Love Will Tear Us Apart - In Depth
‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ is one of the final singles released by the late post-punk band Joy Division. It details the struggles that the late Ian Curtis was going through at this time in his life and is critically and commercially their best ever song. Released on June 1st 1980, it was released exactly three weeks after Curtis’ suicide and the band’s subsequent Break-up and formation of New Order due to it. Curtis never got to see the song become so successful. However, the band had been playing it live for around a year and a half beforehand.
The song takes a tempo of 147 bpm and starts with an aggressive sounding A power chord on guitar, then followed by a Dsus2, which is played by Curtis on the track and is the only bit of guitar the singer had ever learnt. It is then joined in with a driving drum beat and then the main tune, that we all know is introduced. It also fits into an Em-D-Dsus2-D-Bm-A chord progression that continues throughout the song.
The lyrics start with “When routine bites hard, and ambition is low” which is a reference to Curtis’ depression at the time and shows how low he has ended up within himself, this is due to a range of reasons, however, his epilepsy is a big cause of this problem.
“And resentment rides high, but emotions won’t grow” is in reference to Curtis’ failing marriage, partly due to an affair that he had whilst on tour with Joy Division, a woman which he subsequently fell in love with, all whilst leaving his wife and child at home.
The chorus: “Love will tear us apart” which is also the title is a reference to the general struggles of love in everyday life and the problems that it can cause. It also is an ironic reference to Captain & Tennille’s ‘Love Will Keep Us Together’. And it’s what is found on Curtis’ gravestone.
In the second verse, Curtis asks, “Why is your bedroom so cold?” which is widely thought to be a reference to his affair that he was having, and he is basically asking this question to his wife, Deborah. He then asks “Is my timing that flawed? Our respect runs so dry.” which shows that this love is running out due to Curtis’ actions whilst away on tour.
After the second chorus, Curtis asks “Do you cry out in your sleep?” which is a reference this time to his own problems that he is having in life during this time. He then says “there’s a taste in my mouth, as desperation takes hold” which shows that Curtis by now is desperate for something to happen in his life.
The song then finishes with an A chord that is accompanied by other instruments and drums that are in time with every 3 beats of the song. Unfortunately, Curtis never got to see his masterpiece become the world famous song that it did as he committed suicide in June 1980. The world has seen his song be used in films and as the base of football chants.
Personally, I believe that this song is one of the most influential post-punk songs created and is the most influential Joy Division song. It is also (on a more personal note) one of my all time favourite songs.
‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ is one of the final singles released by the late post-punk band Joy Division. It details the struggles that the late Ian Curtis was going through at this time in his life and is critically and commercially their best ever song. Released on June 1st 1980, it was released exactly three weeks after Curtis’ suicide and the band’s subsequent Break-up and formation of New Order due to it. Curtis never got to see the song become so successful. However, the band had been playing it live for around a year and a half beforehand.
The song takes a tempo of 147 bpm and starts with an aggressive sounding A power chord on guitar, then followed by a Dsus2, which is played by Curtis on the track and is the only bit of guitar the singer had ever learnt. It is then joined in with a driving drum beat and then the main tune, that we all know is introduced. It also fits into an Em-D-Dsus2-D-Bm-A chord progression that continues throughout the song.
The lyrics start with “When routine bites hard, and ambition is low” which is a reference to Curtis’ depression at the time and shows how low he has ended up within himself, this is due to a range of reasons, however, his epilepsy is a big cause of this problem.
“And resentment rides high, but emotions won’t grow” is in reference to Curtis’ failing marriage, partly due to an affair that he had whilst on tour with Joy Division, a woman which he subsequently fell in love with, all whilst leaving his wife and child at home.
The chorus: “Love will tear us apart” which is also the title is a reference to the general struggles of love in everyday life and the problems that it can cause. It also is an ironic reference to Captain & Tennille’s ‘Love Will Keep Us Together’. And it’s what is found on Curtis’ gravestone.
In the second verse, Curtis asks, “Why is your bedroom so cold?” which is widely thought to be a reference to his affair that he was having, and he is basically asking this question to his wife, Deborah. He then asks “Is my timing that flawed? Our respect runs so dry.” which shows that this love is running out due to Curtis’ actions whilst away on tour.
After the second chorus, Curtis asks “Do you cry out in your sleep?” which is a reference this time to his own problems that he is having in life during this time. He then says “there’s a taste in my mouth, as desperation takes hold” which shows that Curtis by now is desperate for something to happen in his life.
The song then finishes with an A chord that is accompanied by other instruments and drums that are in time with every 3 beats of the song. Unfortunately, Curtis never got to see his masterpiece become the world famous song that it did as he committed suicide in June 1980. The world has seen his song be used in films and as the base of football chants.
Personally, I believe that this song is one of the most influential post-punk songs created and is the most influential Joy Division song. It is also (on a more personal note) one of my all time favourite songs.
