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  1. Tracks
  2. Joy Division
  3. Unknown Pleasures
  4. Shadowplay

TRACK

Joy Division

Shadowplay

Release date: 15th June 1979

From Unknown Pleasures
Spotify
More on Joy Division

About This Track

"Shadowplay" is a track by Joy Division, from the album Unknown Pleasures, released 15th June 1979. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 1 article about Joy Division.

About the Artist

Joy Division

Joy Division

Lyrics

Shadowplay

[Verse 1]

To the centre of the city where all roads meet

Waiting for you

To the depths of the ocean where all hopes sank

Searching for you

I was moving through the silence without motion

Waiting for you

In a room with a window in the corner

I found truth

[Verse 2]

In the shadowplay, acting out your own death

Knowing no more

As the assassins all grouped in four lines

Dancing on the floor

And with cold steel, odour on their bodies

Made a move to connect

But I could only stare in disbelief

As the crowds all left

[Outro]

I did everything, everything I wanted to

I let them use you for their own ends

To the centre of the city in the night, waiting for you

To the centre of the city in the night, waiting for you

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Unknown Pleasures

1979
Listen
Album
Unknown Pleasures
Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
Release year
1979
  1. —Shadowplay
  2. —Disorder
  3. —Insight
  4. —Interzone
  5. —Day of the Lords
  6. —New Dawn Fades
  7. —She's Lost Control
  8. —Candidate
  9. —I Remember Nothing
  10. —Wilderness

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
Exhibition (Paradiso, Amsterdam 11th January 1980)
2024
Time Fades Away
2024
Alternate Still
2022
A New Dawn Fades
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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Bauhaus

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The Sound

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Siouxsie and the Banshees

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The Smiths

Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer
Bernard Sumner, Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris
Producer
Martin Hannett
Engineer
Chris Nagle
Bass
Peter Hook
Drums
Stephen Morris
Guitar
Bernard Sumner
Keyboards
Bernard Sumner
Background Vocals
Peter Hook
Graphic Design
Joy Division, Peter Saville
Lacquer Cut Engineer
Porky (Engineer)
Lead Vocals
Ian Curtis
Manufacturer
Tranco Limited, WEA Records Pressing Plant, West Drayton
Photography
Ralph Gibson
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
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame have revealed their 2026 class including Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan, Iron Maiden and Joy Division / New Order
News

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