Centred on a circular bassline by Hook that had a significant influence on 1980s Gothic rock, the song was named by Curtis after Nikolai Gogol's 1842 novel Dead Souls.

After lead singer Ian Curtis's suicide and Joy Division's disbandment, "Dead Souls" appeared on compilations such as 1981's Still.

[1] The song's lengthy instrumental intro was used to provide lead singer Ian Curtis an opportunity to size up the band's live audiences with his characteristic dancing.

[4] "Dead Souls" was originally released on 18 March 1980 by the label Sordide Sentimental as a France-only 7" single under the title "Licht und Blindheit" (German for "Light and Blindness").

Bassist Peter Hook reflected, "In a way, that was part of the lightness of Joy Division, was that we weren't precious about the music—we were giving tracks away.

'"[7] Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis in May 1980, "Atmosphere" was released as a 12" single, but "Dead Souls" was replaced with "She's Lost Control" as the B-side.

"[8] The Guardian also included it in their top ten list of Joy Division songs, writing, "This is Curtis's musical seance with the spirits of yore, a dreadful, hypnotic spell that freezes your limbs and can't be shaken off.

concurred, ranking it as the band's eighth greatest song and commenting, "With hindsight, it seems almost perverse that Joy Division originally released it on the limited-edition, French-only Licht und Blindheit EP, though Factory later confirmed Dead Souls' status as one of the best Joy Division songs when they reclaimed it for Still.

"[10] All songs written and composed by Joy Division (Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner).