereotype of an only son
If that's the case, then who could tell
Narrator is questioning his identity
Where my story had begun?
Narrator doesn't know where he comes from
Now we turn our backs to the sea
Giving up on the losing battle
The shame of a nation we'll never be
Defiance against being made to feel shameful
Ooh, ah ah ah ah
Introduction
Even now
Despite everything
Our salvation
Our way out of the current condition
Ooh, ah ah ah ah
Introduction
I'm all alone
Narrator is isolated
Behind a wall that's made of stone
Narrator is emotionally closed off
I think about (think about) where we have been
Musings on the past
And all the sights that could be seen
The possibilities for change
I know it all could be worthwhile
Belief that it's all worth the effort
If only I could force a smile
Narrator is struggling with looking on the bright side
The state of the nation (state of the nation)
The current condition of the country
That's holding our salvation (our salvation)
Preventing us from improving our situation
Yes it's the state of the nation (state of the nation)
The current condition of the country
That's holding our salvation (ah ah ah ah)
Preventing us from improving our situation
The state of the nation (state of the nation, ooh))
The current condition of the country
Is causing death inflation (ah ah ah ah)
The current condition is leading to more deaths
Oh, the state of the nation (ooh)
The current condition of the country
Is causing death inflation (ah ah ah ah)
The current condition is leading to more deaths
State of the nation (ah ah ah ah)
The current condition of the country
Our salvation
Our way out of the current condition
State of the nation (ooh ah ah ah ah)
The current condition of the country
Our salvation
Our way out of the current condition
State of the nation (ooh ah ah ah ah)
The current condition of the country
Our salvation
Our way out of the current condition
State
Abbreviated version of "State of the nation"
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN ROBIE, BERNARD SUMNER, PETER HOOK, GILLIAN LESLEY GILBERT, STEPHEN PAUL DAVID MORRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind