Candidate by Joy Division Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Depths of Post-Punk Despair
Lyrics
The territories marked
No longer the pleasure
Oh, I’ve since lost the heart
Corrupted from memory
No longer the power
It’s creeping up slowly
That last fatal hour
Oh, I don’t what made me
What gave me the right
To mess with your values
And change wrong to right
Please keep your distance
The trail leads to here
There’s blood on your fingers
Brought on by fear
I campaigned for nothing
I worked hard for this
I tried to get to you
You treat me like this
It’s just second nature
It’s what we’ve been shown
We’re living by your rules
That’s all that we know
I tried to get to you
I tried to get to you
I tried to get to you
Oh, I tried to get to you
Beneath the haunting melodies and the enigmatic aura of Joy Division’s music lies a profound narrative of desolation and introspection. ‘Candidate’, a comparatively lesser-known gem from their album ‘Unknown Pleasures’, is a testament to the band’s mastery of embedding deep-seated emotions into their work. As we delve into the lyrics, a chilling tale of existential angst and the struggle for meaning within the confines of societal constructs unfolds.
The stark minimalism of the track juxtaposes with the weighty subject matter, creating an immersive experience that pulls the listener into a vortex of the lead singer Ian Curtis’s troubled psyche. In true Joy Division fashion, ‘Candidate’ eschews the superficial for a harrowing dive into the fragility of the human spirit caught in the cogs of a cold, indifferent machine.
Pressures and Territories: A Dive into Psychic Turmoil
The opening lines, ‘Forced by the pressure, The territories marked,’ immediately set a tone of entrapment and control. It’s a forlorn acknowledgment of the invisible boundaries set by society, or perhaps personal relationships, that can often feel suffocating. The ‘pleasure’ that once was, has vanished, leaving a void where joy and spontaneity used to reside.
This erosion of happiness signifies a loss of innocence or passion, hinting that the protagonist has been worn down by life’s constant demands. The role of the ‘Candidate’ thus becomes a metaphor for anyone who finds themselves lost in a role thrust upon them against their will or better judgment.
The Last Fatal Hour: A Decay of Morality and Memory
When Curtis sings, ‘Corrupted from memory, No longer the power,’ he’s evoking the degradation of the self over time. Memories once vivid and untainted now seem corrupted, altered by the very act of living within a compromised system. The power that comes from a clear and unchallenged narrative of one’s life is diminished when confronted with the realizations of compromise and conformity.
The ‘last fatal hour’ is a haunting crescendo that suggests an impending finale, whether it be death, a breakdown, or a moment of irrevocable change. It’s a somber acceptance of the mortality of one’s ideals and the physical body, dragging the song into darker territories of the human experience.
Dismantling Values: The Assault on Right and Wrong
Arguably the song’s most confronting stanza, ‘Oh, I don’t what made me, What gave me the right, To mess with your values, And change wrong to right,’ wrestles with the impact one has on others. These lines speak to the guilt of influencing or damaging someone else, perhaps without intentional malice, but with lasting consequence nonetheless.
The reflection on these actions forces a questioning of the moral compass, blurring the lines between victim and perpetrator. It’s a confession of the struggle for integrity in a world that can often make hypocrites of us all as we navigate through gray moral arenas.
Blood on Your Fingers: The Heavy Price of Fear and Isolation
The plea, ‘Please keep your distance, The trail leads to here, There’s blood on your fingers, Brought on by fear,’ lays bare the dangers of intimacy. The imagery suggests that getting too close can lead to mutual destruction, the ‘blood on your fingers’ being a powerful metaphor for unintended harm caused by our own insecurities and defenses.
This acknowledgment of fear’s capability to compel us to commit acts that result in deep wounds – both self-inflicted and outward – underlines the song’s themes of isolation and the treacherous path to human connection.
Second Nature and the Puppetry of Rules
‘It’s just second nature, It’s what we’ve been shown, We’re living by your rules, That’s all that we know,’ could be perceived as a sad acquiescence to the programming of society, a lament on the indoctrination that starts from birth. This indoctrination becomes ‘second nature’, a subconscious guide to our actions and life decisions.
The indelible ‘I tried to get to you’ line captures the essence of struggle and futility that courses through the veins of the song. This repetition is a mantra of failed attempts and dashed hopes, echoing the universal human yearning for connection and understanding amidst a sea of imposed ‘rules’ and regulations.
