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Love Will Tear Us Apart

Joy Division

aka “Love Will Tear Us Apart (Permanent Mix)” aka “Love Will Tear Us Apart (Album Version)” aka “Love Will Tear Us Apart - 1980” aka “Love Will Tear Us Apart (John Peel Sessions)” aka “Love Will Tear Us Apart (Pennine Version)” aka “Love Will Tear Us Apart (Promo)” aka “Love Will Tear Us Apart (iTunes Originals Version)”

1979
1084
Live performances
1
Recording
273
Release appearances
20
Covered by

Credits

Written by

Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Bernard Sumner

Lyrics

When routine bites hard, 
And ambitions are low, 
And resentment rides high, 
But emotions won't grow, 
And we're changing our ways, taking different roads.

…
View full lyrics 
When routine bites hard, 
And ambitions are low, 
And resentment rides high, 
But emotions won't grow, 
And we're changing our ways, taking different roads.

Then love, love will tear us apart again. 
Love, love will tear us apart.

Why is the bedroom so cold? 
You've turned away on your side. 
Is my timing that flawed? 
Our respect run so dry. 
Yet there's still this appeal that we've kept through our lives.

But love, love will tear us apart again. 
Love, love will tear us apart again.

You cry out in your sleep, 
All my failings exposed. 
And there's a taste in my mouth, 
As desperation takes hold. 
Just that something so good just can't function no more.

But love, love will tear us apart again. 
Love, love will tear us apart again. 
Love, love will tear us apart again. 
Love, love will tear us apart again.

Versions & Mixes

Recordings, remixes and alternate mixes of this composition.

  • 1995 Radio Version 3:40
  • Alternate Version 3:10
  • Arthur Baker Remix 4:21
  • BBC Sessions 1979-11-26 3:25
  • Live 1979-12-18 3:17
  • Original Version 4:19
  • Original Version ?:??
  • Permanent Mix 3:36
  • Single Version 3:27
  • Video 3:27

Release Appearances

273 known appearances

Closer

Closer

1980
Love Will Tear Us Apart

Love Will Tear Us Apart

1980
Blue Monday

Blue Monday

1983
Atmosphere

Atmosphere

1988
Substance

Substance

1988
1977 - 1980

1977 - 1980

1991
Palatine - The Factory Story

Palatine - The Factory Story

1991
Love Will Tear Us Apart 95

Love Will Tear Us Apart 95

1995
Permanent

Permanent

1995
Permanent: Joy Division 1995

Permanent: Joy Division 1995

1995
Heart & Soul

Heart & Soul

1997
Heart And Soul

Heart And Soul

1997

Fractured Box

2001

Get Ready

2001
Les Bains Douches 18 December 1979

Les Bains Douches 18 December 1979

2001
Before & After

Before & After

2002
+ - Singles 1978-80

+ - Singles 1978-80

2010
Total (From Joy Division To New Order)

Total (From Joy Division To New Order)

2011
Instrumental Edits

Instrumental Edits

Videos

View on Transmission →

Live History

1084
Total performances
First known performance
26 Oct 1979
The Electric Ballroom, London
Last known performance
19 Jun 2026
Guildhall Square, Southampton

Recent performances

Showing 20 of 1084 total

Covered By (20)

10000 Maniacs Bis Chuzpe Flowing Tears Hanky Park Human Drama Invisible Limits Kismet Los 7 Definites PJ Proby Paul Young Simple Minds Stanton-Miranda The Cure The Diary The King The Swans The Tea Party U2 Unbroken

Sources

MusicBrainz work ↗ MusicBrainz recording ↗