This is why events unnerve me,
They find it all, a different story,
Notice whom for wheels are turning,
Turn again and turn towards this time,
All she ask's the strength to hold me,
Then again the same old story,
World will travel, oh so quickly,
Travel first and lean towards this time.

Oh, I'll break them down, no mercy shown,
Heaven knows, it's got to be this time,
Watching her, these things she said,
The times she cried,
Too frail to wake this time.

Oh I'll break them down, no mercy shown
Heaven knows, it's got to be this time,
Avenues all lined with trees,
Picture me and then you start watching,
Watching forever, forever,
Watching love grow, forever,
Letting me know, forever.



Lyrics submitted by numb, edited by lokithecat

Track duration: 04:26

"Ceremony" as written by Ian Kevin Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Paul David Morris, Bernard Sumner

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Ceremony song meanings
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41 Comments

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  • 0
    Song Meaning:lolsuicide

    "Heaven knows, it's got to be this time" pretty much says it all.
    Flagged buggie92on July 27, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:After watching Control, the biopic of Ian Curtis, I can definitely say this song was written about his wife, Debbie, and the cheating he was doing with the French fan/journalist, Annik Honore, who traveled with the band on occasion. It seemed at this point the wheels were definitely not turning in his direction. The rumors, the letters his wife found, etc. I mean, if there is any real truth to that movie, so much of the ending concerning his love life is conveyed in this one song.

    "All she (Debbie) asks the strength to hold me / then again the same old story (Annik)" <- kiss and make up with Debbie but he's still drawn to Annik and he knows he's going to cheat Debbie again.

    But what really gets me in this song is that he wants to be positive, hopeful. He wants to repair his marriage, it's got to be this time, that he does the right thing, right? He's hurt her so much and he knows it. And the subtle dark note at the end, the avenues lined with trees, he wants either Debbie, Annik or whoever else loves him, to picture him, to picture happiness, to see the love he has for them all even after his death.
    Flag rayliamon January 27, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:the "ceremony" is a funeral

    "Notice whom for wheels are turning
    Turn again and turn towards this time"

    = the turning wheels of the hearse and funeral procession heading toward the cemetary.

    Avenues all lined with trees=the avenues that the funeral procession takes to get to the destination.

    "All she asks is the strength to hold me" the narrator is remembering her dying words, i suppose.

    "Too frail to wake this time" can only be about someone dying.







    Flag mliem411on June 30, 2011   Link
  • +6
    General Comment:this song is easily a candidate for best song of all time.
    Flagged EdwinMontoyaZorrillaon June 29, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:The best part about this song for me is that I just can't fuckin figure out what it means!
    Flagged ajklopotoskion April 29, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is definitely a drive around in your car turn it up song. it seems like most of there songs seem like you can be just driving around and thats the music video...kind of confusing to explain.. you know what i mean?
    Flag flapjack7193on March 24, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I think this song is about leaving something behind that you never really wanted in the first place. It's one of those songs about transitions in life that everyone must make at some point.
    It could also be about losing someone you love and being forced to move on from that loss.
    Flag hurricaneseyeon March 19, 2011   Link
  • +3
    General Comment:I listen to this on repeat and I imagine my own inevitable suicide.

    Oh I'll break them down, no mercy shown
    Heaven knows, it's got to be this time
    Avenues all lined with trees
    Picture me and then you start watching
    Watching forever, forever, forever forever forever forever forever forever forever forever
    Flag backinburntcityon December 16, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I cry every time i hear this song... it's so deep.
    I might be wrong or too romantic but to me it's about love.
    It could describe the strange sesation that you feel when you see (in a ceremony), after long time, a person you loved in the past. You know that it's "the same old story" and that this person will never change her habits but you can't deny that you like her in everything she does. So what you can do? You can just sit and watch love grow ...forever...
    Flag vivienleion October 26, 2010   Link
  • +1
    My Opinion:for me at least, the most perfect song in pop music history. "Avenues all lined with trees..."
    Flag gamelanon October 04, 2010   Link

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