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Someone take these dreams away,
That point me to another day,
A duel of personalities,
That stretch all true realities.
That keep calling me,
They keep calling me,
Keep on calling me,
They keep calling me.
Where figures from the past stand tall,
And mocking voices ring the halls.
Imperialistic house of prayer,
Conquistadors who took their share.
That keep calling me,
They keep calling me,
Keep on calling me,
They keep calling me.
Calling me, calling me, calling me, calling me.
They keep calling me,
Keep on calling me,
They keep calling me,
They keep calling me.
That point me to another day,
A duel of personalities,
That stretch all true realities.
That keep calling me,
They keep calling me,
Keep on calling me,
They keep calling me.
Where figures from the past stand tall,
And mocking voices ring the halls.
Imperialistic house of prayer,
Conquistadors who took their share.
That keep calling me,
They keep calling me,
Keep on calling me,
They keep calling me.
Calling me, calling me, calling me, calling me.
They keep calling me,
Keep on calling me,
They keep calling me,
They keep calling me.
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I think the dreams are his dreams of achieving greatness on a massive scale, yet most all people who pursue this must make it pretty much their only priority, which means disregarding the feelings of those who he loves and becoming something different to what he currently is (a duel of personalities). I interpret the duel as between a personality that is caring and wants to do good, against a personality that is more interested in striving for greatness and achieving glory, along with all the benefits that come with it. Both of these stretch realities. The idea of being a truly moral person and remaining satisfied, against the idea of achieving glory (statistically unlikely) at the cost of others (as per the conquistadors) and remaining guilt-free enough to still be happy. Both ideas are more like ideals, and generally unachievable.
He is mocked by his dreams, by his heroes, and all those who went out and took what they wanted. He feels held back by his reluctance to do what he needs to do to get what he wants, maybe because this would have a negative affect on others. There may be also an element of self doubt. But they "keep on calling me" because sadly he will never be satisfied with the current situation.
Definite references to the Conquistadores who plundered the Americas. Also to the Imperialistic Roman Catholic Church who justified that plunder. Read Bartolome De La Casas, 'History Of The Destruction Of The Indies' for some insight to the atrocities committed in the name of civilization and religion. All done in a contemptuous mocking way. Ring the halls, references to monarcy/western civilization.
I think Joy Division sometimes just liked the sound of nice titles. The book Dead Souls has nothing to do with these song lyrics.
The 'figures of the past' keep calling the narrator of the song. In that sense they have never really died. In another version of the song there is an additional lyric that goes, 'And pour into a living sea/it draws me/it keeps calling me'.
'A duel of personalities' between the present and past. References to past lives and reincarnation. And a play on words, 'dual personalities'.
Definite references to the Conquistadores who plundered the Americas. Also to the Imperialistic Roman Catholic Church who justified that plunder. Read Bartolome De La Casas, 'History Of The Destruction Of The Indies' for some insight to the atrocities committed in the name of civilization and religion. All done in a contemptuous mocking way. Ring the halls, references to monarcy/western civilization.
I think Joy Division sometimes just liked the sound of nice titles. The book Dead Souls has nothing to do with these song lyrics.
The 'figures of the past' keep calling the narrator of the song. In that sense they have never really died. In another version of the song there is an additional lyric that goes, 'And pour into a living sea/it draws me/it keeps calling me'.
'A duel of personalities' between the present and past. References to past lives and reincarnation. And a play on words, 'dual personalities'.
The mid-lines seem to me to about childhood influences:
the figures from the past are one's parents.
The mocking voices in the hall, one's school peers.
The imperialistic house of prayer of course is the church's attempt at extending authority over all matters of personal life.
The conquistadors are those who came into the narrators life, took what they wanted, and then left.
The voices calling to him are those of his past. The narrator is implying that there is no escaping the past.
"They keep calling me" - that longing for accomplishment won't leave him alone.
its like ian is talking about how he's haunted by his past. maybe not dead people, but the people he knew and wanted to leave behind him.
"Someone take these dreams away
That point me to another day " -- could be about something that he doesn't like to think about anymore, or wants to hide.
"A duel of personalities
That stretch all true realities" --could be about the person that people used to know, that he doesn't believe he is anymore.
"When figures from the past stand tall
And mocking voices ring the hall
Imperialistic house of prayer
Conquistadors who took their share " --this could about the people that keep bringing up his past that he so badly tries to forget and hide and pretend like never happened.
"That keep calling me
They keep calling me
Keep on calling me
They keep calling me" -- would, of course, be these people/things coming back to him no matter what.