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)
Long Time Lie
Depeche Mode Lyrics
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And that's too long since you complained
Can sit around here doing nothing everyday
You're the kind who points a finger
I understand that I'm helping you
You have delusions and some spaced out fantasy, that's what you do
It loves to wallow in the glory
He'll try to make you believe in all of his lies
It's been a long, long, long, long, long, long time
It's been a long, long, long, long, long, long time
A long time lie
And don't you ever look in the mirror
Don't you know there's so much more
Locked up inside that box behind your door
All your twisted conversations
When you're sitting all alone
Just remember we know your secret while you moan
It loves to wallow in the glory
It loves to cut you down to size
He'll try to make you believe in all of his lies
It's been a long, long, long, long, long, long time
It's been a long, long, long, long, long, long time
A long time lie
The song "Long Time Lie" by Depeche Mode is a commentary on the idea of someone who blames others for their problems and refuses to take responsibility for their own life. It starts by confronting the person with the fact that they haven't done anything productive in a while, and that they spend their time complaining and pointing fingers instead of taking action. The singer expresses empathy for the person's troubles but also acknowledges that they are stuck in their own delusions and fantasies.
The chorus is a repetitive reminder of the time that has passed and the lie that the person has been living, choosing to ignore the reality of their situation. The second verse urges the person to look deeper and discover their own potential, rather than being content with their box of twisted thoughts and conversations. The singer reveals that they know the person's secret and that they have been alone in their dark wallowing for a long time.
Overall, the song calls out the destructive nature of blaming others and not taking responsibility for one's life. It encourages the listener to seek truth and meaningful action in their own life, rather than being consumed by lies and delusions.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been a while since you did something
It's been a considerable duration of time since you have done anything productive.
And that's too long since you complained
It's concerning that you haven't voiced any complaints in a while.
Can sit around here doing nothing everyday
You are comfortable being idle and making no effort to achieve anything every day.
You're the kind who points a finger
You have the habit of placing blame on others for any shortcomings.
I understand that I'm helping you
I acknowledge that I'm enabling your unproductive behavior.
You have delusions and some spaced out fantasy, that's what you do
You entertain unrealistic and impractical ideas and dreams.
It loves to wallow in the glory
Your ego thrives on self-glorification.
It loves to cut you down to size
You derive pleasure from belittling others and making them feel inferior.
He'll try to make you believe in all of his lies
Someone will attempt to manipulate you by convincing you to believe their deceitful statements.
It's been a long, long, long, long, long, long time
The duration of this situation has been excessively extended.
It's been a long, long, long, long, long, long time
The duration of this situation has been excessively extended.
A long time lie
This behavior and its consequences have been consistently maintained for an extensive period.
And don't you ever look in the mirror
You avoid self-reflection and introspection.
Don't you know there's so much more
You're oblivious to the extent of your potential and abilities.
Locked up inside that box behind your door
Your full potential is trapped and constricted by your own mental barriers and limitations.
All your twisted conversations
Your conversations are often manipulative and misleading.
When you're sitting all alone
You often indulge in negative and unproductive behavior when alone.
Just remember we know your secret while you moan
We are aware of your shortcomings and deceptive behavior, even if you try to hide them.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Gahan, Martin Gore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind