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)
Boys Say Go!
Depeche Mode Lyrics
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Boys say go
Boys say go
Boys say go
You don't understand
This is in demand
And I think that I have to show you
Try to look inside
Take me for a ride
In the day and the night, get to know you
Boys meet boys, get together
Boys meet boys, it's forever
Don't say no
Boys say go
I can run away
If you never stay
And the rain and the pain and the sorrow
I'm not very sure
When you close the door
If the end is the same as tomorrow
Boys meet boys, get together
Boys meet boys, it's forever
Don't say no
Boys say go
(Boys)
(Boys)
(Boys)
(Boys)
(Boys say go)
You don't understand
This is in demand
And I think that I have to show you
Try to look inside
Take me for a ride
In the day and the night, get to know you
Boys meet boys, get together
Boys meet boys, it's forever
Don't say no
Boys say go
(Go go go go go go go go)
(Go go go go go go go go)
(Go go go go go go go go)
(Go go go go go go go go)
(Go go go go go go go go)
The song "Boys Say Go!" by Depeche Mode is an early new wave track that explores themes of gender and sexual identity. The lyrics seem to be addressed to a person who is hesitant to explore same-sex attraction or possibly even homosexuality. The chorus, "Boys meet boys, get together, Boys meet boys, it's forever" repeats, suggesting that same-sex attraction and relationships are a natural and potentially permanent part of life.
The verses reflect a sense of uncertainty and fear associated with exploring one's sexuality. The singer asks to be taken on a journey of self-discovery, but is unsure of the outcome. Lines like "I'm not very sure / When you close the door / If the end is the same as tomorrow" reveal a sense of doubt and anxiety about what might happen if they pursue this attraction.
The use of repetition throughout the song creates a sense of urgency and insistence. The repetition of the title phrase "Boys say go" further emphasizes the importance of exploring one's sexuality and not being held back by fear or social norms.
Overall, "Boys Say Go!" is an early example of Depeche Mode's experimentation with themes of sexuality and gender, which would become even more pronounced in their later work.
Line by Line Meaning
Boys say go
The song title is repeated throughout the song and seems to be a call to action for boys to unite and take action.
You don't understand
The singer believes that his message is not being understood by others, and feels the need to explain it further.
This is in demand
The singer believes that his message and call to action is needed by others and is popular enough to be in demand.
And I think that I have to show you
The singer believes that he has a responsibility to share his message and show others how to take action.
Try to look inside
The singer encourages others to look within themselves to understand the message and take action.
Take me for a ride
The singer is willing to accompany others on the journey towards taking action and achieving change.
In the day and the night, get to know you
The singer wants to spend time with others, whether during the day or night, and get to know them better in order to work towards achieving change together.
Boys meet boys, get together
The singer is emphasizing the need for boys to unite and work together towards taking action and achieving change.
Boys meet boys, it's forever
The singer believes that the bond between boys who work together towards a common cause will be unbreakable and long-lasting.
Don't say no
The singer is urging others not to refuse or turn down the call to action and the opportunity to work together.
I can run away
The singer acknowledges that it is possible for him to leave behind the struggle for change if he is not fully committed to it, but also recognizes the consequences of doing so.
If you never stay
The singer is referring to others who may not remain committed to the cause of change and leave, making it harder to achieve progress.
And the rain and the pain and the sorrow
The singer acknowledges the hardships and difficulties that come with trying to achieve change and that there may be setbacks and moments of sadness and pain.
I'm not very sure
The singer is uncertain about the outcome of the struggle and whether it will be successful or not.
When you close the door
The singer is referring to the possibility of others closing themselves off from the struggle, making it harder to achieve progress.
If the end is the same as tomorrow
The singer is questioning if the future will be the same as today if there is no action taken to achieve change.
(Go go go go go go go go)
These repeated lines can be interpreted as a call to action, urging others to take action and work towards achieving change.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Vince Clarke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind