Skip to content

Novelty

Joy Division

aka “Novelty II” aka “Novelty (Mono)” aka “Novelty (Live)”

1979
81
Live performances
1
Recording
74
Release appearances
0
Covered by

Credits

Written by

Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Bernard Sumner

Produced by

Martin Hannett

Lyrics

When the people listen to you don't you know it means a lot 
Cos' you've got to work so hard for everything you've got 
Can't rest on your laurels now - not when you've got none 
You'll find yourself in the gutter, right back where you came from 

Someone told me being in the know is the main thing 
…
View full lyrics 
When the people listen to you don't you know it means a lot 
Cos' you've got to work so hard for everything you've got 
Can't rest on your laurels now - not when you've got none 
You'll find yourself in the gutter, right back where you came from 

Someone told me being in the know is the main thing 
We all need the security that belonging brings 
Can't stand on your own in these times against all the odds 
You all just fall behind like all the other sods

You slap your back and pretend you knew 
About all the things that we were gonna do 
What ya gonna do, what ya gonna do when it's over? 

You're all on your own now - don't you think that a shame 
But you're the only one responsible to take the blame 

So what ya gonna do when the novelty has gone 
Yeah, what ya gonna do when the novelty has gone
You slap your back and pretend you knew 
About all the things we were gonna do 
What ya gonna do, what ya gonna do when it's over?

Versions & Mixes

Recordings, remixes and alternate mixes of this composition.

  • Live 1979-07-13 4:27
  • Original Version 3:59

Release Appearances

74 known appearances

Transmission

Transmission

1979
Substance

Substance

1988
1977 - 1980

1977 - 1980

1991
Warsaw

Warsaw

1994
Permanent

Permanent

1995
Permanent: Joy Division 1995

Permanent: Joy Division 1995

1995
Heart & Soul

Heart & Soul

1997
Heart And Soul

Heart And Soul

1997
+ - Singles 1978-80

+ - Singles 1978-80

2010

Videos

View on Transmission →

Live History

81
Total performances
First known performance
13 Jul 1979
Russell Club (The Factory), Manchester
Last known performance
29 Mar 2026
Kino Šiška, Ljubljana

Recent performances

Showing 20 of 81 total

Sources

MusicBrainz work ↗ MusicBrainz recording ↗