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.
Turn The Heater On
New Order Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've got me on my knees
But the walls are tumbling down
The falling night believes
Listening through months and years
I can't forget that you were here
I feel your presence everywhere
Turn your eyes from me
It's time for me to go
Across the hills and over the sea
I want you more than I know
It's a wild world out there
And nobody gives a damn
In a cold blood we don't care
And we don't want to understand
I'm sitting here alone at night
My sleepless eyes are open wide
What do you want me to say?
What we had has gone away?
The sky is high the road is long
Show me what I should have done
What do you want me to do
Take it all away from you
Turn your eyes from me
It's time for me to go
Across the hills and over the sea
I want you more than I know
Turn your eyes from me
It's time for me to go
Across the hills and over the sea
I want you more than I know
The lyrics to New Order's song Turn the Heater On are full of emotional depth and complexity, exploring themes of loss, longing, and the struggle to move on from a past relationship. The opening lines ("It's a hard way to come home / You've got me on my knees") immediately set a somber tone, as the singer appears to be broken and defeated, possibly after an argument or confrontation with their ex-lover. The following lines ("But the walls are tumbling down / The falling night believes") suggest a sense of inevitability or impending doom, as the singer realizes that their relationship is crumbling and they are powerless to stop it.
Throughout the song, the singer reflects on the past, recalling memories of their time with their former partner ("Listening through months and years / I can't forget that you were here / I feel your presence everywhere / In the corner over there"). Despite acknowledging the pain and heartache of the breakup, the singer still harbors feelings for their ex and struggles to let go ("Turn your eyes from me / It's time for me to go / Across the hills and over the sea / I want you more than I know").
The chorus repeats the refrain "Turn your eyes from me / It's time for me to go / Across the hills and over the sea / I want you more than I know." This suggests a sense of resignation and acceptance, as the singer recognizes that they must move on from their past relationship and forge a new path forward, even though they still feel a deep longing for their ex.
Overall, Turn the Heater On is a poignant and introspective song that captures the complexities of love and heartbreak in a powerful and moving way.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a hard way to come home
Coming back to reality is difficult and painful
You've got me on my knees
I am powerless and vulnerable in this situation
But the walls are tumbling down
The barriers and defenses are breaking away
The falling night believes
The darkness and silence reveal the truth
Listening through months and years
Reflecting on the past and remembering
I can't forget that you were here
Your presence and impact remain with me
I feel your presence everywhere
Memories of you are pervasive and vivid
In the corner over there
A particular location serves as a reminder
Turn your eyes from me
Please don't watch or witness my departure
It's time for me to go
Leaving this situation or relationship is necessary
Across the hills and over the sea
The journey ahead is unpredictable and vast
I want you more than I know
The depth of my desire and longing is beyond my understanding
It's a wild world out there
The world is chaotic and unpredictable
And nobody gives a damn
People are indifferent or selfish
In a cold blood we don't care
We are callous and emotionless
And we don't want to understand
Ignorance and apathy prevail
I'm sitting here alone at night
Loneliness and isolation are present
My sleepless eyes are open wide
Anxiety and restlessness prevent me from sleeping
What do you want me to say?
I don't know how to express myself or communicate effectively
What we had has gone away?
Our relationship or connection has ended
The sky is high the road is long
The possibilities and challenges are endless
Show me what I should have done
Help me understand my mistakes and regrets
What do you want me to do
I am unsure of how to proceed or make amends
Take it all away from you
I wish I could erase your pain or burdens
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KEITH LINBERG HUDSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dirkpehrke9909
Ian Curtis loved Reggae and this track by Keith Hudson was one of his favourites.
@jasonmfalconer
Unreplicable atmosphere on this track, dark, transporting music. One of the best NO moments
@Eightball69
Yes yes J! ♥️
@chrissmith256
Of all their stuff and the 35 years l've listened to them, l go back to this. I love this song. Give me the post lan days anytime.
@andrewgreenwood2884
My favourite New Order song. It has a dream like quality too it
@andersjansson6629
Try listening to this in the middle of the night at 3 oclock! New order is amazing 🖤
@ibbevandyck3098
Absolutely brilliant. When I first heard they covered some kind of reggae song, I thought I wouldn't like it. But to my surprise, it turned out to be one of my all time favorite tracks by New Order.
@scottjohnson8316
Cover or not this the most enjoyable song I’ve ever heard from new order. No wonder this was ian’s Fav song
@michaelcandon2971
Had a chance of seeing new order back in the day...82?..st Francis xceaver hall in dublin.was sick couldn't make it,building long torn down...oh what a regret...my friend who did go always gives me a dig...think I get a new friend.😂
@GriefTourist
The perfect soundtrack to curry mile on Wilmslow Road after an evening Manchester City game in the early 80s