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.
Use You
Dave Gahan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To be in this room
I've gotta get out
I've gotta get out soon
I'm hurting you
With everything I do
It's too long
We're counting down
Only seconds now
I gotta hang on
Hang on to you
I'm staring at
My cuticles
Too long
Too long in this place
We have each other
You are my brother
Sitting here beside you
I just wanna use you
We have each other
You are my brother
Sitting here beside you
I just wanna use you
I'm hurting you
With everything I do
I've gotta get out
I've gotta get out soon
It's killing me
To be in this room
I don't belong
Belong in this place
We have each other
You are my brother
Sitting here beside you
I just wanna use you
Dave Gahan's Use You is a song about feeling trapped in a situation or environment that is causing immense discomfort and pain. The opening lines of the song, "It's killing me to be in this room, I've gotta get out, I've gotta get out soon," illustrate the desperation of the singer to escape the claustrophobic space that they find themselves in. The verses are filled with a sense of restlessness and an intense desire to break free. The repetition of the phrase "too long in this place" emphasizes the unbearable feeling of being stuck in a situation that is causing harm.
The chorus of the song is where the true meaning of the title "Use You" becomes clear. The singer sings about having someone to lean on in times of distress. They call this person "brother" and claim to have a connection with them. However, it soon becomes apparent that this connection is not based on love or mutual support but on a desire to use the other person as a source of comfort. The lyrics "We have each other, sitting here beside you, I just wanna use you" highlight the singer's selfishness and lack of empathy towards the other person.
Overall, Use You is a powerful song that explores the theme of human relationships and the complicated emotions that come with them. It showcases Dave Gahan's skill as a songwriter and his ability to delve deep into the human psyche.
Line by Line Meaning
It's killing me
The situation is causing me extreme emotional pain.
To be in this room
Being in this physical space is exacerbating my feelings of distress.
I've gotta get out
I need to leave this situation behind as soon as possible.
I've gotta get out soon
Time is of the essence and the need to leave is urgent.
I'm hurting you
My actions are causing you emotional pain.
With everything I do
All of my actions are contributing to the harm I am causing.
It's too long
The duration of this situation has been too much to bear.
Too long in this place
The amount of time spent in this physical space has been overwhelming.
We're counting down
Time is running out and we need to act soon.
Only seconds now
The amount of time left to act is extremely limited.
I gotta hang on
I need to stay strong and persevere through this difficult situation.
Hang on to you
I need to rely on your support to make it through this difficult time.
I'm staring at
My attention is fixated on something specific.
My cuticles
I am looking at the skin around my nails.
We have each other
We are both in this together and can rely on each other for support.
You are my brother
We share a strong bond and connection like siblings.
Sitting here beside you
Physical proximity is a source of comfort and support.
I just wanna use you
I am leaning on you for support and comfort during this difficult time.
Belong in this place
I do not feel like I fit or belong in this environment.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTIAN EIGNER, DAVID GAHAN, ANDREW PHILPOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind