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
Depeche Mode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do what you want
I don't care
Tonight I'm in the hands of fate
I hand myself over on a plate
Now
Oh, little girl, there are times when I feel
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
You're behind the wheel tonight
You're behind the wheel tonight
You're behind the wheel tonight
You're behind the wheel tonight
In Depeche Mode's song "Behind the Wheel," the lyrics speak to a sense of giving oneself over to fate, surrendering control and being driven by someone else, particularly a "little girl" who is in charge of the wheel. This choice of words suggests a certain vulnerability, a surrender of masculinity and power, and a release of responsibility. The singer admits to feeling uncomfortable sometimes being in control and relinquishes it to this girl who he trusts to navigate him through the unknown. The lyrics suggest a certain level of pleasure in being able to let go, to be reckless, and to relinquish control to someone else. The song is a reflection on the paradox of power and vulnerability in a relationship, and the beauty of allowing oneself to let go and trust someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
My little girl, drive anywhere
I trust and empower you to make your own decisions and go wherever you want.
Do what you want
I give you the freedom to act according to your own desires and wishes.
I don't care
I am not concerned with the choices you make or the directions you take.
Tonight I'm in the hands of fate
The outcome of tonight's events is beyond my control.
I hand myself over on a plate
I surrender myself entirely to what may come tonight.
Oh, little girl, there are times when I feel
I experience moments where I would rather not be the one in charge.
I'd rather not be the one behind the wheel
I would rather not be responsible for the direction we take or the decisions we make.
Come, pull my strings
I am willing to be controlled or manipulated by you.
Watch me move, I do anything
I am willing to perform or behave in any way that you desire or request.
Please
I am asking or begging for your command or guidance.
Sweet little girl, I prefer
I would rather have you in charge or making decisions.
You behind the wheel and me the passenger
I would rather follow your lead and let you make the decisions.
Drive, I'm yours to keep
I am entirely dedicated to you and willing to be led by you.
Do what you want, I'm going cheap
I am so devoted to you that I am willing to follow your instructions or desires without question or hesitation.
You're behind the wheel tonight
You are the one in charge tonight and I am willing to follow your lead.
You're behind the wheel tonight
You are the one in charge tonight and I am willing to follow your lead.
You're behind the wheel tonight
You are the one in charge tonight and I am willing to follow your lead.
You're behind the wheel tonight
You are the one in charge tonight and I am willing to follow your lead.
You're behind the wheel tonight
You are the one in charge tonight and I am willing to follow your lead.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Martin Lee Gore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@walterjunior7361
My little girl, drive anywhere
Do what you want
I don’t care
Tonight, I’m in the hands of fate
I hand myself, over on a plate
Now
Oh little girl, there are times when I feel
I’d 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
(Drive anywhere, do what you want)
You’re behind the wheel
(Behind the wheel, I’m in the hands of fate)
tonight
You’re behind the wheel
@faffinoodle
Such an underrated song. The clip is a masterpiece too.
@plutostube
underrated for top 100 billboard in the last 30 years or so, yes. for the rest of us will always be a masterpiece
@juanaltredo2974
sometimes, even DM fans like myself, dont listen to them for a period of time and when we hear them back again, we're amazed at how good these guys were and still are. Amazed. They transport you to their world with only a few notes, you're instantly there. Isnt that the definition of a drug? I guess they're a musical drug, but a drug that makes you stronger
@maikepfrogner4517
juan altredo my thinking. I was a big Fan with 15. My room was alover with everything from them. I dont know why an how i lost them. Now i saw something on tv about them. Since that I pulled out the old songs. Again and again...😊
@maikepfrogner4517
I dont like all songs, but the older ones, like behind the wheel, let me close my eyes and dream from better days. I would love to hear them as loud as possible, feel the drums in my body. I think, ive you loved them once, they stay in your mind, come back when you realy need something and help you. Its realy like a drug (soory for german english + to mutch words)
@englishbymrsviolet1857
It's exactly like that
@garylakey5363
Perfectly put!
@andreisuko
ASI MERO MI JUAN
@acousticmusic4777
30 years later, the 80's still sound like the future
@Spleffytunes
Try 40 years later - it’s 2023