Down With Boring

Join thousands of music lovers getting the best new tracks, exclusive interviews, and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox every week.

In print now

June 2026

Latest issue variants

Dork, June 2026 (Bleachers cover)

Bleachers

Dork, June 2026 (Myles Smith cover)

Myles Smith

Dork, June 2026 (Towa Bird cover)

Towa Bird

Advertise|Support|About Dork|Privacy Policy|Genres|Years|Sitemap|RSS|Cookie settings

© 2026 The Bunker Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hype-THE BEST NEW NAMES, FIRST

Upset-DORK'S HOME FOR ALL THINGS LOUD

Festival Guides-YOUR ESSENTIAL FESTIVAL COMPANION

Hype-THE BEST NEW NAMES, FIRST

Mixtape-DORK'S BEST NEW TRACKS

Play-DORK'S NEW MUSIC FRIDAY EDIT

Upset-DORK'S HOME FOR ALL THINGS LOUD

Playlist Covers

Playlist Directory

Before Doors-LIVE SESSIONS

Music Video Directory

Down With Boring-THE DORK PODCAST

Chart Attack-UK NUMBER ONES, DISSECTED

Dork Radio

Live

Live 24/7

Dork Radio

Joy Division – Colony (1980) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
Joy Division
Closer
Colony

TRACK

Colony

Release date: 18th July 1980

More on Joy Division

About This Track

"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

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

Abstract Sounds , Studio Outtakes From 1978-1979

Alternate Still

Unreleased Pleasures

A New Dawn Fades

Live In Guildford

Paris-Live Transmission

Explore

More tracks by Joy Division

ColonySt. Georges Hall, Bradford

InsightSt. Georges Hall, Bradford

Dead SoulsSt. Georges Hall, Bradford

Ice AgeSt. Georges Hall, Bradford

She's Lost ControlSt. 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

InsightTime 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)

InsightExhibition (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

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

If you like Joy Division

New Order

New Order

Bauhaus

Bauhaus

The Cure

The Cure

The Sound

The Sound

Siouxsie and the Banshees

Siouxsie and the Banshees

The Smiths

The Smiths

The Chameleons

Echo & the Bunnymen

Echo & the Bunnymen

Sad Lovers and Giants

Sad Lovers and Giants

The Sisters of Mercy

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
Engineer: Jon Caffery, Martin Hannett, Michael Johnson (Engineer)
Bass: Peter Hook
Drums: Stephen Morris
Guitar: Bernard Sumner
Vocals: Ian Curtis