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Shadowplay

Joy Division

aka “Shadow Play” aka “Shadowplay (Live)” aka “Shadowplay (RCA Demo)” aka “Shadowplay (Instrumental)”

1979
647
Live performances
1
Recording
190
Release appearances
1
Covered by

Credits

Written by

Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Bernard Sumner

Produced by

Martin Hannett

Lyrics

To the centre of the city where all roads meet, waiting for you,
To the depths of the ocean where all hopes sank, searching for you,
I was moving through the silence without motion, waiting for you,
In a room with a window in the corner I found truth.

In the shadowplay, acting out your own death, knowing no more,
…
View full lyrics 
To the centre of the city where all roads meet, waiting for you,
To the depths of the ocean where all hopes sank, searching for you,
I was moving through the silence without motion, waiting for you,
In a room with a window in the corner I found truth.

In the shadowplay, acting out your own death, knowing no more,
As the assassins all grouped in four lines, dancing on the floor,
And with cold steel, odour on their bodies, made a move to connect,
But I could only stare in disbelief as the crowds all left.

I did everything, everything I wanted to,
I let them use you for their own ends,
To the centre of the city in the night, waiting for you,
To the centre of the city in the night, waiting for you.

Versions & Mixes

Recordings, remixes and alternate mixes of this composition.

  • Album Version 3:50
  • Live 1979-12-18 3:46
  • Live 1980-02-28 3:50
  • Live 1980-05-02 3:44
  • Live Brussels 1979
  • RCA Demo 4:10

Release Appearances

190 known appearances

Unknown Pleasures

Unknown Pleasures

1979
Still

Still

1981
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
Preston 28 February 1980

Preston 28 February 1980

1999

Fractured Box

2001
Les Bains Douches 18 December 1979

Les Bains Douches 18 December 1979

2001
Closer / Unknown Pleasures

Closer / Unknown Pleasures

2010
Instrumental Edits

Instrumental Edits

Videos

View on Transmission →

Live History

647
Total performances
First known performance
14 Mar 1979
Bowden Vale Youth Club, Altrincham
Last known performance
11 Jun 2026
Lincoln Castle, Lincoln

Recent performances

Showing 20 of 647 total

Covered By (1)

Ikon

Sources

MusicBrainz work ↗ MusicBrainz recording ↗