1

Anna Story
Christine Olding
College Writing 1
11.2.14
Shes Lost Control
When depression starts it comes with a lot of confusion. At first one cannot
understand why suddenly they are not motivated or sleeping well, or even why at random
times during the day there is an anxiety attack. Then at one point complete depression
will hit and nothing will matter and existence seems impossible. These situations will
create pure mental confusion and chaos. In the song Shes Lost Control by Joy
Division the lyrics contradict the instrumentation and vocalization adding to the somber
progression of mental chaos in depression.
Curtis, Ian. Confusion in her eyes that says it all/ and shes clinging to the nearest
passer by/ and she gave away the secrets of her past/ and of a voice that told her when
and where to act. Shes Lost Control. These lyrics are talking about the first stage of
loosing or feeling out of control. First you see the fear and chaos in the persons eyes in
the lyrics, Then they start to cling or attach themselves to the person closest to them, at
this point the person will start blaming their loss of control on problems of the past and
will just accept that control is gone. Then the depression hits, her life will exist around
her sense of control. Since this girl is attaching to the outside person, he is drawn in the
situation with the girl who has lost control.
Curtis, Ian. And she turned around and took me by the hand/ and how Ill never
know just why or understand/ and she screamed out kicking on her side/ and seized up on

2
the floor, I thought shed die. Shes Lost Control The lyrics explain his investment now
and cares about this out of control girl and feel attached and out of control as well
because she rules most of his life. Every time she looses control he is chaos and he gets
sucked deep in and is now in the same place she is, feeling out of control and most likely
depressed. The outside man is trying to regain control but is too far invested to back
away.
Curtis, Ian. Well I had to phone her friend to state my case/ and she showed up all
the errors and mistakes/ but she expressed herself in many different ways/ and walked
upon the edge of no escape. Shes Lost Control These are the cry for help, the literal
phone a friend of life. The friend is trying to help but denial is hitting these two hard or
even just one causing an emotional separation. He fights but she stays. He is so drawn in
that once he leaves he contemplates going back and being out of control.
Curtis, Ian. I could live a little better with the myths and the lies/ when the
darkness broke in, I just broke down and cried/ I could live a little in a wider line/ when
the change is gone, when the urge is gone/ to lose control. When here we come. Shes
Lost Control Now that this person is out of his life, life almost seems worse for him,
now that he knows how easy life can be with out control he wants to loose control once
again. When the change is gone, when the urge is gone. These lines here show this small
but constant struggle, to loose control or keep it? With the lyrics telling a story of
confusion between two people, the vocalization adds a somber and depressed tone to the
lyrics.
Vocals are sung in a deep monotone voice, very controlled and simple. The lyrics
are almost spoken not sung. The voice is saying the lyrics are in a very deep and flat

3
octave. Which gives the impression of stagnancy in emotion, a metaphor for depression.
The vocalizations off set the instrumentation, isolating the vocals and giving a somber
tone.
The instruments are very controlled but it is also layered. The stronger
instrumentation is controlled and constant but the layered effect of the bass and cymbals
under the drums and the guitar, the bass and cymbal seem to be trying to loose control
and the quick tap, tap of the cymbals gives a slight rush to the repeat of the
instrumentation. At one point towards the end there is an almost beeping sound that
builds in octave but then stops and comes back down before the end of the song.
Depression can be scary and pure confusion, especially when others get involved.
When outside parties get involved with depressed people, they could gain this sense that
they either need to help or equal with them, creating this relationship filled with chaos
and confusion. With Joy Divisions song Shes Lost Control they explore this idea of
confusion brought on by depression with in relationships.

4
Works Citied
"She's Lost Control" Lyrics." JOY DIVISION LYRICS. Universal Music
Publishing Ltd., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2014.