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Joy Division – Atrocity Exhibition (1980) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
Joy Division
Closer
Atrocity Exhibition

TRACK

Atrocity Exhibition

Release date: 18th July 1980

More on Joy Division

About This Track

"Atrocity Exhibition" is a track by Joy Division, from the album Closer, released 18th July 1980. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 1 article about Joy Division.

About the Artist

Joy Division

Joy Division

Lyrics

Atrocity Exhibition

[Verse 1]

Asylums with doors open wide

Where people had paid to see inside

For entertainment, they watch his body twist

Behind his eyes, he says, "I still exist"

[Chorus]

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

[Verse 2]

In arenas, he kills for a prize

Wins a minute to add to his life

But the sickness is drowned by cries for more

Pray to God, make it quick, watch him fall

[Chorus]

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

[Bridge]

This is the way

This is the way

This is the way

This is the way

[Chorus]

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

[Verse 3]

You'll see the horrors of a faraway place

Meet the architects of law face to face

See mass murder on a scale you've never seen

And all the ones who try hard to succeed

[Chorus]

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

This is the way, step inside

[Outro]

And I picked on the whims of a thousand or more

Still pursuing the path that's been buried for years

All the dead wood from jungles and cities on fire

Can't replace or relate, can't release or repair

Take my hand and I'll show you what was and will be

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Closer

1980

Listen

Album

Release year

1980

—Passover
—Atrocity Exhibition
—The Eternal
—Heart and Soul
—Colony
—Twenty Four Hours
—A Means to an End
—Isolation
—Decades

More from Joy Division

Albums & EPs

St. Georges Hall, Bradford

Young Hearts Fail (Live At The Moonlight Club, London, UK, April 3, 1980)

Exhibition (Paradiso, Amsterdam 11th January 1980)

Time Fades Away

Alternate Still

A New Dawn Fades

Unreleased Pleasures

Abstract Sounds , Studio Outtakes From 1978-1979

Unknown Pleasures Live

Explore

More tracks by Joy Division

ColonySt. Georges Hall, Bradford

Ice AgeSt. Georges Hall, Bradford

She's Lost ControlSt. Georges Hall, Bradford

Dead SoulsSt. Georges Hall, Bradford

InsightSt. Georges Hall, Bradford

ShadowplayYoung Hearts Fail (Live At The Moonlight Club, London, UK, April 3, 1980)

DisorderYoung Hearts Fail (Live At The Moonlight Club, London, UK, April 3, 1980)

Heart And SoulYoung Hearts Fail (Live At The Moonlight Club, London, UK, April 3, 1980)

Atrocity ExhibitionYoung Hearts Fail (Live At The Moonlight Club, London, UK, April 3, 1980)

WildernessYoung Hearts Fail (Live At The Moonlight Club, London, UK, April 3, 1980)

ColonyYoung Hearts Fail (Live At The Moonlight Club, London, UK, April 3, 1980)

GlassYoung Hearts Fail (Live At The Moonlight Club, London, UK, April 3, 1980)

IsolationYoung Hearts Fail (Live At The Moonlight Club, London, UK, April 3, 1980)

AtmosphereYoung Hearts Fail (Live At The Moonlight Club, London, UK, April 3, 1980)

Love Will Tear Us ApartYoung Hearts Fail (Live At The Moonlight Club, London, UK, April 3, 1980)

DigitalYoung Hearts Fail (Live At The Moonlight Club, London, UK, April 3, 1980)

AtmosphereYoung Hearts Fail (Live At The Moonlight Club, London, UK, April 3, 1980)

InsightYoung Hearts Fail (Live At The Moonlight Club, London, UK, April 3, 1980)

DigitalTime Fades Away

InterzoneTime Fades Away

The Sound Of MusicTime Fades Away

Love Will Tear Us ApartTime Fades Away

DisorderTime Fades Away

New Dawn FadesTime Fades Away

She's Lost ControlExhibition (Paradiso, Amsterdam 11th January 1980)

ShadowplayExhibition (Paradiso, Amsterdam 11th January 1980)

TransmissionExhibition (Paradiso, Amsterdam 11th January 1980)

WildernessExhibition (Paradiso, Amsterdam 11th January 1980)

Atrocity ExhibitionTime Fades Away

DisorderExhibition (Paradiso, Amsterdam 11th January 1980)

DigitalExhibition (Paradiso, Amsterdam 11th January 1980)

A Means To An EndExhibition (Paradiso, Amsterdam 11th January 1980)

Day Of The LordsExhibition (Paradiso, Amsterdam 11th January 1980)

Love Will Tear Us ApartExhibition (Paradiso, Amsterdam 11th January 1980)

Atrocity ExhibitionExhibition (Paradiso, Amsterdam 11th January 1980)

AtmosphereExhibition (Paradiso, Amsterdam 11th January 1980)

InterzoneExhibition (Paradiso, Amsterdam 11th January 1980)

ColonyTime Fades Away

InterzoneTime Fades Away

24 HoursTime Fades Away

WildernessTime Fades Away

The Only MistakeTime Fades Away

WildernessTime Fades Away

DisorderTime Fades Away

ShadowplayTime Fades Away

She's Lost ControlTime Fades Away

Dead SoulsTime Fades Away

24 HoursTime Fades Away

Day Of The LordsTime Fades Away

Dead SoulsTime Fades Away

View all tracks by Joy Division →

AtmosphereYoung Hearts Fail (Live At The Moonlight Club, London, UK, April 3, 1980)
AtmosphereYoung Hearts Fail (Live At The Moonlight Club, London, UK, April 3, 1980)
AtmosphereExhibition (Paradiso, Amsterdam 11th January 1980)
Atrocity ExhibitionYoung Hearts Fail (Live At The Moonlight Club, London, UK, April 3, 1980)
Atrocity ExhibitionTime Fades Away
Atrocity ExhibitionExhibition (Paradiso, Amsterdam 11th January 1980)
ColonySt. Georges Hall, Bradford
ColonyYoung Hearts Fail (Live At The Moonlight Club, London, UK, April 3, 1980)
ColonyTime Fades Away
Dead SoulsSt. Georges Hall, Bradford

Showing 10 of 50

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READ MORE ABOUT JOY DIVISION

READ MORE ABOUT JOY DIVISION

READ MORE ABOUT JOY DIVISION

READ MORE ABOUT JOY DIVISION

READ MORE ABOUT JOY DIVISION

READ MORE ABOUT JOY DIVISION

READ MORE ABOUT JOY DIVISION

READ MORE ABOUT JOY DIVISION

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame have revealed their 2026 class including Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan, Iron Maiden and Joy Division / New Order

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame have revealed their 2026 class including Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan, Iron Maiden and Joy Division / New Order

A record six British acts are honoured, surpassing 2019's haul of five.

14 Apr 2026 • 7:42 am

Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer: Bernard Sumner, Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris
Producer: Martin Hannett
Bass: Bernard Sumner
Drums: Stephen Morris
Guitar: Peter Hook
Vocals: Ian Curtis