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)
Behind the Wheel / Route 66
Depeche Mode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Drive anywhere
Do what you want
I don't care
Tonight
I'm in the hands of fate
I hand myself
Now
Oh little girl
There are times when I feel
I rather not be
The one behind the wheel
Come
Pull my strings
Watch me move
I do anything
Please
Sweet little girl
I prefer
You behind the wheel
And me the passenger
Drive
I'm yours to keep
Do what you want
I'm going cheap
Tonight
You're behind the wheel, tonight
The lyrics of this song are about a feeling of losing control and surrendering to fate. The singer addresses a "little girl" who is encouraged to take control and do what she wants. The singer relinquishes their own power and becomes passive, merely existing in the hands of fate.
The chorus of the song contains the key line "You're behind the wheel, tonight" which can be interpreted in a few different ways. On one level, it could be a literal statement, with the little girl taking control of the car and driving. On another level, it could represent the little girl taking control of the singer's life and destiny. The singer is willing to be passive and allow the little girl to take the lead, hoping that she will take them where they need to go.
Line by Line Meaning
My little girl
Referring to a person or an object of emotional attachment with a sense of ownership
Drive anywhere
Encouragement to explore and take risks
Do what you want
Promotion of individualism and freedom of choice
I don't care
Suggesting trust and confidence in the person or object of attachment
Tonight
Present moment of excitement and anticipation
I'm in the hands of fate
Acknowledgement of the unpredictable nature of life and relinquishing control
I hand myself
Voluntarily placing oneself in a vulnerable position
Over on a plate
Surrendering oneself completely to another
Now
Indicating a change in tone or urgency
Oh little girl
Same as 'My little girl'
There are times when I feel
Admission of personal vulnerability and insecurity
I rather not be
Desire to relinquish control or responsibility
The one behind the wheel
Metaphor for responsibility and decision-making power
Come
An invitation to experience or witness something
Pull my strings
Surrendering control or domination of oneself to another
Watch me move
Boastful expression of confidence or skill
I do anything
Willingness to please or impress others
Please
Expressing a request or requirement
Sweet little girl
Same as 'My little girl'
I prefer
Indicating a choice or inclination
You behind the wheel
Same as 'The one behind the wheel'
And me the passenger
Expression of willingness to trust and follow another's guidance
Drive
Command or request to take control or initiate action
I'm yours to keep
Expression of devotion or commitment to another
I'm going cheap
Suggesting a lowered sense of self-worth or reduced value
Tonight
Same as previous 'Tonight'
You're behind the wheel, tonight
Reinforcement of previous metaphor for trust and guidance
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARTIN GORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Miguel Monreal
Una versión única solo conocedores de lo que es música para deleitar tus sentidos y oidos
Darque
This song never gets old!❤️
Richard Evans
One of the first 12inch remixes I ever heard. I became a Depeche Mode Fan after hearing this remix when I was 15 years old. A fan 30 + years later this is still one of the great remixes of DM. I also was DJing church dances at the time and this remix always went down well with the crowds.
maribel solano
Por siempre DEPECHE MODE!! Saludos cordiales desde Coahuila México!!
Julie Robb
OMG!!!! Love this song so much it hurts!! Listened to this a million times when it first came out... haven't heard it in years... sigh... so much awesome :O)
Amy Withers
Dance time baby !!!
Amy Withers
💫💞💫💓✌️
Curtis Cross
Let's reach 66
David Booher
@Curtis Cross sorry mate. I unfortunately just ruined it
JP H
One of my best moments as a youth: 101 concert at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. RIP to my date, my ex girlfriend who passed away two years later.