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)
Death's Door
Depeche Mode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will I take my rest, among the blessed?
Mother, are you waiting? Father, are you pacing?
I'm coming home
I'm knocking on Death's door
Will I take my rest, in my Sunday best?
Mother, are you anxious? Father, are you gracious?
I've been away too long
For so long you've been strong
I've been away too long
I know that it was wrong but I'm coming home
Well I'm knocking on Death's door
Will I take my rest? Have I passed the test?
Mother, are you praying? Father, I am saying
I'm coming home
The lyrics of Death's Door by Depeche Mode are an introspective exploration of one's mortality and the desire to reconcile with one's family before passing away. The song begins with the singer knocking on Death's door, wondering if they will be amongst the blessed when they pass away. This symbolism reinforces the theme of death throughout the track, as knocking on the door is often associated with the moment of passing from one life to the next.
The singer is then shown asking their mother and father if they are waiting and pacing anxiously, respectively. This stanza emphasizes how the singer acknowledges the pain they might have caused their loved ones by being away for too long. The next part is about the singer's regret and guilt, as they've been away for too long and know that it was wrong. However, they can't help but feel that they're being pulled back home.
The final set of lyrics of Death's Door signifies the acceptance of death and the desire to be accepted back to their roots. The line "Have I passed the test?" can be interpreted in a few different ways. One interpretation could be the classic philosophical question of whether they lived a good life or not before passing on, and another one is the singer's return to their faith. The last question is directed toward the father, as the singer states that they are saying (not asking) that they are coming home. This part brings the song to a conclusion and highlights the singer's acceptance of their fate and their wish to let their family know.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I'm knocking on Death's door
I am nearing the end of my life and facing the possibility of death.
Will I take my rest, among the blessed?
Am I going to find peace and rest in heaven?
Mother, are you waiting? Father, are you pacing?
Are my parents waiting for my arrival, worried and anxious?
I'm coming home
I will soon be joining my loved ones who have already passed away.
I'm knocking on Death's door
I am acknowledging that death is near.
Will I take my rest, in my Sunday best?
Will I be laid to rest in my finest clothing, as if I am going to church?
Mother, are you anxious? Father, are you gracious?
Is my mother anxious about my arrival, and my father gracious in receiving me?
I've been away too long
I have been away from my loved ones for too long.
For so long you've been strong
My loved ones have been strong and resilient during my absence.
I know that it was wrong but I'm coming home
I regret that I was away for so long, but I am coming back now.
Will I take my rest? Have I passed the test?
Will I find peace in death, or have I not lived my life in a way that warrants a peaceful rest?
Mother, are you praying? Father, I am saying
Is my mother praying for me, and I am telling my father I am coming home.
I'm coming home
I will soon be reunited with my loved ones who have passed away.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Martin Gore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hedda Grey
Gutted, with swollen eyes from crying over the passing of our beloved Fletch; taken too soon from us yesterday.
Since the early 80’s Depeche Mode’s music has woven itself into my soul, the words… written on my heart.
It has brought me through so many of the struggles growing up, comforted me, made me feel like I… belonged; it saved me. It brought me joy, jumping around my bedroom, listening to the 101 live album. I’ve been privileged to see them 8 times, drinking in the energy that came by being surrounded by fellow fans and Devotees.
Thank you Andy for your contribution to the band, the institution, our religion, that is Depeche Mode
I know that the music will live on and continue to touch those who hear it for generations to come
May you rest peacefully, my condolences to your families and loved ones; I hope that the can feel the outpouring of love from all of us, who have been and are devoted soul sisters and soul brothers🖤🖤🖤
MazeGen
Well, I'm knocking on Death's door
Will I take my rest, among the blessed?
Mother, are you waiting?
Father, are you pacing?
I'm coming home
I'm knocking on Death's door
Will I take my rest in my Sunday best?
Mother, are you anxious?
Father, are you gracious?
I'm coming home
I've been away too long
For so long you've been strong
I've been away too long
I know that it was wrong
But I'm coming home
Well, I'm knocking on Death's door
Will I take my rest, have I passed the test?
Mother, are you praying?
Father, I am saying
I'm coming home
BlitzDude71
I will always remember the moment, when they brought this song during a concert back in the early 90's in Zurich. A friend of mine and me were about 5 meters away from the stage. We had seen the movie before and memorized the lyrics so we started to sing along from the top of our lungs. Nobody else around us knew this song. That's when Martin made eye contact with me and smiled.
Marianne Stanley
My father's death song
711Ramen
This is my favorite song and it's so obscure.
Marcis Veveris
really nice story, thanks for sharing, made me think a bit better about this world for a bit :)
AEdgard Aethelredd
Thats fuckin awesome dude thanks for sharing that
Dave
That is beautiful.
Natacha Almeida
RIP Fletcher, you'll always be missed 😭😭😭
Pam Flowers
I play this song in memory of my dear friend Tim who was a huge Depeche Mode fan. Tim sadly lost his battle with cancer last night. You are loved and already missed terribly Tim. Until we meet again, live your life the way you always wanted, and again I promise to take care of your Precious for the rest of her life.
Peter Vandaele
<3 Pam
Captain Rhodes
This was one of their best songs and yet its never on their compilations and is never on the radio. Its so weird that this song is never pushed in any way