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Joy Division – The Only Mistake (1981) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
Joy Division
Still
The Only Mistake

TRACK

The Only Mistake

Release date: 8th October 1981

More on Joy Division

About This Track

"The Only Mistake" is a track by Joy Division, from the album Still, released 8th October 1981. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 1 article about Joy Division.

About the Artist

Joy Division

Joy Division

Lyrics

The Only Mistake

[Verse 1]

Made the fatal mistake

Like I did once before

Tendency just to take

Till the purpose turned sour

[Chorus 1]

Strain, take the strain

These days we love

Strain, take the strain

These days we love

[Verse 2]

Yeah, the only mistake

Was that you ran away

Avenues lined with trees

Strangled words for the day

[Chorus 2]

Yeah, the only mistake

Like I made once before

Yeah, the only mistake

Could have made it before

[Chorus 1]

Strain, take the strain

These days we love

Strain, take the strain

These days we love

[Verse 3]

And the only mistake

Led to rumors unfound

Led to pressures unknown

Different feelings and sounds

[Chorus 2]

Yeah, the only mistake

Like I made once before

Yeah, the only mistake

Could have made it before

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Still

1981

Listen

Album

Release year

1981

—Something Must Break
—Transmission (Live at Birmingham University)
—A Means to an End (Live At Birmingham University)
—The Sound of Music
—Decades (Live At Birmingham University)
—Ceremony (Live at Birmingham University)
—Disorder (Live at Birmingham University)
—Exercise One
—Walked in Line
—Shadowplay (Live at Birmingham University)
—Twenty Four Hours (Live at Birmingham University)
—New Dawn Fades (Live at Birmingham University)
—Digital (Live at Birmingham University)
—Ice Age
—Isolation (Live at Birmingham University)
—The Kill
—The Only Mistake
—Passover (Live at Birmingham University)
—Sister Ray (Live at the Moonlight Club)

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: Joy Division, Martin Hannett
Art Direction: Peter Saville
Artwork: Jan Van Munster
Graphic Design: Brett Wickens, Jan Van Munster
Manufacturer: Immediate Sound Services Ltd., Lyntone Recordings Ltd.
Photography: Trevor Key
Plating Engineer: Maxwell Anandappa