Icon Joy Division Shadowplay
Songs and Lyrics
 
Warsaw

This page contains the following information about this Joy Division song:
  • details of every known studio recording and every official release;
  • details of any live performances which appear on an official release;
  • my transcription of the song lyrics, noting any significant variations;
  • known cover versions by other artists, and any other interesting facts.
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Track history
Recorded in December 1977 at Pennine Sound Studios, Oldham
Released on An Ideal For Living, on Substance and on Heart and Soul
Recorded on May 3rd/4th 1978 at Arrow Studios, Manchester; released on Warsaw
Live performance released from February 28th 1980 at The Warehouse, Preston

Lyrics
3-5-0-1-2-5 Go! [in the original version only]

I was there in the backstage when first light came around
I grew up like a changeling to win the first time around
I can see all the weakness - I can pick all the faults
I concede all the faith tests - just to stick in your throats
3-1-G - 3-1-G - 3-1-G

I hung around in your soundtrack to mirror all that you've done
To find the right side of reason - to kill the three lies for one
[or on the Preston live album:
  It's on the right side of reason - to nail the three lies for one]
I can see all the cold facts - I can see through your eyes
All this talk made no contact, no matter how hard I tried
3-1-G - 3-1-G - 3-1-G

I can still hear the footsteps - I can see only walls
I slid into your man-traps, with no hearing at all
[or in the Warsaw version:
  All this talk made no contact, with no hearing at all]
I just see contradiction - had to give up the fight
Just to live in the past tense - to make believe you were right
[or on the Preston live album:
  I can see contradiction - I can see only lies
  All I want is a just law - just to free my pride]
3-1-G - 3-1-G - 3-1-G

3-5-0-1-2-5

Other information
31G 350125 was the prisoner of war serial number assigned to Rudolf Hess after his capture
Cover versions by:Released on:
The Black HalosThe Violent Years (Sub Pop 520 2001)
Chronic DisorderExercising the Demons (Squish Me Down 2005)
Les Conseillers
  Techniques
30 years with(out) Ian Curtis: Transmission (Infrastition Fin056 2010)
Definitive GazeSomething About Joy Division (Vox Pop VP3 1989)
Desert StormA Means To An End (Virgin 40660-2 1995)
Dime RunnerRace To Nowhere (Resurrection RR-018 2012)
Din [A] Tod Westwerk (Out Of Line OUT 333 2009)
The FusesIn Love With Electricity (Morphius DFM021ltd 2000)
  (this track is on a limited edition bonus CD only)
Goy DivisionPflicht Und Kindheit (No Balls NBR 035 2010)
Hero DishonestHero Dishonest/Mukeka Di Rato (If Society IF-20 2004)
Peter Hook
  and The Light
Unknown Pleasures: Live in Australia (Pylon 20 2011)
  (available on a limited edition vinyl version only)
So This Is Permanence: Live in Macclesfield (Play Concert 2015)
Substance: Live in Manchester (Live Here Now 2016)
Unknown Pleasures: Live in Leeds (Westworld 104 2017)
Closer: Live in Manchester (Westworld 105 2017)
In Loving MemoryA Tribute to Joy Division: Shadowplay (Syborgmusic sbm019 2013)
InvasionWe've Got You Covered (Artistic Integrity AIR-004 2013)
JJ72Available on various bootlegs of live performances
LoomCovers (Hate Hate Hate hatehate004 2013)
MasalaWarszawa: Tribute To Joy Division (Kuka KR001CD 2007)
Moving UnitsCollision With Joy Division (Lolipop LPOP244 2017)
MquestionmarkA Different Story (Spazio Gerra Produzioni SGP01 2010)
New OrderPerformed live in 2006 - available on bootleg recordings
Russ PayCloser Still (Dressed To Kill FUCT354 2000)
Released several times in compilations for digital downloading
(this version appears under several different artists' names)
Penal ColonyPut Your Hands Down (Cleopatra 10942 1994)
PipeAshtray (Merge Records 037 1993)
Poison 13Wine Is Red, Poison Is Blue (Sub Pop SP273 1994)
Love Me / Warsaw (Sub Pop SP274 1994)
Trent Reznor and
  Peter Murphy
Radio Sessions 2006 (bootleg/download)
(recorded for Radio Q101 in Chicago in July 2006)
SeaweedActions and Indications (Merge Records 150 1999)
Sinezamia3.5 Decades: A Joy Division Italian Tribute (Darkitalia dar001 2014)
Sofa GlueYou've Changed (Ransom Note 15 1997)
Swing KidsSwing Kids (Three One G 2 1994)
Discography (Three One G 6 2001)
Venus VegasZehn B (Fidel Bastro FB 26 2002)
White FlagHistory Is Fiction (Tutl HJF96 2002)
You ShriekCeremonial (Mere Mortal MMP-1 1995)

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