So here’s an amazing song from The Wombats. At the top level, this is an off-the-chain pop song on performance-enhancing stimulants. (Its always a good sign when a song starts with a “woo!”-type exclamation. More on that in a future post.)

But there seems to be a lot more beneath the surface; like how it name-checks another artist / classic song, but then it appears to get the whole thing wrong while “celebrating the irony of it all.” After a few verses, it takes a right turn with early 80s drum machine and synth sounds, and starts brilliantly mis-quoting the song in question: “Love will tear us apart” has become “Let the love tear us apart.”

My theory is it relates to the apparent contradictions in the first verse; you’re supposed to “learn from his mistake.” Is it the advice you’re supposed to learn from or the breaking of it? Any why would he break the advice he just worked out? And if the advice is that dancing to depressing Joy Divison songs is a cure for heartbreak, then… well ok I’m confused. But perhaps that was the point?

(Woo!)
I’m back in Liverpool,
And everything seems the same,
But I worked something out last night,
That changed this little boy’s brain,
A small piece of advice,
That took 22 years in the make,
And I will break it for you now,
Please learn from my mistakes.

Let’s dance to Joy Division,
And celebrate the irony,
Everything is going wrong,
But we’re so happy!
Let’s dance to Joy Division,
And raise our glass to the ceiling,
‘Cos this could all go so wrong,
But we’re so happy!

So if your ever feeling down,
Grab your purse and take a taxi,
To the darker side of town,
That’s where we’ll be,
And we will wait for you and lead
you through the dancefloor,
Up to the DJ booth,
You know what to ask for!

You’ll ask for Joy Division,
And celebrate the irony,
Everything is going wrong,
But we’re so happy!

Let’s dance to Joy Division,
And raise our glass to the ceiling,
‘Cos this could all go so wrong,
But we’re so happy!

Let the love tear us apart,
I’ve found the cure for a broken heart,
Let it tear us apart,
(Let it tear us apart)

Let’s dance to Joy Division,
And celebrate the irony,
Everything is going wrong,
But were so happy!

Let’s dance to Joy Division,
And raise our glass to the ceiling,
‘Cos this could all go so wrong,
But we’re so happy!

Thanks Sweets Lyrics

The Wombats – Let’s Dance to Joy Division

Give thanks for good things!  New Clinic tracks from Fluxblog and Blogs are For Dogs.  Album is due 10/16.

Clinic – Harvest
Clinic – Family
Clinic – Animal Human