The band has been highly influential in the electronic dance music scene, especially synthpop, techno, and trance, partly due to their innovative work, recording techniques, and use of sampling. Their most successful album is arguably 1990's Violator, which reached the #2 position in the UK, #7 in the US, and sold over 8 million copies worldwide. The band has released a long series of high-charting singles over their three-decades long career. Enjoy the Silence is their most recognized song and one of history's most covered songs.
The original line-up was Dave Gahan, Martin L. Gore, Andy Fletcher, and Vince Clarke. In December 1981, Clarke left the band and later formed Yazoo, The Assembly, and Erasure. Alan Wilder joined the group initially in January 1982 as a live keyboardist but became an official member in December 1982. He left in mid-1995 to fully concentrate on his Recoil project, and the band continued as a trio. In 2010 Wilder re-joined Depeche Mode on stage after 16 years for a performance of Somebody during a show at London's Royal Albert Hall in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Depeche Mode's origins date back to 1977, when Vince Clarke and Andrew Fletcher formed a band called No Romance in China, with Clarke on vocals and guitar and Fletcher on bass. In March 1980, Clarke, Gore, and Fletcher formed a band called Composition of Sound, with Clarke on vocals/guitar, Gore on keyboards, and Fletcher on bass. Soon after the formation of Composition of Sound, Clarke, and Fletcher switched to synthesizers. Dave Gahan joined the band in 1980 after Clarke heard him perform at a local scout hut jam session, singing to a rendition of David Bowie's "Heroes" and Depeche Mode was born.
While playing a live gig at the Bridge House in Canning Town, Daniel Miller, the founder of Mute Records, approached the band, who proposed a verbal contract. The result was their first single, Dreaming of Me, recorded in December 1980 and released in February 1981, reaching number 57 in the UK charts and followed soon by a real contract with Mute.
To date, Depeche Mode have released:
15 studio albums: Speak & Spell (1981), A Broken Frame (1982), Construction Time Again (1983), Some Great Reward (1984), Black Celebration (1986), Music For the Masses (1987), Violator (1990), Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993), Ultra (1997), Exciter (2001), Playing the Angel (2005), Sounds of the Universe (2009), Delta Machine (2013), Spirit (2017), and Memento Mori (2023);
8 compilations: People Are People (1984), The Singles 81-85 (1985), Catching Up with Depeche Mode (1985), Greatest Hits (1987), The Singles 86>98 (1998), Remixes 81-04 (2004), The Best Of Depeche Mode Volume 1 (2006), The Complete Depeche Mode (2006);
5 live albums: 101 (1989), Songs of Faith and Devotion Live (1993), Recording the Angel (a series of live recordings; 2006), Tour Of The Universe: Barcelona 20/21:11:09 (2009) and Live In Berlin (Soundtrack) (2014) ;
Over 50 singles: including Just Can't Get Enough, Everything Counts, People Are People, Master and Servant, Shake the Disease, Stripped, A Question of Time, Strangelove, Never Let Me Down Again, Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, World in My Eyes, Policy of Truth, I Feel You, Walking in My Shoes, In Your Room, Barrel of a Gun, It's No Good, Home, Dream On, Freelove, Precious, Wrong and Heaven ;
14 live / video collections (VHS/DVD/Blu-ray): The World We Live In and Live in Hamburg (1985), Some Great Videos (1985), Strange (1988), 101 (1989), Strange Too (1990), Devotional (1993), The Videos 86>98 (1998), One Night in Paris (2002), The Videos 86>98 (2002), Touring the Angel: Live in Milan (2006), The Best of - Volume 1 (2006), Tour of the Universe : Barcelona 20/21.11.09 (2009), Live in Berlin (2014) and Video Singles Collection (2016)
Always
Depeche Mode Lyrics
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The sun is high and the field might sparrow
My tongue is tied and my body aching
Now I'm opened wide and afraid of breaking
The food is hot and the tables are ready
But my stomach's knots make my hands unsteady
So I take to pacing up and down the room
I just wanna be part of the light
Of the light, of the light, of the light, of the light in your eyes
I just wanna be part of the light
Of the light, of the light, of the light, of the light in your eyes
The bed is made and the candle's burning
All our games are played and the clock keeps turning
We're out of tricks with the silence cutting
And the daggers stick as the doors keep shutting
I just wanna be part of the fire
Of the fire, of the fire, of the fire, of the fire in your eyes
I just wanna be part of the fire
Of the fire, of the fire, of the fire, of the fire in your eyes
Always, always, always, always (forever)
Always (forever) always (forever)
Always (forever) always
The lyrics to Depeche Mode's song "Always" reveal a sense of longing for intimacy and connection in the midst of emotional distance and disconnection. The singer is struggling to find words to express their feelings and fears, giving voice to the frustration and anxiety that comes with the uncertainty of relationships. The metaphor of the well being dry and the spring running shallow suggests that the singer feels emotionally depleted and unable to give more of themselves. The sun being high, and the field might sparrow, could represent a sense of being exposed or vulnerable to the outside world, while the singer is feeling an internal weakness.
The second verse continues this theme of frustration and disappointment as the singer prepares to share a meal with someone. They want to be able to enjoy the company of the person they are with, but anxiety and physical discomfort overshadow their experience, preventing them from fully engaging. As the song progresses, the imagery becomes more intense, illustrating the internal conflict and desperation the singer feels to be seen and valued for who they are. The desire to be "part of the light" or "part of the fire" suggests a deep longing for a sense of belonging and emotional connection with another person, while the repeated chant of "always, always, always" expresses a sense of fear and uncertainty about the future.
Overall, "Always" is a poignant reflection on the emotional complexity of relationships and the struggle to connect with others despite our fears and insecurities.
Line by Line Meaning
The well is dry and the spring runs shallow
I feel like I'm out of ideas and lacking energy
The sun is high and the field might sparrow
It's the perfect day to accomplish something, but I'm not sure I can
My tongue is tied and my body aching
I'm having trouble finding the right words, and my anxiety is physically manifesting
Now I'm opened wide and afraid of breaking
I'm putting myself out there and feeling vulnerable, but afraid of getting hurt
The food is hot and the tables are ready
Everything seems perfect on the surface, but my internal struggles are preventing me from enjoying it
But my stomach's knots make my hands unsteady
My anxiety is affecting me physically and making it difficult to even hold my fork
So I take to pacing up and down the room
I'm searching for a way to release my nervous energy
While my heart keeps racing and my mind's consumed
My thoughts are racing, and I'm having trouble calming down
I just wanna be part of the light
I want to feel a sense of belonging and positivity
Of the light, of the light, of the light, of the light in your eyes
I want to see a reflection of my own positivity and happiness in someone else's eyes
The bed is made and the candle's burning
It's a romantic atmosphere, but my emotional state is preventing me from fully enjoying it
All our games are played and the clock keeps turning
We've exhausted all our usual activities, and time keeps moving forward
We're out of tricks with the silence cutting
There's nothing left to say or do, and the silence is painful
And the daggers stick as the doors keep shutting
Our past hurts and resentments are still affecting us, even in this moment
I just wanna be part of the fire
I want to feel a sense of passion and connection
Of the fire, of the fire, of the fire, of the fire in your eyes
I want to feel that same passion and connection reflected in someone else's eyes
Always, always, always, always (forever)
I want this feeling to last indefinitely
Always (forever) always (forever)
No matter what happens, I want to keep striving for this sense of connection
Always (forever) always
I'm willing to keep trying, even if it's difficult
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Martin Gore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind