Having been huge fans of Joy Division, we naturally carried our ardor forward with New Order.  Torn apart by the seemingly inevitable suicide of lead singer/songwriter, Ian Curtis, the three remaining members of Joy Division added a keyboardist and renamed the band New Order. After a a great debut single (Ceremony) and a great album (“Power, Corruption & Lies”) which mixed punk, dance and synth music, the band released “Low Life” in 1985, which paid homage more to American roots music motifs, including the great opening track,  Love Vigilantes.

We loved Love Vigilantes from the second we heard it, with its melodica intro, driving acoustic guitar flourishes and melodious chorus.  Honestly, the music and vocals levitated us so much that all we could focus on was the chorus.  We frankly missed the song’s whole story.

That was the case until Iron and Wine covered Love Vigilantes recently and slowed it down, thereby emphasizing the narrative of the song.  Frankly, though, hearing the new take on the song has only increased our confusion.

On the one hand, as delivered by New Order, the song can be seen as an uplifting anthem about a soldier who comes home (one assumes from the faulty Falklands fiasco) to his deserved family and home, surprising his wife who has been given the erroneous report of his death.   On the other hand, as told by Iron and Wine, the song might depict the soldier looking down on the scene of his devastated wife and realizing he has died in the war, and that he has gone to another home not of this world.

Check out the lyrics and versions below, and let us know which version and interpretation you prefer.  We love ’em both.

“Oh, I’ve just come from the land of the sun
From a war that must be won in the name of truth
With our soldiers so brave, your freedom we will save
With our rifles and grenades and some help from God

I want to see my family
My wife and child waiting for me
I’ve got to go home
I’ve been so alone, you see

You just can’t believe the joy I did receive
When I finally got my leave and I was going home
Oh, I flew through the sky, my convictions could not lie
For my country I would die, and I will see it soon

I want to see my family
My wife and child waiting for me
I’ve got to go home
I’ve been so alone, you see

When I walked through the door, my wife she lay upon the floor
And with tears her eyes were sore—I did not know why
Then I looked into her hand and I saw the telegram
That said that I was a brave, brave man, but that I was dead

I want to see my family
My wife and child waiting for me
I’ve got to go home
I’ve been so alone, you see”

New Order–Love Vigilantes

Iron and Wine–Love Vigilantes

[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2-05-Love-Vigilantes-1.mp3|titles=2-05 Love Vigilantes 1]