1.
Existence is.. well.. what does it matter? I exist on the best terms I can. The past is now part of my future. The present is well out of hand.
Ian Curtis
Living is unpredictable yet I do my best. The prior has shaped who I am now, and the present is beyond my control.
2.
Reality is only a term, based on values and well worn principles, whereas the dream goes on forever.
Ian Curtis
'Actuality is only a label, based on ethics and entrenched customs, whereas the vision continues indefinitely.'
3.
I struggle between what I know is right in my own mind, and some warped truthfulness as seen through other people's eyes who have no heart, and can't see the difference anyway.
Ian Curtis
I battle between my own inner morality and the distorted 'reality' as perceived by those without compassion, who are unable to discern the distinction anyway.
4.
Nothing seems real anymore. Even the flames from the fire seem to beckon to me, drawing me into some great past life buried somewhere deep in my subconscious, if only I could find the key..if only..if only. Ever since my illness, my condition, I've been trying to find some logical way of passing my time, of justifying a means to an end.
Ian Curtis
5.
When routine bites hard, and ambitions are low. When resentment rides high, but emotion won't grow...and we're changing our ways, taking different roads. Love will tear us apart.
Ian Curtis
When tedium provides a heavy burden, and dreams are diminishing. When bitterness is rampant, yet feelings can't be nurtured...and we're varying our paths, seeking divergent destinies. Affection will rend us asunder.
6.
We're changing our ways, taking different roads, and love will tear us apart again.
Ian Curtis
'We're altering our paths, travelling unique routes, and adoration will separate us anew.'
7.
I used to work in a factory and I was really happy because I could daydream all day.
Ian Curtis
I formerly toiled in a manufacturing plant and I was quite content because I could daydream endlessly.
8.
Pictures all around, of how good a life should be, a model for the rest, that bred insecurity, I walked a jagged line and then came back for more, it's always in my mind, an institution with no law.
Ian Curtis
Photographs everywhere, demonstrating the perfect life, a benchmark for others, inducing feelings of inadequacy, I tiptoed on an uneven path and returned again and again, it's constantly in my thoughts, an organization without regulations.
9.
All my lyrics are open to interpretation by the individual and imply many different meanings, therefore their relevance is purely subjective.
Ian Curtis
10.
Well, subconsciously I suppose some things must stick but I'm not influenced consciously by them.
Ian Curtis
11.
You cry out in your sleep - all my failings expose.
There's a taste in my mouth, as desperation takes hold
Just that something so good just can't function no more.
When love, love will tear us apart again.
Ian Curtis
12.
Love, love will tear us apart, again.
Ian Curtis
13.
We play the music we want to play and we play the places we want to play. I'd hate to be on the usual record company where you get an album out and you do a tour, and you do all the Odeon's and all the this that and the others. I couldn't just do that at all.
Ian Curtis
14.
I know someone who works in a record shop where I live and I'll go in there and he'll play me "Have you heard this single?". Singles by, er the group called The Tights, so an obscure thing... and a group called, I think, er Bauhaus, a London group. That's one single. There's no one I completely like that I can say "Well I've got all this person's records. I think he's great" or "This group's records" it's just, again, odd things.
Ian Curtis
15.
I like the groups on Factory, A Certain Ratio and Section 25. I
Ian Curtis
16.
I tend not to listen. When I'm listening to records, I don't listen to much new wave stuff, I tend to listen to the stuff I used to listen to a few years back but sort of odd singles.
Ian Curtis
17.
I just want to carry on the way we [ Joy Division] are, I think. Basically, we want to play and enjoy what we like playing. I think when we stop doing that I think, well, that will be the time to pack it in. That'll be the end.
Ian Curtis
18.
We said we'd never tour ... and we'll never do a tour, I don't think - or if we do it won't be longer than about two weeks.
Ian Curtis
19.
They [ Factory Records] are always looking for the next group, the next big thing, to bring the record sales in and for them to promote and everything, but Factory just sign who they want to, put records by who they want to out, package it how they want to, how they like doing it. It's just run like that.
Ian Curtis