David Gahan (born May 9, 1962 in Epping, Essex, England) is the baritone le… Read Full Bio ↴David Gahan (born May 9, 1962 in Epping, Essex, England) is the baritone lead singer for English electro stalwarts, Depeche Mode. Dave released his first solo album titled Paper Monsters in 2003 to critical acclaim. Lyrically, it had strong autobiographical elements and musically was tinged with a rockier sound than previous DM releases. Three UK singles, a tour and live DVD followed..

Dave subsequently penned a couple of tracks on Depeche Mode's next album, the 2005 effort Playing the Angel. The latter half of 2007 saw the release of his second solo LP, Hourglass, which saw a dirtier, more electronic, groove-orientated sound come through in his solo work. It was decided that he would not tour to promote the album's release, instead concentrating on his day job: the recording of the next Depeche Mode effort, Sounds of the Universe released in April 2009. The album sees more of his songs released under the DM brand, as well as a co-write with main songwriter, Martin L. Gore on the B-side Oh Well.

Black and Blue Again
Dave Gahan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm back in the room with the two way door
I don't know where it is sure been there before
The thoughts in my head I just can't describe
They're too insane all outside

All my apologies have been used up
All my words are not enough
I'm asking you on my knees

Look inside me I'm black and blue again
Black and blue again

Do you remember we were such good friends
Now we're back in the ring fighting again
The taste that's in my mouth you see
It's not very nice screaming at you
There's tears in your eyes

I'm not very nice
You see I'm not very nice

You said I'm not very nice
You know I'm not very nice

Overall Meaning

The song Black and Blue Again by Dave Gahan is a poignant expression of the internal turmoil that arises from a deep sense of regret and sadness. The opening lines are mysterious, describing a room with a two-way door that the singer has been in before, but can't quite place his finger on where it is. The thoughts in his head are too insane to describe, hinting at some sort of internal conflict or emotional instability.

The following lines reveal the reason for this turmoil - all of the singer's apologies have been used up, his words are not enough to heal what has been broken. He implores the listener to look inside him, to see that he is black and blue again, a metaphor for the emotional bruises that he has sustained from his actions. The repetition of this phrase underscores the pain and sense of helplessness that the singer feels.

The final verse hints at a broken friendship, a once-close relationship that has devolved into fighting and hurtful words. The taste in the singer's mouth is not very nice, and there are tears in the other person's eyes. The repeated refrain of "I'm not very nice" suggests a deep self-loathing, a belief that he is the cause of the strife and turmoil in his life. The song is a moving exploration of the pain that comes from the awareness of one's own flaws and the damage they can cause.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm back in the room with the two way door
I feel like I'm stuck in a place where I can't leave, my options are limited and I'm trapped.

I don't know where it is sure been there before
I'm not sure how I got here, but it feels familiar like I've been in this situation before.

The thoughts in my head I just can't describe
My mind is filled with so many complicated, dark and confusing thoughts, that I cannot put them into words to make sense of them.

They're too insane all outside
The thoughts that I'm trying to ignore are so distressing, that I'm beginning to feel like I'm losing my grip on reality.

All my apologies have been used up
I've said sorry so many times that I've reached a point where I don't know what else to say other than to plead for mercy.

All my words are not enough
I've said everything there is to say, but no matter how much I try to communicate, I feel unheard and misunderstood.

I'm asking you on my knees
I'm not too proud to beg for forgiveness and help, I'm doing everything in my power to make amends.

Look inside me I'm black and blue again
I'm feeling beaten down, scared and emotionally bruised from everything that has happened and I just want someone to understand and see the pain I'm going through.

Do you remember we were such good friends
We had such a close and positive relationship in the past, where we relied on each other for comfort and support.

Now we're back in the ring fighting again
Our relationship is deteriorating and we're finding ourselves bickering and engaging in negative patterns of behaviour that are exacerbating the situation.

The taste that's in my mouth you see
I hate the way that I'm coming across, like a bitter person who is just lashing out and hurting those closest to me.

It's not very nice screaming at you
I'm ashamed of how I'm talking to you and treating you, I understand that my behaviour is unacceptable, but I'm struggling to stop the pattern.

There's tears in your eyes
I can see that my words and actions are causing you immense hurt and pain, and I'm struggling to find a way to fix the situation.

I'm not very nice
I recognise that I'm the problem and that I'm behaving abhorrently, but I'm struggling to find a way to break the negative cycle.

You said I'm not very nice
You've communicated to me about my behaviour and have made it clear that my actions are not okay.

You know I'm not very nice
You've seen me at my worst and recognise that I'm not behaving in a healthy and positive way, even though I aspire to do so.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID GAHAN, KNOX CHANDLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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