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)
Secret to the End
Depeche Mode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm probably the same way too
I got a feeling that it's coming soon
Could this be the end?
And when I look around this room
It must be something I can do
Can I convince you that it isn't true?
Oh did I disappoint you?
I wanted to believe it's true
Oh the book of love
Was not enough to see us through
The problem should've been you (should've been you)
Should've been you (should've been you)
Should've been you (would've been you, should've been you)
If it hadn't been me (could've been you, could've been you)
Should've been you (should've been you)
Should've been you (would've been you)
Should've been you
If it hadn't been me
It seems so obvious to you
You're feeling what I'm feeling too
The final chapter in the contract expires soon
We've come to the end
Thank God, I'm not the same as you
You always know exactly what to do
Is who I am, is not for you
We've come to the end
Oh did I disappoint you?
I wanted to believe it's true
Oh the book of love
Was not enough to see us through
The problem should've been you (should've been you)
Should've been you (could've been you)
Should've been you (would've been you, should've been you)
If it hadn't been me (would've been you, could've been you)
Should've been you (should've been you)
Should've been you (would've been you, should've been you)
If it hadn't been me (could've been you, should've been you, could've been you)
Would've been you (would've been you)
Should've been you (could've been you, should've been you, could've been you)
If it hadn't been me (would've been you, could've been you, would've been you)
If it hadn't been me (would've been you, would've been you, should've been you)
If it hadn't been me (should've been you, could've been you, should've been you)
If it hadn't been me (could've been you, could've been you, could've been you)
If it hadn't been me
The song "Secret to the End" by Depeche Mode is a reflective piece about a deteriorating relationship. The lyrics indicate that despite the singer's attempts to save the relationship, it is coming to an end. The chorus repeats the phrase "should've been you" which suggests a sense of blame directed at the other party. The singer wants to believe that the relationship can be saved as he sings, "oh did I disappoint you? I wanted to believe it's true."
The song also expresses the frustration that comes with the end of a relationship. The second verse indicates that the two parties in the relationship have different perspectives: "thank God, I'm not the same as you." The lyrics suggest that the singer is tired of the other person always knowing "exactly what to do," and that their incompatible personalities are ultimately what led to the end of the relationship.
Overall, "Secret to the End" is a poignant reflection on the heartbreak and frustration that come with the end of a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
When I look at you
When I examine your behavior
I'm probably the same way too
I may be reflecting similar behavior
I got a feeling that it's coming soon
I sense that something is about to occur
Could this be the end?
Could this signify the conclusion?
And when I look around this room
And when I observe the surroundings
It must be something I can do
I am capable of taking action
Can I convince you that it isn't true?
Can I persuade you that this is false?
We've come to the end
We have reached the conclusion
Oh did I disappoint you?
Oh, have I let you down?
I wanted to believe it's true
I hoped it was factual
Oh the book of love
Oh, the compendium on love
Was not enough to see us through
Was insufficient to maintain our relationship
The problem should've been you (should've been you)
The issue should have been yours
Should've been you (should've been you)
Should have been your responsibility
Should've been you (would've been you, should've been you)
It would have been your responsibility
If it hadn't been me (could've been you, could've been you)
If it wasn't me, it could have been you
Should've been you (should've been you)
Should have been your responsibility
Should've been you (would've been you)
It would have been your responsibility
Should've been you
Should have been your responsibility
It seems so obvious to you
It must be clear to you
You're feeling what I'm feeling too
You are also experiencing the same emotions
The final chapter in the contract expires soon
The last section of the agreement is ending soon
We've come to the end
We have reached the conclusion
Thank God, I'm not the same as you
I am grateful that I am not like you
You always know exactly what to do
You always know the precise action to take
Is who I am, is not for you
My identity is not relevant to you
We've come to the end
We have reached the conclusion
Oh did I disappoint you?
Oh, have I let you down?
I wanted to believe it's true
I hoped it was factual
Oh the book of love
Oh, the compendium on love
Was not enough to see us through
Was insufficient to maintain our relationship
The problem should've been you (should've been you)
The issue should have been yours
Should've been you (could've been you)
Should have been your responsibility
Should've been you (would've been you, should've been you)
It would have been your responsibility
If it hadn't been me (would've been you, could've been you)
If it wasn't me, it could have been you
Should've been you (should've been you)
Should have been your responsibility
Should've been you (would've been you)
It would have been your responsibility
Would've been you (would've been you)
It would have been your responsibility
Should've been you (could've been you, should've been you, could've been you)
Should have been your responsibility
If it hadn't been me (would've been you, could've been you, would've been you)
If it wasn't me, it could have been you
If it hadn't been me (would've been you, would've been you, should've been you)
If it wasn't me, it would have been you or it should have been you
If it hadn't been me (should've been you, could've been you, should've been you)
If it wasn't me, it would have been your responsibility
If it hadn't been me (could've been you, could've been you, could've been you)
If it wasn't me, it could have been you, it could have been you, or it could have been you
If it hadn't been me
If it wasn't me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David Gahan, Kurt Uenala
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind