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)
Never Let Me Down Again / Eric Prydz Remix
Depeche Mode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With my best friend
I hope he never lets me down again
He knows where he's taking me
Taking me where I want to be
I'm taking a ride
With my best friend
We're flying high
We're watching the world pass us by
Never want to come down
Never want to put my feet back down
On the ground
I'm taking a ride
With my best friend
I hope he never lets me down again
Promises me I'm as safe as houses
As long as I remember who's wearing the trousers
I hope he never lets me down again
We're flying high
We're watching the world pass us by
Never want to come down
Never want to put my feet back down
On the ground
We're flying high
We're watching the world pass us by
Never want to come down
Never want to put my feet back down
On the ground
Never let me down
Never let me down
Never let me down
Never let me down
See the stars, they're shining bright
Everything's alright tonight
See the stars, they're shining bright
Everything's alright tonight
See the stars, they're shining bright
Everything's alright tonight
See the stars, they're shining bright
Everything's alright tonight
The song "Never Let Me Down Again" by Depeche Mode speaks about a journey the singer takes with his best friend, hoping that he will never let him down again. It is unclear what kind of journey they are taking, but the lyrics suggest that they are riding something, and the experience is exhilarating. The singer feels safe with his friend and trusts him completely. He hopes that he will never lose this trust and that his friend will always be dependable. The lyrics suggest that the journey is both physical and emotional, as the singer never wants to come down from the high he is experiencing.
The lyrics also speak about the importance of trust and the power dynamic between friends. The friend promises to keep the singer safe as long as he remembers who is in control. This line suggests that there may be a power imbalance between the two friends, but that the singer is willing to trust his friend and follow his lead. The song's chorus repeats the line "never let me down" several times, emphasizing the importance of trust and dependability in a friendship.
Overall, "Never Let Me Down Again" is a song about the importance of trust, friendship, and taking risks. It speaks to the universal desire to have someone we can rely on and trust completely, even when taking on new challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm taking a ride
I'm going on a journey
With my best friend
With someone I trust and care about deeply
I hope he never lets me down again
I'm relying on him to support and not disappoint me
He knows where he's taking me
He has a plan and knows where he's going
Taking me where I want to be
Leading me to my desired destination
We're flying high
We're feeling happy and exhilarated
We're watching the world pass us by
We're observing life go on around us
Never want to come down
We don't want to lose the feeling
Never want to put my feet back down on the ground
We don't want to return to normalcy
Promises me I'm as safe as houses
He guarantees my wellbeing and security
As long as I remember who's wearing the trousers
As long as I acknowledge his authority and leadership
Never let me down
Reminding him to never disappoint me
See the stars, they're shining bright
Observing the joy and beauty around us
Everything's alright tonight
All seems well and good in this moment
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Martin Lee Gore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marija Čepulytė
Love it. Love it love it love it. It's like a completely new song, of a different style. Don't compare it to the original... it's been remixed for a reason :)
Tracey Rodell
This song needs a dark room, heavy bass speakers, a big color changing globe and LOTS of glowsticks. I can't wait to have this remix collection if this is a sample of the work on it.
sugarpiemeowmix
Whenever I come out of a depression, I fall in love with Depeche Mode all over. This remix is the shit!
Oddness/Weirdness
I think people are forgetting that DM has been putting out remix albums since the early '90s at least. They've always had dance versions and they've always been awesome.
Алексей Додончиков
Just can't get enough of this.. amazing tune!
Jamescc75
Such a stunning remix! AMAZING original and Prydz adds to it!
-Pucca-Sky-Adventures-
i love jamming to this in car with bass all the way up!
El Korah Lozano
Prydz should remix another DM classic! This one...too dope!
Marcelinho Dias
muito show adorei demais !!!! Parabéns !!! thanks
snoopycedar
This is great. You can listen over and over and you feel like you still want more.