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  1. Tracks
  2. Joy Division
  3. Closer
  4. Colony

TRACK

Joy Division

Colony

Release date: 18th July 1980

From Closer
Spotify
More on Joy Division

About This Track

'Colony' unfolds as a narrative of abandonment and institutional coldness. A parent hands over a child with packed belongings and hidden tears; the song moves through the perspective of someone left standing alone, unable to comprehend the confrontations and dislocations that have fractured family life. The repetition of "in this colony" becomes both refrain and indictment, the word itself suggesting a place of confinement rather than belonging. Bernard Sumner, Ian Curtis, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris built the track from a foundation of restraint. Curtis's vocals sit austere against the instrumental architecture, whilst the bridge's invocation of divine will offers no comfort, only repetition. The song holds its emotional weight through understatement; there is no catharsis here, only the cold clarity of separation and the ache of incomprehension.

"Colony" 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

Colony

[Verse 1]

A cry for help, a hint of anesthesia

The sound from broken homes, we used to always meet here

As he lays asleep, she takes him in her arms

Some things I have to do, but I don't mean you harm

[Verse 2]

A worried parent's glance, a kiss, a last goodbye

Hands him the bag she packed, the tears she tries to hide

A cruel wind that bows down to our lunacy

And leaves him standing cold here in this colony

[Verse 3]

I can't see why all these confrontations

I can't see why all these dislocations

No family life, this makes me feel uneasy

Stood alone here in this colony

[Chorus]

In this colony

In this colony

In this colony

In this colony

[Bridge]

Dear God in his wisdom took you by the hand

God in his wisdom made you understand

God in his wisdom took you by the hand

God in his wisdom made you understand

God in his wisdom took you by the hand

God in his wisdom made you understand

God in his wisdom took you by the hand

God in his wisdom made you understand

[Chorus]

In this colony

In this colony

In this colony

In this colony

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Closer

1980
Listen
Album
Closer
Closer
Joy Division
Release year
1980
  1. —Passover
  2. —Atrocity Exhibition
  3. —The Eternal
  4. —Heart and Soul
  5. —Colony
  6. —Twenty Four Hours
  7. —A Means to an End
  8. —Isolation
  9. —Decades

More from Joy Division

Albums & EPs

St. Georges Hall, Bradford
2026
Young Hearts Fail (Live At The Moonlight Club, London, UK, April 3, 1980)
2025
Time Fades Away
2024
Exhibition (Paradiso, Amsterdam 11th January 1980)
2024
A New Dawn Fades
2022
Alternate Still
2022

Explore

More tracks by Joy Division

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

Showing 10 of 50

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New Order

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Bauhaus

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The Sound

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Siouxsie and the Banshees

The Smiths

The Smiths

Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer
Bernard Sumner, Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris
Producer
Martin Hannett
Engineer
Jon Caffery, Martin Hannett, Michael Johnson (Engineer)
Bass
Peter Hook
Drums
Stephen Morris
Guitar
Bernard Sumner
Vocals
Ian Curtis
READ MORE ABOUT JOY DIVISIONREAD MORE ABOUT JOY DIVISIONREAD MORE ABOUT JOY DIVISIONREAD MORE ABOUT JOY DIVISION
READ MORE ABOUT JOY DIVISIONREAD MORE ABOUT JOY DIVISIONREAD MORE ABOUT JOY DIVISIONREAD MORE ABOUT JOY DIVISION
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