Gogol's epic form of Dead Souls was (unsuccessfully) modeled on Dante's La Divina Commedia. It is a depressing, astrigent view of the country, and it becomes apparent that the blueprint for understanding Russia is no more than a simulacrum, that the distant memory of the epic and the familiar contact of the present do not share the same field of representation.

Both Joy Division and Nine Inch Nails performed this song (originally by Joy Division). More people have probably heard the NIN version, seeing as how it was on the The Crow soundtrack. They would do themselves a favour by listening to the JD version. Thanks in large part to Ian Curtis's lower and non-whiney voice, it sounds much darker and more ominous. He also sounds, in this song, a lot more paranoid than Trent Reznor ever could.

The problem is that Curtis (requiescat in pace) couldn't sing, at least not as well as Reznor. So maybe the NIN version is better in that respect. You should at least listen to both and find out for yourself.

I, I don't.. I uh, stopped getting your calls
Maybe you forgot, I don't know... I, I know how
You like to take rides when the wind blows
So maybe you didn't, it's just that you meant to...
But it's been unseasonably breezy
And I need to tell you
I still have the photographs
And sometimes it still hurts, but it's o.k.
Did you lose my number?
I've kept myself busy
Or maybe you just forgot...
It has been awhile
I'm not upset anymore
You made me a stronger person
Resilient
I saw you in the airport, in the tube
I liked your new hat
I didn't say anything
But you wear it well
Then again, what do you not?
I don't know
Oh, I'm not coming back
Have I told you yet?
No, I don't think so
And it's been awhile
So maybe you forgot
Like I have
Your voice