Skip to content

Transmission

Joy Division

aka “Transmission II” aka “Transmission (RCA Demo)” aka “Transmission (Mono)” aka “Transmission (Live)” aka “Transmission (Inc Dance To The Radio Vox)”

1979
866
Live performances
1
Recording
229
Release appearances
4
Covered by

Credits

Written by

Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Bernard Sumner

Produced by

Martin Hannett

Lyrics

Radio, live transmission. 
Radio, live transmission.

Listen to the silence, let it ring on. 
Eyes, dark grey lenses frightened of the sun. 
We would have a fine time living in the night, 
…
View full lyrics 
Radio, live transmission. 
Radio, live transmission.

Listen to the silence, let it ring on. 
Eyes, dark grey lenses frightened of the sun. 
We would have a fine time living in the night, 
Left to blind destruction, 
Waiting for our sight.

And we would go on as though nothing was wrong. 
And hide from these days we remained all alone. 
Staying in the same place, just staying out the time. 
Touching from a distance, 
Further all the time.

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio. 
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio. 
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio. 
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio.

Well I could call out when the going gets tough. 
The things that we’ve learnt are no longer enough. 
No language, just sound, that's all we need know to synchronize love to the beat of the show 

And we could dance. 

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio. 
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio. 
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio. 
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio.

Versions & Mixes

Recordings, remixes and alternate mixes of this composition.

  • BBC Sessions 1979-01-31 3:58
  • BBC Sessions 1979-09-15 3:17
  • Genetic Records Session 3:51
  • Live 1979-12-18 3:19
  • Live 1980-02-28 3:23
  • Live 1980-05-02 3:19
  • Live 2002.01.20 Gold Coast, AU 4:01
  • Live at The Factory, Hulme, Manchester (1979-07-13) 3:43
  • Original Version 3:54
  • RCA Demo 4:20
  • Single Version 3:36
  • Video John Peel 2002 3:49

Release Appearances

229 known appearances

Transmission

Transmission

1979
Still

Still

1981
Atmosphere

Atmosphere

1988
Substance

Substance

1988
1977 - 1980

1977 - 1980

1991
Palatine - The Factory Story

Palatine - The Factory Story

1991
Warsaw

Warsaw

1994
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
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
Before & After

Before & After

2002
Retro

Retro

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

866
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 866 total

Covered By (4)

Low Project Wintermute Smashing Pumpkins Vampire Sex Chain

Sources

MusicBrainz work ↗ MusicBrainz recording ↗