Joy Division - Atrocity Exhibition Lyrics






Asylums with doors open wide,
Where people had paid to see inside,
For entertainment they watch his body twist,
Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'

This is the way, step inside.
This is the way, step inside...

In arenas he kills for a prize,
Wins a minute to add to his life.
But the sickness is drowned by cries for more,
Pray to God, make it quick, watch him fall.

This is the way, step inside.
This is the way, step inside...

This is the way, step inside.
This is the way, step inside...

You'll see the horrors of a faraway place,
Meet the architects of law face to face.
See mass murder on a scale you've never seen,
And all the ones who try hard to succeed.

This is the way, step inside.
This is the way, step inside...

And I picked on the whims of a thousand or more,
Still pursuing the path that's been buried for years,
All the dead wood from jungles and cities on fire,
Can't replace or relate, can't release or repair,
Take my hand and I'll show you what was and will be.





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Joy Division Atrocity Exhibition Comments
  1. s.... 1....

    This is a really disturbing track. It's weird how they changed from this to World In Motion.

  2. S.... S....

    I love joy division

  3. T.... J....

    Gospel. Ian Curtis you're missed terribly

  4. S.... S....

    Fuck you Danny brown

  5. R.... M....

    Isch a live isch alive may may isch Quaker wanker &-92@ sisbdilrinahndjfoekyqmaysvsodmsksuvsodlxmsjstehepdmxhdnspxogmwpamsuso%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%[~~_£\¥•\!!\’smsndd

  6. R.... M....

    Soil sol oil oink oink pink wiggly March nino

  7. O.... S....

    No other words needed

  8. a.... a....

    4:33 till final...amazing and brillant part!

  9. A.... C....

    who's here cuz of danny brown

  10. I.... L....

    Atonal, disturbing, ominous, scary and......beautiful.

  11. I.... K....

    When I listen to Joy Devision, I hear so many amazing bands that they influenced. For example, The Cure's song Burn was inspired by this song IMO.

  12. g.... ....

    I'm sweating like I'm in a rave...

  13. k.... m....

    This always makes me think of Dante being guided through hell. Except instead of hell it's humanity

  14. D.... R....

    One of the best opening tracks I’ve ever heard in my life

  15. c.... d....

    This doesn't sound like the one i've been listening to for 3 years. Wtf is going on?

  16. D.... A....

    The best album ever made

  17. K.... B....

    its been so long but I had several Joy Division vinyl records and posters one of Ian Curtis on my wall in a studio apartment at Euclid and Broadway. when they were still cutting fresh tracks I was all of ten years old. twelve when I first stuck my head into a club and had already been to gigs around mostly house gigs like The Violent Femmes and other bands because they couldn't afford a big concert place to play. banging away in the garage kind of fun. that's where they make it or break it as a band.

  18. m.... w....

    my favorite

  19. I.... A....

    "you'll see the horrors of a faraway place...meet the architects of law face to face..."

  20. M.... R....

    Hola soy re putinaso. Y mi hermana esta re buena anoten 2984487898

  21. P.... W....

    40 Years (Almost) Where Did IT Go ?

  22. S.... M....

    That drumming is something else.

  23. D.... G....

    Every time I hear the start of this song I imagine a fire outside a cave entrance at night, with the stone age tribe gathered around after dinner and the tribal muso picking up a couple of beast bones and striking up this sound on his obviously sophisticated set of hide covered drums. Maybe I watched too much Flintstones when I was a youngster?

    D.... G....

    What the hell? [computer novice here; don't know what I did to make this comment reappear here? %P]

  24. G.... A....

    Humans are losing diamonds. (Who don't know about JOY DIVISION)

  25. J.... D....

    wait this isn’t hiphop

  26. R.... C....

    Oh Ian you had such a cheery imagination and happy way with words/lyrics

  27. P.... ....

    This has that Vietnam War era music feel.

    P.... ....

    Vietnam era for me is more Black Sabbath and CCR

  28. b.... f....

    God damn

  29. M.... M....

    Bester Drummer aller Zeiten

  30. U.... H....

    ahhh...Ballard + JD

  31. G.... T....

    Does anybody have the same problem? Scrolling through everyone's comments, and the song ends, and goes to commercial, and it's some upbeat chirpy solicitation, that is the opposite and jarring to the mood and atmosphere created by these monumental moments in the history of recorded music?

    G.... T....

    Use adblock. It's marvelous

    G.... T....

    Glenn Taylor; Get the album then mate, and totally immerse yourself.

  32. G.... T....

    Perhaps Ian Curtis was is a prophet?! A reflection of the horrors of the Holocaust in WW2, the Bread and Circus of the Roman colliseum, and potential FEMA camp holocaust in America.

  33. D.... 1....

    Americans listening to joy division, who knew ...

  34. M.... H....

    it was about my third listening, just when the famiiarity is setting in but still so new in your mind and then the acid began to kick in....fuck me running

  35. B.... C....

    Only joy division could make music this fucking good ian curtis total one stunning talented man adore this and closer so much

  36. J.... A....

    Obras de arte deste calibre só estão ao alcance de iluminados!!!God in his wisdom took you by the hand, God in his wisdom make you understand...

  37. l.... v....

    Questioning the 73 people who disliked this superb song:

  38. �.... �....

    For me Ian in this song sounds exactly like Jim Morrison in his best years. Such a great influence of The Doors in this song

    �.... �....

    And Ian was a good poet too

  39. A.... ....

    What did he mean by "architects of law" ?

    A.... ....

    One of the parts that isn't actually allegory and more to tie in to the theme of the song. The architects of law, ie. the people in power, leaders of institutions that let the atrocities continue.

  40. H.... J....

    Named after a J.G Ballard novel

    H.... J....

    Hippy Jodorowsky True.

  41. G.... C....

    Who the fuck is Danny Brown??

    G.... C....

    Rapper from Detroit if you still don't know

  42. C.... H....

    It's crazy hearing this in hindsight of his death.

    He compares playing gigs for money as fighting in these "arenas" for a livelihood. These "asylums" that people pay to come into allow them to watch his convulsions. His sickness isn't as real to them, hence it being "drowned out by cries for more" from him. They can't empathize with his struggle. It's truly disturbing to listen to in the context of all that happened.

  43. B.... H....

    That drumming is amazing. Complex and hypnotic, best.

  44. B.... H....

    Post-punk never sounded so good.

  45. T.... B....

    Ian Curtis knows da wae

  46. A.... ....

    killer bass

  47. �.... ....

    This song is so criminally underrated.

  48. G.... G....

    Ian Curtis deidad

  49. F.... C....

    Great album

  50. g.... ....

    Huh......this sounds like a mixture of The Velvet Underground, Can & The Doors. Great song, though.

  51. r.... m....

    Asylums with doors open wide
    Where people had paid to see inside
    For entertainment they watch his body twist
    Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'

    [Chorus]
    This is the way, step inside
    This is the way, step inside
    This is the way, step inside
    This is the way, step inside

    [Verse 2]
    In arenas he kills for a prize
    Wins a minute to add to his life
    But the sickness is drowned by cries for more
    Pray to God, make it quick, watch him fall

    [Chorus]
    This is the way, step inside
    This is the way, step inside
    This is the way, step inside
    This is the way, step inside
    This is the way, this is the way
    This is the way, this is the way
    This is the way, step inside
    This is the way, step inside
    This is the way, step inside
    This is the way, step inside

    [Verse 3]
    You'll see the horrors of a faraway place
    Meet the architects of law face to face
    See mass murder on a scale you've never seen
    And all the ones who try hard to succeed

    [Chorus]
    This is the way, step inside
    This is the way, step inside
    This is the way, step inside
    This is the way, step inside

    [Verse 4]
    And I picked on the whims of a thousand or more
    Still pursuing the path that's been buried for years
    All the dead wood from jungles and cities on fire
    Can't replace or relate, can't release or repair
    Take my hand and I'll show you what was and will be

  52. B.... T....

    Atrocity Exhibition - [The Factory, Manchester Live 11 April 1980]

    Joy Division

    Buy for $1.29

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    Lyrics

    Asylums with doors open wide,
    Where people had paid to see inside,
    For entertainment they watch his body twist
    Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'

    This is the way, step inside.
    This is the way, step inside.
    This is the way, step inside.
    This is the way, step inside.

    In arenas he kills for a prize,
    Wins a minute to add to his life.
    But the sickness is drowned by cries for more,
    Pray to God, make it quick, watch him fall.

    This is the way, step inside.
    This is the way, step inside.
    This is the way, step inside.
    This is the way, step inside.

    This is the way.
    This is the way.
    This is the way.
    This is the way.
    This is the way, step inside.
    This is the way, step inside.
    This is the way, step inside.
    This is the way, step inside.

    You'll see the horrors of a faraway place,
    Meet the architects of law face to face.
    See mass murder on a scale you've never seen,
    And all the ones who try hard to succeed.

    This is the way, step inside.
    This is the way, step inside.
    This is the way, step inside.
    This is the way, step inside.

    And I picked on the whims of a thousand or more,
    Still pursuing the path that's been buried for years,
    All the dead wood from jungles and cities on fire,
    Can't replace or relate, can't release or repair,
    Take my hand and I'll show you what was and will be.

  53. T.... S....

    U2 borrowed heavily from this song, hear the bass line? what newer tune iU2 does that sounds like this bass groove again?

  54. C.... C....

    depressing. but I just know somebody else thinks and feels the way I do and it helps me for some reason I don't know why helps me feel better just knowing I'm not alone

  55. s.... s....

    the lyrics make me think of franz kafka's short story 'a hunger artist' for some reason.

  56. F.... R....

    Love the tribal style drums!!

  57. G.... B....

    Made 30 bands in 30 minutes

  58. K.... D....

    omg they ripped off danny brown!

  59. �.... �....

    my right ear enjoyed this

  60. F.... R....

    Splendid track to kick off Closer with

  61. J.... B....

    The Smiths were great. Morrisey and Ian were the best. They pretty much cancel each other out. Then you're left with the music. This is where Joy Division is superior to The Smiths IMO. They came up with the sound the Cure copied. They experimented when others tried to catch up. They didn't know what they were doing as far as being innovative. They just were captured in that time, in that environment, and it came out. Those other bands had their own sound, but they aren't comparable to Joy Division. JD had so many layers to its music. Take away Morrisey. Take away Robert Smith. Do either of those bands become New Order? End of argument.

    J.... B....

    Cure never came close to COPYING JD dumbass. What a stupid ignorant statement.

    J.... B....

    The Cure's song Pornography copied from this song. Even the drum pattern and noisy guitar was almost the same.

    J.... B....

    @Mike Pastor. K Maybe they took a little bit from the drum pattern, but its not like Joy Division invented tribal drumming. Other than that the songs are completely different.

  62. C.... A....

    Os que têm medo da morte que estão verdadeiramente ...

  63. R.... H....

    JG Ballard this one's for you!

  64. S.... V....

    I always get reminded of a tribal setting with this beat, very hypnotic. Anyone else get the tribal thing too?

    S.... V....

    @Boris Rangelov I am sorry but if you think that Kylie and Jason produced good music you must have tin ears. They were execrable. Stock Aitken and Waterman were to music what Ronnie Corbett was to basketball.

    S.... V....

    @Boris Rangelov Oh I see yes. A lot of teeny boppers did buy them yes. You are correct in saying music like that has always been around but there were always manifold alternatives in the mainstream. SAW were of course quickly followed by the dreadful Smiley culture. Idiots out of their heads on pills jumping up and down in muddy fields in Basildon.

    S.... V....

    I've always gotten like a 19th century/early 20th century modern imperialism crimes against humanity in Africa vibe from this song for some reason.

    S.... V....

    In a Lonely Place has a similar tribal thing going on too. So primal

  65. V.... ....

    This is the way nigga step inside

  66. C.... D....

    I like the jackhammers in the background.

  67. W.... ....

    This had to inspire grunge, jungle, and death metal. So fuckin disturbing. Even by modern standards, this is the darkest album I've ever heard. Rest well and Godspeed, Ian.

    W.... ....

    Giles Corey by Giles Corey or The Downward Spiral by NIN are easily 10 times as dark as this one. I have respect for Joy Division for being pioneers in the post punk genre, but there are countless bands that are more realized and have a wider understanding today of how to create dark, brooding music.

    W.... ....

    AT Nick IDIOT. This is 1980, Trent probably jerked it to this DARK HAUNTING MASTERPIECE.

  68. S.... C....

    Martin Zero Hannett

  69. S.... r....

    poor ian 😣. no one was listening. they just thought it was edgey music.

    S.... r....

    196019sycamore They mean no one was listening to his words, which were clearly autobiographical and a cry for help.

    S.... r....

    @196019sycamore Yes but nobody in time realised that Ian meant these lyrics. Its haunting.

    S.... r....

    what happened?????

    S.... r....

    the jdlt he killed himself, they are going on about how the other members of joy division didn’t listen, to the singers (Ian Curtis) lyrics, which having a look at and reviewing, it’s quite obvious he was suffering and needed help

  70. S.... V....

    A masterpiece.

  71. E.... ....

    Some of the best lyrics in rock history here.

  72. T.... B....

    28 assholes don't know the music

  73. g.... ....

    Those tribal drums, leading the way to the Industrial bands of the eighties and beyond.

  74. a.... h....

    take my hand and I will show you what was and will be I just hope that my son discovers joy Division his mom who has the most of the time has been listening to pop country which makes me very upset you know I even dug pretty deep for myself and tried to play Real Country for him what's a man to do I guess it's a woman's World in this situation as in all

  75. a.... h....

    I am so devastated that Trump won the election. I have a ten year old son what is gonna happen to his world as he gets older I feel like I'm in the 40s joy division helps me threw this

    a.... h....

    andrew harrier kek

    a.... h....

    for the first and last time in his life, Curtis voted for Maggie (and Tories) back in 1979. Step inside, Andrew :-)

  76. G.... S....

    For entertainment, they watched his body twist.
    Behind his eyes, he says, "I still exist."

    G.... S....

    @Ricardo Mañez Tabarez Owned

    G.... S....

    I thought of the Elephant Man when I first heard this lyric

    G.... S....

    I thought of Ian Curtis himself.......

    G.... S....

    @Ricardo Mañez Tabarez you mean Eeyore by Slipkot

  77. G.... W....

    Stephen Morris, such an underrated drummer. His work during Joy Division was so inventive. You could tell how good he was by the fact that Martin Hannett would have the drums so high in the mix for most of their songs.

    G.... W....

    I agree, SY's first album had drums similar to this. But if you go back further, VU (The Velvet Underground) used unorthodox drumming in rock & roll (albeit slower) with songs like "Venus in Furs", "Heroin", "The Murder Mystery", and a lot of other songs. VU, SY, and Joy Division are all absolutely awesome.

    G.... W....

    @anonymous person Music is repetition. Simple can't be understood sometimes.

    G.... W....

    @Marcio SilvaYes, its' relative simplicity is part of what makes it such a powerful track.

    G.... W....

    I hear u. Technical ability takes a back seat to creativity IMO.

    G.... W....

    Agreed but I have to say that Terry Bozzio's drumming on several Frank Zappa albums is beyond belief.

  78. P.... J....

    As dope is this song is, it's crazy that this dope ass jam would also inspire a 35 year old druggie weirdo from Michigan to make an outta this world album as well

    P.... J....

    Peebo Johnson Great artists taking inspiration from other great artists, gotta love it

    P.... J....

    who's this ' 35 year old druggie weirdo from Michigan'?

    P.... J....

    Julia Pilecka Danny Brown

    P.... J....

    Are you sure Danny was inspired by this and not the book?

    P.... J....

    @Vishnuprasad .T on the song gold dust he says the lines "this is the way, nigga step inside", which is a reference to this song.

  79. E.... V....

    HYBRID!

  80. a.... g....

    i was brought here by danny brown

  81. J.... L....

    I used to feel quite unnerved by this song and now I embrace it as one of my favourites. Chainsaw guitars, horrific lyrics, and those drums...what a work of art.

    J.... L....

    Precisely!

  82. s.... ....

    what's with all the background noise? Did they record this at an auto shop?

    s.... ....

    punk rock baby

  83. C.... ....

    Why are the drums so god damn heavenly on this

  84. j.... ....

    Behind his eyes he says "I still exist"

  85. L.... P....

    I Imagine if i walked into danny brown's house this song would be playing loudly on a big stereo system, he would be snorting cocaine with around 10 beautiful women dancing with leopard skin shorts on. There would be exotic cats walking around and jim morrison would be there old as fuck and he would be drinking wine. We would all do a bunch of coke with this song on repeat and then i would od in happiness

    L.... P....

    ....... Wouldn't it be more appropriate for Ian Curtis to be there?

    L.... P....

    Luke Piper I thought the same! This is what this song reminds me of.

    L.... P....

    +Scott Clockwork danny brown has an album called atrocity exhibition and he samples this song

  86. E.... M....

    Great chorus. Their most enduring track, for me.

  87. T.... ....

    thanks danny brown

  88. G.... O....

    i don't think this song is disturbing at all. it's fucking exciting, something i've never expirienced before

  89. s.... ....

    Big up Danny Brown for naming his next album after this song!!

    s.... ....

    for real

    s.... ....

    on the real. Besides the record being great, I bet he put a lot of people onto Joy Division. And IMO they're one of the best bands ever.

    s.... ....

    I think it might have been in reference to JG Ballard rather than this

    s.... ....

    @Rossamund Brennan He even sampled this song

  90. J.... S....

    Shoutouts Danny Brown

    J.... S....

    shout out JG Ballard

    J.... S....

    @gymnopedie if u want deeper, try dave gahan ;)

    J.... S....

    @ʀᴏᴛᴛᴇɴ ɪɴsɪᴅᴇ Dave sung deeper, but still in a somewhat effeminate manner. Ian had a nice masculine voice that gives his music an edge.

    J.... S....

    ROBERT DEAN slow down there parter. Joy Division is way better than that Morrissey led boy band

    J.... S....

    @chanterelle ballard is a genius

  91. L.... K....

    kids on here have no idea at all about the early punk industrial movement of Joy Division, amongst others, these kids weren't even born then !

    L.... K....

    This is the way
    Step inside

    L.... K....

    oh wow !!! this does it to me !!

  92. /.... ....

    ballard4ever

    /.... ....

    Yeah my nigga represent!

  93. M.... ....

    Disturbing and evil, yet amazing.

    M.... ....

    I don't think is evil. But is certainly disturbing to write about your own fall. Especially your own disease.

    M.... ....

    @Djlullaby22; Yes, interesting comment D. Made me think 'twas maybe how Ian dealt with his problems, like a lot of artists do, by pouring themselves into their works and not holding back. Maybe the only way they feel comfortable about communicating their problems and feelings? A kinda "hidden" or veiled cry for help.

  94. i.... ....

    the drum sounds like an old floyd song

    i.... ....

    The Grand Vizier on Umagumma

  95. a.... ....

    so fucking bleak.

  96. B.... ....

    That drum is fucking insane... Stephen Morris is on top of his game, as are they all...

    B.... ....

    Stephen is such an underrated drummer. He sounds like a fucking machine consistently.

    B.... ....

    Absolutely agreed. I think he could be considered his own kind of Keith Moon or Bonzo.

    B.... ....

    Stephen Morris & Fabrizio from The Strokes, it takes talent to be that consistent.

  97. J.... H....

    its all from a book by j g Ballard
    the atrocity exhibition

    J.... H....

    Yes, That book is dope.

    J.... H....

    Crash: This author is beyond psychiatric help. Do Not Publish!

    J.... H....

    Actually while writing this song Ian had never even read the book, he just thought it sounded cool. He might have read it afterwards though.

  98. B.... T....

    The first two verses are really self-referential...

    B.... T....

    +Brian Tong Glad I'm not the only one to notice it. "For entertainment they watch his body twist" = Ian's on-stage writhing and the public assuming it's a part of the act.

  99. k.... ....

    I've changed my mind. This song is about England's RWC campaign.

    k.... ....

    kobathedread; HaHaa! The English should be singing this instead of Swing Low Sweet Chariot for sure.