Hook was a co-founder of Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in 1976. Together, they recruited vocalist Ian Curtis and drummer Stephen Morris to complete the quartet. The band reformed as New Order following Curtis’ suicide in May 1980.
Along the way, Hook has had a number of solo efforts, most notably with bands Revenge (1989-1993) and Monaco (1996-2001).
In May 2007, Peter Hook announced that he and Bernard Sumner were no longer working together, which at that point seemed to spell the end for New Order. The remaining trio of Sumner, Morris and Cunningham continued as Bad Lieutenant and Hook continued to work with his new band project, Freebass. This band released It's a Beautiful Life in September 2010 and promptly split.
Since 2007, Hook has kept himself busy with his new band The Light and has toured around the world, playing Joy Division's first album Unknown Pleasures live. Subsequent tours featured other Joy Division and New Order albums. The current line-up is Peter Hook, Jack Bates, Paul Kehoe, David Potts and Martin Rebelski. Peter Hook and Light released a string of live albums featuring Joy Division and New Order material.
Isolation
Peter Hook and the Light Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Underneath a starry sky
I just want to live, in this moment forever
I don't want to let this moment die
I can feel the sand, in between my toes
And the tears running from my eyes
They taste to me, just like the salt from the Sea
There's a storm, it's way off in the distance
So the ship sails away
(ha!)
But the storm grew fierce, and the ship could not steer clear
(oh, no!)
As I watched I heard the Sailor's call
Hey, all you need is love and hope and good company
We're all alone in the middle of the ocean
But the waves will do you no harm
And as time sails on like a ship on the water
I feel like I'm so alone
The water it calms me and the tide it owns me
And I only hate the sound of the waves when I'm thinking of home
I closed my eyes, and heard the thunder crash
As lightning lit the sky
The ocean rose, and Heaven only knows
How fierce the waves, how strong the storm
The tempest broke, and the ship somehow floats on
And the stars above still shine
They light the way, one by one I'll fix all my mistakes
All that matters is that I can say I tried
Hey, all you need is love and hope and good company
We're all alone in the middle of the ocean
But the waves will do you no harm
And as time sails on like a ship on the water
I feel like I'm so alone
The water it calms me and the tide it owns me
And I only hate the sound of the waves when I'm thinking of
Hey, all you need is love and hope and good company
We're all alone in the middle of the ocean, yeah
But the waves will do you no harm
And as time sails on like a ship on the water
I feel like I'm so alone
The water it calms me and the tide it owns me
And I only hate the sound of the waves when I'm thinking of home
(Thank you guys so much for hanging out with us today, we had a lot of fun)
The lyrics to "Isolation" by Peter Hook and the Light depict a sense of longing and solitude within the metaphorical context of a ship out at sea. The singer expresses a desire to hold on to the present moment, not wanting it to fade away. The imagery of the sea and the stars creates a serene and tranquil atmosphere, further emphasized by the mention of the sand between toes and tears flowing like the salt from the sea. It suggests a deep emotional connection to the vastness of the ocean and a personal journey of self-discovery.
However, amidst the peaceful setting, a storm approaches, causing the ship to sail away. The storm represents challenges and obstacles in life that cannot be avoided. The sailor's call for love, hope, and good company signifies the importance of human connections and support during difficult times. The lyrics convey a sense of loneliness and longing for home, as the waves become a reminder of the distance and separation from familiar surroundings.
The tempest eventually passes, and the ship still floats. The stars above symbolize guidance and a path forward. The singer acknowledges the mistakes made along the journey but emphasizes the importance of trying and learning from them. The repetition of the lines "All you need is love and hope and good company" reinforces the message of finding solace in human connections, even in the midst of isolation and adversity.
Overall, "Isolation" explores themes of longing, solitude, and the importance of love and support in navigating through life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a ship, way out at Sea
A metaphorical representation of the singer's current state of being
Underneath a starry sky
Describing the setting in which the singer exists
I just want to live, in this moment forever
Expressing the desire to hold on to a particular moment
I don't want to let this moment die
Reluctance to let go of the present experience
I can feel the sand, in between my toes
Sensory perception of the surroundings
And the tears running from my eyes
Signifying emotional release or vulnerability
They taste to me, just like the salt from the Sea
Drawing a parallel between tears and the ocean
Like there's an ocean, deep down inside of me
A metaphorical representation of inner turmoil or depth
There's a storm, it's way off in the distance
Foreshadowing an upcoming challenge or obstacle
So the ship sails away
Attempting to escape from the approaching storm
(ha!)
An added expression of surprise or realization
But the storm grew fierce, and the ship could not steer clear
The storm intensifies, rendering navigation impossible
(oh, no!)
An exclamation of distress or realization
As I watched I heard the Sailor's call
Observing the struggle and hearing the plea for help
Hey, all you need is love and hope and good company
Encouragement to rely on love, hope, and support from others
We're all alone in the middle of the ocean
Emphasizing the feeling of isolation
But the waves will do you no harm
Assurance that despite challenges, harm will not come
And as time sails on like a ship on the water
Connecting the passing of time with the movement of a ship
I feel like I'm so alone
Expressing a deep sense of loneliness or detachment
The water it calms me and the tide it owns me
Finding solace and surrender in the soothing nature of water
And I only hate the sound of the waves when I'm thinking of home
Yearning for familiarity and a sense of belonging
I closed my eyes, and heard the thunder crash
Seeking refuge in heightened senses, despite danger
As lightning lit the sky
Describing a vivid and dramatic scene
The ocean rose, and Heaven only knows
The intensification of the storm and uncertainty of survival
How fierce the waves, how strong the storm
Acknowledging the power and strength of the natural elements
The tempest broke, and the ship somehow floats on
The storm subsides, and the ship miraculously remains afloat
And the stars above still shine
A glimmer of hope and light in the darkness
They light the way, one by one I'll fix all my mistakes
A determined resolve to learn from past errors and improve
All that matters is that I can say I tried
Understanding the importance of effort and personal growth
(Thank you guys so much for hanging out with us today, we had a lot of fun)
An expression of gratitude and appreciation for the audience
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Matthew Jaramillo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TimBracken
Thanks for watching my video. I'm gathering all the songs I shot at this show in a YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwdc0qZNx0tajl_2mnOKXEpKbvpJ9NBSn. The songs (so far) are: Procession (New Order song), What Do You Want From Me (Monaco song), Isolation (Joy Division song), Dead Souls (Joy Division song), Ceremony (Joy Division/New Order song), and Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division song). Enjoy!
@klauswinzig4997
What a spirit!
@TravW
Did you catch love will tear us apart and ceremony? Thanks!
@TimBracken
Yep, I just posted Love Will Tear Us Apart and I'll check to see if my video of Ceremony looks good enough to post. 😊
@TimBracken
Hi Trav, I just posted Ceremony. 😊