"The Order of Death" is a track from Public Image Ltd’s fourth studio album, This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get, released in 1984. Composed by John Lydon, Keith Levene, and Martin Atkins, the song is one of PiL’s most haunting and minimalist works, known for its repetitive structure and stark lyrical content12.
Lyrics and Structure
The song is built almost entirely around the recurring phrase:
"This is what you want, this is what you get"
This mantra is repeated dozens of times throughout the track, creating a hypnotic, almost ritualistic effect34. Sparse additional lines such as "Here now, ending, one life, one knife" and "Weakness, waiting, silent payment" appear, but the core message remains the relentless repetition of the central phrase4.
Themes and Interpretation
The repetition and minimalism of "The Order of Death" serve as a commentary on the consequences of desire and the inevitability of facing the outcomes of one’s choices. The song’s structure evokes a sense of monotony, resignation, and even futility, suggesting that the pursuit of what one wants in life often leads to inevitable, sometimes grim, results5. The title itself and the sparse additional lyrics hint at mortality and the inescapable end that awaits everyone, regardless of their desires or actions54.
Cultural Impact
"The Order of Death" has appeared in various films and television series, including The Blair Witch Project, Mr. Robot, and The Umbrella Academy, often used to underscore scenes of existential dread, finality, or psychological tension4.
Personnel
- John Lydon – vocals, synth bass, violin, brass, synthesizer, keyboards, percussion
- Martin Atkins – drums, percussion, synth bass, guitar, keyboards
- Additional musicians contributed to the album, but the song’s stark arrangement is a hallmark of PiL’s experimental phase2.
Summary Table
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Artist | Public Image Ltd |
| Album | This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get (1984) |
| Writers | John Lydon, Keith Levene, Martin Atkins |
| Genre | Post-punk, experimental |
| Notable Lyric | "This is what you want, this is what you get" |
| Themes | Consequence, monotony, mortality, resignation |
| Cultural Uses | Featured in films and TV (e.g., The Blair Witch Project) |
Summary
"The Order of Death" is a stark, minimalist meditation on desire, consequence, and mortality, using relentless repetition to evoke a sense of inevitability and existential resignation. Its haunting atmosphere and iconic refrain have made it a memorable entry in PiL’s catalog and a frequent choice for film and television soundtracks354.
