Skip to content

Isolation

Joy Division

aka “Isolation Encore” aka “Isolation (Soundcheck)”

1980
490
Live performances
1
Recording
95
Release appearances
3
Covered by

Lyrics

In fear every day, every evening,
He calls her aloud from above,
Carefully watched for a reason,
Painstaking devotion and love,
Surrendered to self preservation, 
From others who care for themselves. 
…
View full lyrics 
In fear every day, every evening,
He calls her aloud from above,
Carefully watched for a reason,
Painstaking devotion and love,
Surrendered to self preservation, 
From others who care for themselves. 
A blindness that touches perfection,
But hurts just like anything else.

Isolation, isolation, isolation.

Mother I tried please believe me, 
I'm doing the best that I can.
I'm ashamed of the things I've been put through, 
I'm ashamed of the person I am. 

Isolation, isolation, isolation.

But if you could just see the beauty,
These things I could never describe,
These pleasures a wayward distraction, 
This is my one lucky prize

Isolation, isolation, Isolation, isolation, isolation.

Versions & Mixes

Recordings, remixes and alternate mixes of this composition.

  • Album Version 2:52
  • Live 1980-02-29 3:09
  • Live 1980-05-02 2:57
  • Live Reading Festival 1998 3:01
  • Peel Sessions 1998 2:44

Release Appearances

95 known appearances

Closer

Closer

1980
Still

Still

1981
1977 - 1980

1977 - 1980

1991
Permanent

Permanent

1995
Permanent: Joy Division 1995

Permanent: Joy Division 1995

1995
Heart & Soul

Heart & Soul

1997
Heart And Soul

Heart And Soul

1997
Crystal

Crystal

2001
Crystal

Crystal

2001
+ - Singles 1978-80

+ - Singles 1978-80

2010
Closer / Unknown Pleasures

Closer / Unknown Pleasures

2010
Total (From Joy Division To New Order)

Total (From Joy Division To New Order)

2011

Videos

View on Transmission →

Live History

490
Total performances
First known performance
8 Feb 1980
University of London Union, London
Last known performance
10 Jun 2026
Kelvingrove Bandstand, Glasgow

Recent performances

Showing 20 of 490 total

Covered By (3)

Starchildren Therapy Trance To The Sun

Sources

MusicBrainz work ↗ MusicBrainz recording ↗