What's 1963 really about?

I find it really intruiging. What's it about? About someone trying to shoot him? I thought it was about Johnny Marr at first but I doubt it. It's like he's singing about it from a woman's point of view. What does everyone else think?

The shooting of JFK, I think, if I remember.

Oh, here we go... Once again, copied and pasted from previous threads... definitely not about JFK... Read on:

This one crops up every month or so on this forum. The last time was http://neworderonlinecom.nexpoint.net/thread.asp?action=&thread\_id=5609&forum\_id=1 where the gist of the posts is as follows...

There was an online streamed interview at the time Get Ready was released (an interview from GetMusic. To hear the interview just follow this link http://www.getmusic.com/calendar/audiochats/neworder/index.html and click on Hear The Chat Now) and a fan emailed in the question about the lyrics to 1963, and Barney just said it's a song from the point of view of a wife, being shot by her partner Johnny, then him going on to get another wife. The interviewer was a complete twat. Barney explained "1963" lyrics, saying that is a fictitious story about a man who kills his wife and the guy went "It sounds like an Eminem track to me". Really embarrassing.

Hope that clears it all up, once and for all - although I'm sure someone else will be posting this question again in the near future!

Time to put this one in the sites FAQ, eh Spotnik?

Mr Discography wrote: Oh, here we go... Once again, copied and pasted from previous threads... definitely not about JFK... Read on:

This one crops up every month or so on this forum. The last time was http://neworderonlinecom.nexpoint.net/thread.asp?action=&thread\_id=5609&forum\_id=1 where the gist of the posts is as follows...

There was an online streamed interview at the time Get Ready was released (an interview from GetMusic. To hear the interview just follow this link http://www.getmusic.com/calendar/audiochats/neworder/index.html and click on Hear The Chat Now) and a fan emailed in the question about the lyrics to 1963, and Barney just said it's a song from the point of view of a wife, being shot by her partner Johnny, then him going on to get another wife. The interviewer was a complete twat. Barney explained "1963" lyrics, saying that is a fictitious story about a man who kills his wife and the guy went "It sounds like an Eminem track to me". Really embarrassing.

Hope that clears it all up, once and for all - although I'm sure someone else will be posting this question again in the near future!

Time to put this one in the sites FAQ, eh Spotnik?

Didnt I read something about JFK in the FAQ though??

The story goes that while recording 1963 Bernard was (accidently or otherwise) locked in the studio alone with nothing to eat or drink, which is when he wrote the lyrics.

Perhaps this is how he came up with the lyric "I just want to feel free" ;)

anyway: why would barney sing about january, 1963, when JFK was shot in november?

Barnster has enough trouble remembering lyrics let alone historical facts. Example YSF Warrington 1986.

Because it rhymes? That's the way his brain works!!!

Actually I have the New Order guitar music book, in which some of the songs are accompanied by hand-written pieces by the band. According to Bernard, 1963 is about JFK's reported relationship with Marilyn Monroe. In his own words, in his own writing.

wasnt it supposed to be from the point of view that the bullet that lee harvey oswald shot was meant to hit jackie "o" and not jfk? hence freeing jfk up to shag maralyn monroe?

Read-read those comments about 1963 and JFK: Barney was just talking generally about the year 1963, and JFK, not specifically the the song. The 'Get Ready' interview preceedes those comments, and besides which the description he gives in that book doesn't marry up with the lyrics, as that would mean JFK shooting his missus, then remarrying, wouldn't it? 1963 (as someone says) rhymes with January, and simply because there's a Johnny in the lyric (who does the killing, and isn't the victim!) doesn't make it about JFK, does it? Nowhere in that guitar book does Barney specifically say words to the effect of "this song is about JFK" - he's merely talking about the year.

This really needs to be in the FAQ's, as I must have had this dialogue tens of times on here by now!

Regards, Andrew Morrison Website: http://www.TrustNoOne.org.uk

Here's the page from the songbook:

Don't believe everything you read, though, especially as the dates don't add up with regards to the JFK stuff! :)

i was wondering how long it would take for this page to surface again.

it is just a song. it doesn't have to make sense. it is one of my favs.

I agree, Ron. The song is also one of my faves.

mike powell wrote: wasnt it supposed to be from the point of view that the bullet that lee harvey oswald shot was meant to hit jackie "o" and not jfk? hence freeing jfk up to shag maralyn monroe?

considering marilyn monroe died in 1962 i guess that theory goes out the window.

Yes, Marr and Barney are gay lovers, why else would Electronic exist?

Remember though, this is only a rumour.

And all rumours are true.

"3 6 9 1 9 6 3 6 9 1 9 6 3 6 9 1 9"

• Juan English

AgentWood wrote:

mike powell wrote: wasnt it supposed to be from the point of view that the bullet that lee harvey oswald shot was meant to hit jackie "o" and not jfk? hence freeing jfk up to shag maralyn monroe?

considering marilyn monroe died in 1962 i guess that theory goes out the window.

well spank me with a spanner and call me ethel,you learn something everyday,id always thought that monroe popped it much later in the sixties, 65ish maybe. mind you looking at that scribble from barney he may well be as thick as me

mike powell wrote:

AgentWood wrote:

mike powell wrote: wasnt it supposed to be from the point of view that the bullet that lee harvey oswald shot was meant to hit jackie "o" and not jfk? hence freeing jfk up to shag maralyn monroe?

considering marilyn monroe died in 1962 i guess that theory goes out the window.

well spank me with a spanner and call me ethel,you learn something everyday,id always thought that monroe popped it much later in the sixties, 65ish maybe. mind you looking at that scribble from barney he may well be as thick as me

from a M M site: Sadly, in a shocking turn of events on the early morning of August 5, 1962, 36-year-old Marilyn died in her sleep at her Brentwood, California home. The world was stunned. Marilyn's vibrant spirit and beauty made it impossible to believe she was gone. On August 8, 1962, Marilyn's body was laid to rest in the Corridor of Memories, #24, at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California.

I don't know the meaning of the song, myself! Still, I think it can mean anything to anybody. No matter what the musician says, people can still interpret a song anyway they want to, although I don't think the song is about JFK or as somebody mentioned, Johnny Marr, either. When I first heard it, I thought it was about a love affair gone awfully wrong. I didn't care that technically Barney was a guy singing about another guy. He could be singing from a woman's point of view, or he could be truly singing from a man's point of view. Who says you have to be gay to sing about another man when you're a man? Nonetheless, it's interesting how songs can have such wide interpretations.

i always thought that Johnny was a brother.

Seriously though, it's about the bass outro at 3:42.

Hannett of the Apes wrote: Seriously though, it's about the bass outro at 3:42.

NOW I understand

It's about the number of times people will ask on this forum what it's about.There is actually a comma missing from the title.It should be titled 1,963

It's a homage to the Four Seasons "Oh what a night!..."

AgentWood wrote: anyway: why would barney sing about january, 1963, when JFK was shot in november?

Doesn't the UK get things a few months after they come out in the US?

rubberlover666 wrote:

AgentWood wrote: anyway: why would barney sing about january, 1963, when JFK was shot in november?

Doesn't the UK get things a few months after they come out in the US?

erm, then that would be 11 months earlier? january, 1963 vs, november, 1963?

johnny lilly, make that #1964.

Bernard seems insecure/ uncomfortable talking about his lyrics in interviews, so maybe he kinda bullshits at times in interviews and one prolly should take what he says with that in mind

1963 is a really weird song, and does seem to a powerful theme of a strong male or father figure letting someone down emotionally. Bernard did have not have a tradional father figure when growing up, far as I've read, so maybe that has something to do with it

if you had a brother like mine, you would know it could only be about two brothers. only joking. who knows what its about.