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Joy Division – Novelty (1979) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
Joy Division
Substance
Novelty

TRACK

Novelty

Release date: 7th October 1979

More on Joy Division

About This Track

"Novelty" is a track by Joy Division, from the album Substance, released 7th October 1979. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 1 article about Joy Division.

About the Artist

Joy Division

Joy Division

Lyrics

Novelty

[Verse 1]

When the people listen to you, don't you know it means a lot?

Because you've got to work so hard for everything you've got

Can't rest on your laurels now - not when you've got none

You'll find yourself in the gutter, right back where you came from

[Verse 2]

Someone told me being in the know is the main thing

We all need the security that belonging brings

Can't stand on your own in these times against all the odds

You all just fall behind like all the other sods

[Instrumental Bridge]

[Chorus]

You slap our backs and pretend you knew about

All the things that we were gonna do

What you're gonna do?

What you're gonna do when it's over?

[Verse 3]

You're all on your own now - don't you think that it's a shame?

But you're the only one responsible to take the blame

So what you're gonna do when the novelty is gone?

Yeah, what you're gonna do when the novelty is gone?

[Guitar Solo]

[Chorus]

You slap our backs and pretend you knew about

All the things that we were gonna do

What you're gonna do?

What you're gonna do when it's over?

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Substance

1979

Listen

Album

Release year

1979

—Autosuggestion
—As You Said
—Incubation
—These Days
—Dead Souls
—She’s Lost Control (12" Mix)
—Love Will Tear Us Apart (Pennine Version)
—Novelty
—Transmission
—From Safety to Where...?
—Glass
—Digital
—Leaders of Men
—Warsaw
—No Love Lost
—Failures

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

A New Dawn Fades

Alternate Still

Unreleased Pleasures

Abstract Sounds , Studio Outtakes From 1978-1979

Live In Guildford

Explore

More tracks by Joy Division

ColonySt. Georges Hall, Bradford

Dead SoulsSt. Georges Hall, Bradford

Ice AgeSt. Georges Hall, Bradford

She's Lost ControlSt. 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

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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: Peter Hook
Drums: Stephen Morris
Guitar: Bernard Sumner
Vocals: Ian Curtis
Graphic Design: Peter Saville
Lacquer Cut At: The Sound Clinic
Lacquer Cut Engineer: Graeme Durham
Manufacturer: WEA Records Pressing Plant, West Drayton
Plating Engineer: Eddy Gorecki