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

Tracks
Joy Division
Unknown Pleasures
Shadowplay

TRACK

Shadowplay

Release date: 15th June 1979

From Unknown Pleasures

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

Release year

1979

—Shadowplay
—Disorder
—Insight
—Interzone
—Day of the Lords
—New Dawn Fades
—She's Lost Control
—Candidate
—I Remember Nothing
—Wilderness

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

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: 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