Blue Monday
New Order Joy Division CrimethInc Lyrics
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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.
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.
The lyrics of Blue Monday by New Order are full of raw emotions that are difficult to express. It's a song about feeling used and mistreated in a romantic relationship. The opening 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," reveal that the singer feels violated and powerless in the face of their partner's dominance. The following lines, "I thought I was mistaken, I thought I heard your words. Tell me how do I feel. Tell me now, how do I feel," suggest that the singer isn't sure what to make of their situation, but knows that they feel hurt and confused.
The second half of the song introduces a new voice, that of a person who has lived a life according to societal expectations but has come to reject that path. This voice says that those who came before them "lived through their vocations," perhaps indicating that they were stuck in jobs they didn't enjoy or couldn't escape from. The lines "they'll turn away no more" suggest a revolt against this fate, a newfound determination to live life on their own terms. However, the singer still struggles to communicate their own emotions to their partner, saying "I'm quite sure that you'll tell me just how I should feel today." The final lines, "Tell me how does it feel, when your heart grows cold, grows cold, cold," convey a sense of desolation and disillusionment, as the singer realizes that their relationship has lost its warmth and is now irreparably damaged.
Line by Line Meaning
How does it feel to treat me like you do?
How does it make you feel to mistreat and disrespect me in the ways that you do?
When you've laid your hands upon me and told me who you are.
After touching me and introducing yourself, what do you hope to achieve by displaying such harmful behavior towards me?
I thought I was mistaken, I thought I heard your words.
I initially doubted what I heard you say, questioning the authenticity of your intentions and words.
Tell me how do I feel. Tell me now, how do I feel.
I ask you to explain my own emotions towards the way you treat me, as I struggle to understand them myself.
Those who came before me lived through their vocations
from the past until completion, they'll turn away no more.
My predecessors have found purpose in their work, in a time before they no longer can; my situation is no different.
And still I find it so hard to say what I need to say.
Despite the weight of emotions I feel, it remains difficult to express what is truly on my mind.
But I'm quite sure that you'll tell me just how I should feel today.
I anticipate that you will belittle my emotions and force me to conform to your expectations, as you have so many times before.
I see a ship in the harbor. I can and shall obey.
I am aware of the presence of a vessel, and I am willing to follow orders to ensure that it is secured.
But if it wasn't for your misfortune, I'd be a heavenly person today.
If not for the negativity and harm you brought into my life, I would be someone entirely different and much happier.
And I thought I was mistaken, and I thought I heard you speak
Once again, I wonder if I am misunderstanding your words and intentions, questioning everything I thought I knew about you.
Tell me, how do I feel. Tell me now, how should I feel.
I demand that you explain both what I am currently feeling and what I am expected to feel in response to your actions.
Now I stand here waiting...
I am left standing alone, waiting for any sort of communication or guidance from you.
I thought I told you to leave me when I walked down to the beach.
I made it clear that I wanted to be alone, but you ignored my wishes and persisted in your mistreatment of me.
Tell me how does it feel, when your heart grows cold, grows cold, cold.
I want you to confront the emotional effects of your actions, as you continue to distance yourself from empathy and compassion towards me.
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
@KeanuReevolution
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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
I still 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
While I walk down to the beach
Tell me how does it feel
When your heart grows cold, grows cold...
@PooDotStinkPants
Hello future person, yes we are still listening to this in [insert year here] . You have great taste in music too. Have a lovely day!
@bob_ross_gaming4702
Vcvcgv
@quassoulet
Thx
@crymeariver9141
I'm in year 4000 and still listening to this.
@jvtheartisticlank
Thanks
@brandonbutterfield1229
Thanks man
@WahyuSoeparnoPutro-ln7dk
It's 2023. I need to ask the younger listeners to understand how exceptionally ground breaking this song was in the early 80's. It was like we heard the sound of a new generation being born on the nightclub dancefloor. Nobody had heard anything like it prior. It wasn't disco but it was danceable, it wasn't fluff music but it had rythmn, it wasn't punk or heavy metal but it made an alternative lane of its own. It was a sound that was so original that no group was able to emulate it. It did open the door for OMD, Tears for fears and other electro groups of the early 80's.
Most modern day electronic music can be traced back to New Order and their unique sound. I almost feel sorry for the youth of today because so far they get the same old music, just rehashed with a new face. I can't wait for this generation to feel the exhilaration of hearing something so unique and so identifiable that it becomes the sound of your generation. It's exhilarating, it's rebellious, it's a little intimidating, it challenges the old fuddy duddies and it excites you to the core. That's what blue Monday did to us. New Order are the voice of the 1980's and I still adore them to bits. I still pray that one day I can see them play live.
@markjohnston1648
Spot on!
@Azazel226
Thanks for the glimpse into the past on this! I was first introduced to this song as a cover by the band Orgy. Never knew the original was created ages ago.
@marcalvarez4890
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyzk1Gwwu7c
Some context to add to your excellent comment