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The Sound of Music

Joy Division

aka “Sound Of Music” aka “The Sound Of Music (Soundcheck)”

1981
25
Live performances
1
Recording
69
Release appearances
0
Covered by

Credits

Written by

Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Bernard Sumner

Lyrics

See my true reflection, 
Cut off my own connections, 
I can see life getting harder, 
So sad is this sensation, 
Reverse the situation, 
I can't see it getting better.
…
View full lyrics 
See my true reflection, 
Cut off my own connections, 
I can see life getting harder, 
So sad is this sensation, 
Reverse the situation, 
I can't see it getting better.

I'll walk you through the heartbreaks, 
Show you all the out-takes, 
I can't see it getting higher, 
Systematically degraded, 
Emotionally a scapegoat, 
I can't see it getting better.

Perverse and unrealistic, 
Try to make it all stick, 
I can't see it getting better, 
Hollow now, I'm burnt out, 
All I need to break out, 
I can't see life getting higher, 
Love, life, makes you feel higher, 
Love of life, makes you feel higher, 
Higher, higher, higher, higher, 
Higher, higher, higher, higher, 
Love of life, makes you feel higher.

Versions & Mixes

Recordings, remixes and alternate mixes of this composition.

  • Album Version 3:49
  • BBC Sessions 1979-11-26 4:27

Release Appearances

69 known appearances

Still

Still

1981
Atmosphere

Atmosphere

1988
1977 - 1980

1977 - 1980

1991
Heart & Soul

Heart & Soul

1997
Heart And Soul

Heart And Soul

1997

Live History

25
Total performances
First known performance
31 Aug 1979
The Electric Ballroom, London
Last known performance
29 Mar 2026
Kino Šiška, Ljubljana

Recent performances

Showing 20 of 25 total

Sources

MusicBrainz work ↗ MusicBrainz recording ↗