Blue Monday
New Order / Detroit Grand Pubahs Lyrics

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How does it feel to treat me like you do?
When you've laid your hands upon me and told me who you are
I thought I was mistaken, I thought I heard your words
Tell me how do I feel
Tell me now, how do I feel
Those who came before me lived through their vocations
From the past until completion, they'll turn away no more
And still I find it so hard to say what I need to say

But I'm quite sure that you'll tell me just how I should feel today
I see a ship in the harbor
I can and shall obey
But if it wasn't for your misfortune, I'd be a heavenly person today
And I thought I was mistaken, and I thought I heard you speak
Tell me, how do I feel
Tell me now, how should I feel
Now I stand here waiting

I thought I told you to leave me when I walked down to the beach
Tell me how does it feel, when your heart grows cold, grows cold, cold

Overall Meaning

"Blue Monday" by New Order is a song that explores the complicated nature of a relationship. The lyrics delve into the emotions of the singer, who is struggling to understand how they are being treated. The first lines, "How does it feel to treat me like you do? When you've laid your hands upon me and told me who you are," express the confusion and hurt that the singer is experiencing. They feel like they have been mistreated, but they cannot fully comprehend why.

The song's chorus, "Tell me how do I feel, tell me now, how do I feel," is a desperate plea for clarity from the person causing them pain. The singer is searching for answers and guidance on how to process their emotions. The second verse then introduces the idea of past generations living through their vocations, and how the singer finds it difficult to express themselves fully.

The lines, "But I'm quite sure that you'll tell me just how I should feel today," suggest that the singer is being manipulated by their partner. The mention of a ship in the harbor and the idea of obeying further emphasize this power dynamic. The song ends with the singer standing alone, waiting for answers and closure.

Overall, "Blue Monday" is a haunting song that explores the complexities of human emotions and relationships. Its iconic bass line and electronic sounds make it a standout track in the history of popular music.

Line by Line Meaning

How does it feel to treat me like you do?
What does it feel like for you to treat me poorly?

When you've laid your hands upon me and told me who you are
When you've physically touched me and tried to assert your authority and identity over me

I thought I was mistaken, I thought I heard your words
I believed that I might have been wrong or misheard you

Tell me how do I feel
Can you explain to me how I should be feeling?

Tell me now, how do I feel
I need you to clarify what emotions I should be experiencing

Those who came before me lived through their vocations
People who have come before me have lived their lives according to their jobs or callings

From the past until completion, they'll turn away no more
Until the end of their lives, they won't give up or turn away from their path

And still I find it so hard to say what I need to say
I'm struggling to express what I really want or need to communicate

But I'm quite sure that you'll tell me just how I should feel today
I anticipate that you'll dictate my emotions for me

I see a ship in the harbor
I see a boat docked in the harbor

I can and shall obey
I am able and willing to follow orders

But if it wasn't for your misfortune, I'd be a heavenly person today
If it weren't for your misfortune affecting me, I would be happy and content

And I thought I was mistaken, and I thought I heard you speak
I had a moment of confusion where I thought I misunderstood or misheard what you said

Tell me, how do I feel
Can you explain to me what my emotional state should be?

Tell me now, how should I feel
Please tell me what emotions I should be experiencing currently

Now I stand here waiting
I am currently waiting in this spot

I thought I told you to leave me when I walked down to the beach
I believed I had previously expressed my desire for you to leave me alone when I went to the beach

Tell me how does it feel, when your heart grows cold, grows cold, cold
Can you describe what it's like to feel cold-hearted?

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNARD (GB 2) SUMNER, GILLIAN LESLEY GILBERT, PETER HOOK, STEPHEN PAUL DAVID MORRIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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