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)
Question of Time
Depeche Mode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before they do
It's just a question of time
Before they lay their hands on you
And make you just like the rest
I've got to get to you first
It's just a question of time
And you look good
I'll take you under my wing
Somebody should
They've persuasive ways
And you'll believe what they say
It's just a question of time
And it's running out for you
It won't be long until you'll do
Exactly what they want you to
I can see them now
Hanging around
To mess you up
To strip you down
And have their fun
With my little one
It's just a question of time
And it's running out for you
It won't be long until you'll do
Exactly what they want you to
It won't be long until you'll do
Exactly what they want you to
Sometimes I don't blame them
For wanting you
You look good
They need something to do
Until I look at you
And then I condemn them
I know my kind
What goes on in our minds
It's just a question of time
It's just a question of time
It's just a question of time (it should be better)
It's just a question of time (it should be better with you)
It's just a question of time (it should be better)
It's just a question of time (it should be better with you)
It's just a question of time (it should be better)
It's just a question of time (it should be better with you)
It's just a question of time
In Depeche Mode's song A Question of Time, the singer is expressing a sense of urgency to reach someone before it's too late. The lyrics paint a picture of a young girl who is vulnerable to the persuasive ways of others. The singer wants to protect her from being taken advantage of and losing her innocence. The song suggests that there is a time limit for the singer's ability to help her and that he must act quickly before it's too late.
The chorus repeats the line "it's just a question of time" which emphasizes the theme of urgency and the fleeting nature of time. The singer is aware of the dangers that lurk around the young girl and he can see them "hanging around" waiting to "mess her up" and "strip her down." He describes them as being "persuasive" and capable of making her "believe what they say." It's clear that the young girl is in a vulnerable position and the singer wants to intervene before it's too late.
As the song progresses, the singer seems to wrestle with his own thoughts and desires. He acknowledges that he too is susceptible to temptation and that he is no better than the people he is trying to protect her from. He admits that sometimes he doesn't blame them for wanting her because she looks good, but ultimately, he condemns them and his own desires.
Overall, A Question of Time is a powerful song that touches on themes of vulnerability, temptation, and the fleeting nature of time. It's a commentary on the dangers that lurk in the shadows and the importance of acting quickly when it comes to protecting those who are vulnerable.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got to get to you first
The singer is determined to reach the subject of the song before someone else does.
Before they do
The singer is afraid of what will happen if someone else reaches the subject of the song first.
It's just a question of time
The singer knows that time is running out and he needs to act fast.
Before they lay their hands on you
The singer fears that the subject of the song will be taken advantage of by others.
And make you just like the rest
The singer is afraid that the subject of the song will lose her uniqueness and individuality.
Well, now you're only fifteen
The subject of the song is very young and vulnerable.
And you look good
The singer realizes that the subject of the song is attractive and therefore at risk.
I'll take you under my wing
The singer wants to protect the subject of the song from harm.
Somebody should
The singer believes that it is his responsibility to protect the subject of the song.
They've persuasive ways
The people who are a danger to the subject of the song are very convincing.
And you'll believe what they say
The singer is afraid that the subject of the song will be easily manipulated.
And it's running out for you
The singer is reminding the subject of the song that time is running out and she needs to be careful.
It won't be long until you'll do
The singer is afraid that the subject of the song will eventually succumb to the pressure of others.
Exactly what they want you to
The singer is afraid that the subject of the song will lose her identity and become someone else's puppet.
I can see them now
The singer is imagining the people who pose a threat to the subject of the song.
Hanging around
These dangerous people are waiting for the opportunity to take advantage of the subject of the song.
To mess you up
These people want to cause harm to the subject of the song.
To strip you down
These people want to take away the subject of the song's dignity and self-respect.
And have their fun
These people are looking to gain pleasure at the expense of the subject of the song.
With my little one
The subject of the song is someone the singer cares about deeply.
Sometimes I don't blame them
The singer sometimes understands why the dangerous people are attracted to the subject of the song.
For wanting you
The subject of the song is someone who is desirable.
They need something to do
The dangerous people are looking for something to occupy their time.
Until I look at you
The singer realizes that the only one who should be with the subject of the song is himself.
And then I condemn them
The singer judges the people who pose a threat to the subject of the song.
I know my kind
The singer understands the danger of the world and the people in it.
What goes on in our minds
The singer is reflecting on the motivations of people and the darkness that can lurk within them.
It should be better
The singer wishes that the world was a safer, kinder place.
It should be better with you
The singer believes that the subject of the song brings goodness and light to the world.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Martin Gore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@acousticmusic4777
30 years later, the 80's still sound like the future
@mohanapandianraju1120
Golden words shall not be repeated, thank you!
@bsbgsn3677
40 yrs
@djjoselopez9035
@@mohanapandianraju1120ir🏃 🥶😘😂😅😅😊
@unapprovedtruth7116
The 80's were the future. This is just the aftermath of the internet.
@terrydunlop4461
You must be joking 😮😮😮
@megded1
This is basically a hard rock/heavy metal song played on synths, and I’m loving it.
@mangalover0149
No wonder it works so well as a symphonic metal song. xd
@christophecapello8154
https://youtu.be/8hzUuYQiaXE
@christophecapello8154
@@mangalover0149 https://youtu.be/8hzUuYQiaXE