Blue Monday '88
New Order Lyrics
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To treat me like you do?
When you've laid your hands upon me
And told me who you are?
Thought I was mistaken
I thought I'd heard your words
Tell me, how do I feel?
Tell me now, how do I feel?
Those who came before me
Lived through their vocations
From the past until completion
They'll turn away no more
And I still find it so hard
To say what I need to say
But I'm quite sure that you'll tell me
Just how I should feel today
I see a ship in the harbor
I can and shall obey
But if it wasn't for your misfortune
I'd be a heavenly person today
And I thought I was mistaken
And I thought I heard you speak
Tell me, how do I feel?
Tell me now, how should I feel?
Now I stand here waiting
Thought I told you to leave me
While I walked down to the beach
Tell me, how does it feel
When your heart grows cold?
The lyrics of New Order's song "Blue Monday '88" delve into themes of emotional manipulation, personal confusion, and the struggle to express oneself honestly. The first verse expresses the confusion and hurt caused by someone treating the singer poorly and withholding their true identity. They feel deceived and question their own perception of reality. The repeated question, "How do I feel?", showcases the singer's desire to understand their own emotions in the face of this mistreatment.
The second verse refers to those who came before the singer, implying that they have witnessed others living their lives guided by their chosen vocations. The line "They'll turn away no more" suggests a turning point where the singer refuses to continue enduring mistreatment. However, despite this resolve, they still struggle to find their own voice and express their true feelings. They anticipate that the person causing their confusion will tell them how they should feel, further emphasizing their struggle to assert themselves.
The following lines, "I see a ship in the harbor / I can and shall obey," evoke a sense of surrender and obedience. This may signify the singer's willingness to comply with societal norms or expectations, suppressing their true desires and dreams. The mention of misfortune suggests that external circumstances, perhaps caused by the person they address, prevent the singer from becoming the person they aspire to be. The repetition of questioning how they should feel indicates ongoing confusion and a reliance on external validation.
The final lines of the song depict the singer standing, waiting for resolution or understanding. They had previously requested to be left alone, walking down to the beach to find solace. The question, "How does it feel / When your heart grows cold?" emphasizes the emotional impact of feeling rejected and disconnected. The lyrics convey a sense of longing for emotional warmth and an understanding of the consequences of hurting others.
Overall, "Blue Monday '88" captures the complex feelings of someone who feels manipulated and misunderstood. It explores the struggle to assert oneself in the face of mistreatment and the confusion surrounding one's own emotions. The lyrics highlight the desire for empathy, validation, and clarity in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
How does it feel
What emotions do you experience
To treat me like you do?
To handle me in the manner you currently do?
When you've laid your hands upon me
When you have touched me physically
And told me who you are?
And informed me about your identity?
Thought I was mistaken
I believed I was incorrect
I thought I'd heard your words
I assumed I had heard your spoken words
Tell me, how do I feel?
Inform me, what emotions am I experiencing?
Tell me now, how do I feel?
Right now, let me know, what emotions am I experiencing?
Those who came before me
Individuals who existed prior to me
Lived through their vocations
Experienced their professions as their way of life
From the past until completion
From previous times until the present
They'll turn away no more
They will no longer ignore
And I still find it so hard
And I continue to find it difficult
To say what I need to say
To express what I must communicate
But I'm quite sure that you'll tell me
However, I am fairly certain that you will inform me
Just how I should feel today
Precisely how I should feel on this particular day
I see a ship in the harbor
I observe a vessel in the port
I can and shall obey
I have the ability and determination to comply
But if it wasn't for your misfortune
However, if it were not for your unfortunate circumstances
I'd be a heavenly person today
I would currently be a blissful individual
And I thought I was mistaken
And I believed I was incorrect
And I thought I heard you speak
And I believed I heard you express yourself
Tell me, how do I feel?
Inform me, what emotions am I experiencing?
Tell me now, how should I feel?
Right now, let me know, what emotions should I experience?
Now I stand here waiting
At this moment, I am standing here, waiting
Thought I told you to leave me
I believed I instructed you to depart from me
While I walked down to the beach
As I proceeded towards the shore
Tell me, how does it feel
Inform me, what emotions do you experience
When your heart grows cold?
When your emotions and feelings become distant and unresponsive?
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Gillian Lesley Gilbert, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Paul David Morris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Tenderslide1
How does it feel
When you treat me like you do
And you've laid your hands upon me
And told me who you are?
I thought I was mistaken
And I thought I heard your words
Tell me, how do I feel?
Tell me now, how do I feel?
Those who came before me
Lived through their vocations
From the past until completion
They will turn away no more
And I still find it so hard
To say what I need to say
But I'm quite sure that you'll tell me
Just how I should feel today
I see a ship in the harbor
I can and shall obey
But if it wasn't for your misfortunes
I'd be a heavenly person today
And I thought I was mistaken
And I thought I heard you speak
Tell me how do I feel?
Tell me now, how should I feel?
Now I stand here waiting
I thought I told you to leave me
While I walked down to the beach
Tell me, how does it feel
When your heart grows cold?
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
And I thought I told you to leave me
While I walked down to the beach
Tell me, how does it feel
When your heart grows cold?
@claudiaweil868
As someone who lived through the 80s, this video is SO 80s.
@12bravo57
Born in 82 & the 80’s will ALWAYS be my favorite music!! Not much 80’s metal but 80’s rock & pop!
@diegstroX8032
@@12bravo57 And for me industrial, hardcore punk, gothic rock, Post-punk, Metal (that wasn’t glam), experimental, no wave, noise rock, ska, synthpop, smooth soul, etc etc. But guess what? Unlike many, I still wouldn’t say it’s my favorite decade for music (or film). I know, how dare I? Aside from all the popular stuff everyone knows (I like a lot of it), I think it was a great decade for a lot of different music, yet I’d say that was the case for music that came after that decade (also not the appropriate/cool thing to say but oh well).
@mikhailabdurrachman2443
@claudia lucky you, i was born in 1985 😑
@maxdobasquete
76 myself!!! DUUUDE I miss them chicks and parties!!!
@actionfigurescollectionssu7854
You not lying honey 🍯
@allanburton8115
The 1980's.
There will never be another decade like it.
@RobinFlysHigh
It is definitely unique
@mike_mcgb
Except for the decades that preceded, and followed them.
@RW-zh7kl
So far the 2020's are basically a nightmare so still not as bad 1930's, Great Depression, then 1940's with WW2, but we are getting horribly close.