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)
Puppets
Depeche Mode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You think you're in control, but you don't know me, babe
I can move you, I can soothe you
I can take you places in a different way
And I don't think you understand what I'm trying to say
I'll be your operator baby, I'm in control
Watch your action, close reaction
Conversation, my creation
Nothing that you do you do unless I said
And you don't know the consequences of the things you say
I'll be your operator, baby, I'm in control
All the things you tried to do, babe
And all the words we said before
Are only part of what I started, baby
And you can't stop me anymore
Get that feeling, head is reeling
You think you're in control, but you don't know me, babe
I can move you, I can soothe you
I can take you places in a different way
And I don't think you understand what I'm trying to say
I'll be your operator, baby, I'm in control
In "Puppets" by Depeche Mode, the lyrics convey a sense of power and control. The song is seductive in nature, with the singer suggesting that they can manipulate and direct their subject's thoughts, actions, and desires. Through their ability to influence, they can take their subject "places in a different way" and create a world that is entirely of their own design.
The song is a commentary on power dynamics in relationships, particularly those that are one-sided or abusive. The lyrics suggest that the singer has the upper hand and that their subject is unaware of the extent of their control. While the subject may think that they are in control of the situation, they are merely puppets, acting only on the singer's commands.
The chorus, "I'll be your operator, baby, I'm in control" emphasizes the singer's power and control, while also exposing the underlying darkness and manipulative intentions that drive their actions. The song serves as a warning about the dangers of giving away one's power and allowing someone else to control their thoughts, actions, and desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Get that feeling, head is reeling
You're experiencing an overwhelming sensation that could be disorienting.
You think you're in control, but you don't know me, babe
You believe you have influence, yet you're unaware of my authority.
I can move you, I can soothe you
I have power to impact and calm you.
I can take you places in a different way
I can lead you astray from your usual path.
And I don't think you understand what I'm trying to say
I don't believe you comprehend my message.
I'll be your operator baby, I'm in control
I'll be the one to guide you as I have control.
Watch your action, close reaction
Be alert and cautious of the actions you take.
And everything you're thinking, babe, inside your head
I'm aware of all the thoughts going on in your mind.
Conversation, my creation
The dialogue we have is designed and controlled by me.
Nothing that you do you do unless I said
You don't act unless I tell you to do so.
And you don't know the consequences of the things you say
You're unaware of the outcomes of your words.
All the things you tried to do, babe
All of the things you attempted in the past.
And all the words we said before
The conversations we had previously.
Are only part of what I started, baby
They are only a component of what I initiated.
And you can't stop me anymore
You no longer have the ability to impede my actions.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Vince Clarke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@HelenaSurrender
Get that feeling
Head is reeling
You think you're in control
But you don't know me babe
I can move you
I can soothe you
I can take you places in a different way
I don't think you understand
What I'm trying to say
I'll be your operator baby
I'm in control
Watch your action
Close reaction
And everything you're thinking babe inside your head
Conversation, my creation
Nothing that you do
You do unless I said
You don't know the consequences
Of the things you say
I'll be your operator baby
I'm in control
All the things you tried to do babe
And all the words we said before
Are only part of what I started baby
And you can't stop me anymore
@iasciateognisperanza3267
The original didnt have song number two listed here
Puppets was the second song
Thinking of Me was the third
the rest is ok.
It is way better all together musically and sequentially.
This album was very mainstream but gay-ish in 1981. a few Couple of boys would get together and sing it in the school., hallways, swimming pool ha ha
Sooo gay but so much fun.
@avbsmith8492
This IS Depeche Mode, with Vince.
Puppets, New Life, Ice Machine, No Disco and Photographic. My heroes back then as a young teenager. Respect to every single Depeche fan of any era!
Boss Dr-110 drums.
As an old school proper Depeche my favourite years are between -81 -84 + shake the d + stripped. After the -86 black c album and European tour Depeche became to dark.
Vince seem to be a mathematic and musical genious. How he did his Dr 110 programming is fantastic.
Please, enjoy the summer everyone
@verapamil07
Totally agree! I don't like their rock influences. DM contributed immensely to electro pop and generally electro music.
@BaddaBigBoom
@Avalokitesavara boddhisatva-mahasattva 7 Tashi Delek. I Agree.
@beethoven6143
P
@stevenrevins
for me they had changed by Some Great Reward
@eduardoleiva8922
Si ice Machíne ls cagó
@magorzatazapert9955
Very nice to hear their beginnings. My favourite from this debut...
@FrankieTeardrop1998
This and Photographic 👌
@joseitsme
Indeed, it has a bit of darkness to it.
@svenjachmann-fernsehredakt2857
Best track of that album. With No Disco and Photographic