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)
Leave in Silence
Depeche Mode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But this time I think I mean it for sure
We have reached a full stop
Nothing's going to save us from the big drop
Reached our natural conclusion
Outlived the illusion
I hate being in these situations
If I only knew the answer
Or I thought we had a chance
Or I could stop this
I would stop this thing
From spreading like a cancer
What can I say?
I don't want to play anymore
What can I say?
I'm heading for the door
I can't stand this emotional violence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence
We've been running around in circles all year
Doing this and that and getting nowhere
This will be the last time
I think I said that last time
If I only had a potion
Some magical lotion
That could stop this, I would stop this
I would set the wheels in motion
What can I say?
I don't want to play anymore
What can I say?
I'm heading for the door
I can't stand this emotional violence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence
The lyrics of Leave in Silence by Depeche Mode describe a relationship that has reached its end. The singer has tried to convince themselves that they are ready to move on, but this time they really mean it. They have reached a point of no return and nothing can save them from the "big drop" of the inevitable break-up. The situation is described as a "natural conclusion" and their earlier illusions of the relationship have been replaced with a harsh reality.
The singer is tired of the emotional violence and drama of the relationship, and longs for a way out. They express that they hate having to resort to diplomatic relations and wish they knew the answer or could stop the situation from spreading like a cancer. The lyrics show a sense of resignation and acceptance of the situation, though it is clear that it is causing them pain. The repetition of "leave in silence" at the end of the song suggests that the singer has decided to end the relationship without any further arguments or explanations.
Overall, the lyrics of Leave in Silence capture the emotions of a relationship that has reached its end, and the struggle to find a way out of a situation that seems impossible to resolve.
Line by Line Meaning
I've told myself so many times before
I've tried to convince myself that everything is fine before, but it's not working anymore.
But this time I think I mean it for sure
I know for certain that the relationship is over this time.
We have reached a full stop
The relationship has come to a complete halt.
Nothing's going to save us from the big drop
No amount of effort or intervention can save the relationship from ending.
Reached our natural conclusion
The relationship has come to an expected end.
Outlived the illusion
The perception that things will be okay in the relationship is no longer a reality.
I hate being in these situations
These types of situations cause me immense discomfort and distress.
That call for diplomatic relations
This requires I engage in an effort to be amiable, but I don't want to.
If I only knew the answer
I don't understand what went wrong or how to fix it.
Or I thought we had a chance
I believed that we could recover from this, but now I realize it's impossible.
Or I could stop this
I wish that I could prevent the split from happening.
I would stop this thing
I would do everything I can to halt the dissolution of the relationship.
From spreading like a cancer
The further this progresses, the more it inflicts harm on the both of us.
What can I say?
I don't know what to say or how to react.
I don't want to play anymore
I don't want to continue any further with this relationship.
I'm heading for the door
I'm leaving this relationship for good.
I can't stand this emotional violence
The turmoil from this situation has taken a significant emotional toll on me.
Leave in silence
I don't want to have another conversation about this. I need to leave quietly.
We've been running around in circles all year
We've been trying to work things out, but we're not making any progress.
Doing this and that and getting nowhere
We've tried different things to fix our problems, but none of them have worked.
This will be the last time
This is the final attempt to see if this relationship can be salvaged.
I think I said that last time
I've made promises before that this would be the last attempt, but it wasn't true.
If I only had a potion
I wish there was a simple solution to fix our problems.
Some magical lotion
A fantasy solution that would allow us to work everything out.
That could stop this, I would stop this
I would utilize any method possible to save our love.
I would set the wheels in motion
I would take action to try to save our relationship.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Martin Gore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jose Harley Valencia
Lyrics
I've told myself so many times before
But this time I think I mean it for sure
We have reached a full stop
Nothing's going to save us from the big drop
Reached our natural conclusion
Outlived the illusion
I hate being in these situations
That call for diplomatic relations
If I only knew the answer
Or I thought we had a chance
Or I could stop this
I would stop this thing
From spreading like a cancer
What can I say?
I don't want to play anymore
What can I say?
I'm heading for the door
I can't stand this emotional violence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence
We've been running around in circles all year
Doing this and that and getting nowhere
This will be the last time
I think I said that last time
If I only had a potion
Some magical lotion
That could stop this, I would stop this
I would set the wheels in motion
What can I say?
I don't want to play anymore
What can I say?
I'm heading for the door
I can't stand this emotional violence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence
DaFuq!?Boom!
This music video is a ridicilous masterpiece.
Elle02
Let me say it, you have great taste in music.
And i like your videos
Vasarnikos
Except from the accompying song!
Hiajaro Alondra 🐱
No wonder they wern't taken seriously by the press
ScientistVJR
How did i find you here?! Anyways, did you use “A pain that im used to” in one of your skibidi toilet episodes?
rita Vaccaro
This song is impressed on my mind since 80's. Not so many people remember this song. Hypnotic sound
david whaite
Haunting and hypnotic , there best song i think brilliant track.
Miranda Miller
True story: In July, I adopted a cat who'd been in a kennel since he was found as a stray at 2-3 months old. The poor thing is over a year old. A few weeks ago, I was stressed out while doing something online. My cat was lying down maybe 6-7 feet away. I put this song on YouTube and, within seconds, he came over, snuggled up to me and purred. I smiled and thought, "That's my kid," but I also wondered if he just likes music in general (they played it overhead where he was kenneled). Nope. Happened again a week later. It's this song.
[Side note: My 5-y-o cat liked Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" when she was 3 months old. Glad I have '80s cats.😂]
Alessandro Zecca
questa io me la ricordo.....magari dopo 10 dalla sua realizzazione......in quell'anno avevo solo 3 anni
Сергей Серпов
Behind the Wheel is its direct successor.