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)
Enjoy The Silence-Reinterpreted
Depeche Mode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Break the silence
Come crashing in
Into my little world
Painful to me
Pierce right through me
Can't you understand?
Oh my little girl
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
Vows are spoken
To be broken
Feelings are intense
Words are trivial
Pleasures remain
So does the pain
Words are meaningless
And forgettable
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
Enjoy the silence
The lyrics of "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode depict a love that is strong beyond the need for words. The opening lines, "Words like violence, break the silence, come crashing in into my little world," convey how words can be overwhelming and hurtful. The person singing talks directly to a lover, expressing how it is "painful" when they speak too much. The repetition of "oh my little girl" throughout the song creates a sense of intimacy between the two lovers, emphasizing the need for physical connection.
The chorus, "All I ever wanted, all I ever needed, is here in my arms, words are very unnecessary, they can only do harm," emphasizes the theme of physical touch and the idea that words are not necessary for deep connections. It’s a plea for non-verbal communication. In contrast, the second verse speaks to the transitory nature of words and vows. The singer believes that feelings are intense and real, but promises to feel them forever is brittle.
Overall, the song “Enjoy the Silence” is a testament to the power of silence and touch, portraying how silence can be louder than words in conveying emotions. The song speaks to the idea that speech isn't always the best method of communication, and sometimes intimacy can be more powerful than words.
Line by Line Meaning
Words like violence
The harsh words spoken by someone can be as violent and painful as physical violence.
Break the silence
These words shatter the peaceful and quiet state of mind, disturbing and disrupting the natural flow of life and thoughts.
Come crashing in
These words enter abruptly and forcibly, without any warning or concern for the receiver's well-being or their emotional state.
Into my little world
The words invade the artist's personal space and thoughts, causing emotional turmoil and turmoil to their own inner world.
Painful to me
The artist is expressing how the words cause them hurt and pain, affecting them emotionally and mentally.
Pierce right through me
The words strike deep and penetrate the singer's soul, leaving an indelible mark and causing long-lasting emotional effects.
Can't you understand?
The singer is pleading with the listener to empathize with them, to try and understand the pain and suffering that these words cause them.
Oh my little girl
The artist is addressing the listener with a term of endearment, trying to appeal to their conscience and humanity.
All I ever wanted
The artist expresses their yearning for something in life, possibly love, affection, or attention.
All I ever needed
The artist expresses their belief that the thing they want in life is an essential necessity for them, without which they cannot live a fulfilling life.
Is here in my arms
The singer is describing a moment of happiness and togetherness with their loved one, where they feel safe and secure in each other's embrace.
Words are very unnecessary
The artist believes that words are often overrated and that actions speak louder than words when it comes to showing love and affection.
They can only do harm
The singer is warning that words can have negative consequences, such as hurt, pain, and broken relationships, if not chosen carefully and thoughtfully.
Vows are spoken
The singer is talking about the promises made by people, often in marriage or relationships, which are meant to be kept forever.
To be broken
The singer is lamenting the fact that people often break their promises, leading to disappointment, mistrust, and heartbreak.
Feelings are intense
The artist acknowledges the fact that emotions can be very strong and powerful, causing people to act irrationally or impulsively.
Words are trivial
The artist is suggesting that words are often superficial and insincere, compared to the intensity of emotions and actions that they are meant to represent.
Pleasures remain
The singer is acknowledging that there are moments of joy and happiness in life, which can be remembered and cherished even after they are gone.
So does the pain
The singer is acknowledging that there are also moments of pain and suffering in life, which can cause long-lasting emotional trauma and scars.
Words are meaningless
The artist is expressing their belief that words, without any sincerity or action behind them, are empty and meaningless, devoid of any real value or impact.
And forgettable
The artist is suggesting that words that are not backed up by actions are easy to forget and have no lasting impact on our lives.
Enjoy the silence
The artist is advising the listener to embrace moments of peace and quiet in their lives, away from the noise and chaos of the world, where they can find happiness and inner peace in their own thoughts.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Written by: MARTIN LEE GORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BaronAnselme69
Words like violence
Break the silence
Come crashing in
Into my little world
Painful to me
Pierce right through me
Can't you understand
Oh my little girl
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
Vows are spoken
To be broken
Feelings are intense
Words are trivial
Pleasures remain
So does the pain
Words are meaningless
And forgettable
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
Enjoy the silence
@MoZaHo
I don't think this version got the credit it deserved. It's truly an amazing remix.
@gavindiwijeratne6182
indeed
@SoCalRhetor
Why? What do you suppose people like me have overlooked?
@lapinott9037
It's really good.
@Assiro051
I like it more than the original
@gavindiwijeratne6182
yeah mike has his genius
@DasVaulTier
A confession: I listened to this song/remix hundreds of times since it was released in 2004 and honestly? I never knew it was a Version by Mike Shinoda. In hindsight, it should've been obvious - so many LP elements in there. Well, that explains why I enjoy this song so much.
@wolframvonstein509
Same here. Grüße ^^
@hamit480
similarly many people confused to the man who sold the world as nirvana's own track.
@szekesfehervar2230
Well Linkin Park were inspired by Depeche Mode.