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)
Precious
Depeche Mode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Need special handling
My God, what have we done to you?
We always try to share
The tenderest of care
Now look what we have put you through
Things get broken
I thought we'd manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give
Angels with silver wings
Shouldn't know suffering
I wish I could take the pain for you
If God has a master plan
That only He understands
I hope it's your eyes He's seeing through
Things get damaged
Things get broken
I thought we'd manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give
I pray you learn to trust
Have faith in both of us
And keep room in your hearts for two
Things get damaged
Things get broken
I thought we'd manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give
The song "Precious" by Depeche Mode is a reflection on the ways in which we all leave our mark on the world, and how that mark can lead to both good and bad outcomes. The opening lines, "Precious and fragile things need special handling, my God what have we done to you?" are a plea for understanding from a narrator who recognizes the value of what he is working with, but also acknowledges that he may not be up to the task of taking care of it properly.
As the song progresses, the singer expresses regret for the "words left unspoken" that have caused him to lose sight of what is truly important. Yet despite the damage that has been done, the singer still hopes for a positive outcome, with lines like "I pray you learn to trust, have faith in both of us, and keep room in your hearts for two."
Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on the fragility of life and the struggles we all face as we try to navigate our way through it. The singer's plea for understanding and forgiveness is one that resonates with listeners of all backgrounds and experiences, making "Precious" a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Precious and fragile things
The things that are important to us and can easily be destroyed.
Need special handling
Require careful and delicate treatment to be preserved.
My God, what have we done to you?
An expression of regret for the damage and harm we have caused.
We always try to share
We attempt to distribute the very best we have to offer.
The tenderest of care
Gentle and caring attention intended to honor and protect.
Now look what we have put you through
The dire consequences that have resulted from our carelessness.
Things get damaged
Items and people can be broken or destroyed.
Things get broken
Matters and people can be shattered or ruined.
I thought we'd manage
I believed we'd be able to handle it.
But words left unspoken
Silent sentiments caused problems for us.
Left us so brittle
Made us emotionally vulnerable and weak.
There was so little left to give
We had little energy or resources to share with others.
Angels with silver wings
Majestic and holy messengers.
Shouldn't know suffering
Should be spared from agony and anguish.
I wish I could take the pain for you
I would do anything to prevent your pain and sorrow.
If God has a master plan
If there is a divine scheme.
That only He understands
That only a higher power perceives and comprehends.
I hope it's your eyes He's seeing through
I hope God will perceive through your perspective.
I pray you learn to trust
I beg you to put your faith and confidence into action.
Have faith in both of us
Believe in us and our efforts.
And keep room in your hearts for two
Continue to hold us close to your hearts.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Martin Lee Gore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind