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)
Sister of Night
Depeche Mode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the hunger descends
And your body's a fire
An inferno that never ends
An eternal flame
That burns in desire's name
Sister of night
Giving voice to the flame
Calling you through flesh that burns
Breaking down your will
To move in for the kill
Oh, sister, come for me
Embrace me, assure me
Hey sister, I feel it too
Sweet sister, just feel me
I'm trembling, you heal me
Hey sister, I feel it too
Sister of night
In your saddest dress
As you walk through the light
You're desperate to impress
So you slide to the floor
Feeling insecure
Sister of night
With the loneliest eyes
Tell yourself it's alright
He'll make such a perfect prize
But the cold light of day
Will give the game away
Oh, sister, come for me
Embrace me, assure me
Hey sister, I feel it too
Sweet sister, just feel me
I'm trembling, you heal me
Hey sister, I feel it too
"Sister of Night" is a song that speaks of lust, desire, and desperation. The lyrics tell the story of a person (it is unclear if it's a man or a woman) who is consumed by intense sexual desire and seeks satisfaction with the help of another person, referred to as "sister of night." The hunger and longing are described as a burning flame that never fades, and the only way to quench it is by surrendering to the physical pleasure that this person's company can provide.
However, throughout the song, there is a sense of sadness and desperation that becomes more evident as the lyrics progress. The person seeking satisfaction appears to be lonely and insecure, using sex as a way to fill a void inside. They seek validation, attention, and acceptance from their partner, with the hope that this will fill the emptiness they feel. The allure of this intimacy fades when exposed to reality, and they realize that it was all temporary, and their vulnerability is all too apparent. There is a sense of regret and melancholy as the song ends, with the suggestion that the "siblings" will soon part ways.
Overall, "Sister of Night" is a powerful portrayal of the desperation that comes with unfulfilled longing and desire. It is a cautionary tale about seeking intimacy as a way of masking deeper emotional pain, with the suggestion that temporary relief will not provide lasting happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Sister of night
The person addressed in the song is being called 'Sister of night'
When the hunger descends
When the feeling of wanting something intense comes over you
And your body's a fire
The feeling burns hot and makes you feverish
An inferno that never ends
The intense feeling lasts for a long time
An eternal flame
The feeling stays with you forever
That burns in desire's name
The feeling is caused by intense desire for something
Sister of night
The person addressed in the song is being called 'Sister of night'
When the longing returns
When the feeling of wanting something intense comes back again
Giving voice to the flame
Expressing the feeling that burns inside
Calling you through flesh that burns
The feeling is so strong that it physically moves you
Breaking down your will
The feeling is so intense that it overpowers your ability to resist
To move in for the kill
To give in to the feeling completely
Oh, sister, come for me
The person is asking the 'Sister of night' to come to them
Embrace me, assure me
The person is asking to be comforted and reassured
Hey sister, I feel it too
The person is saying that they also feel the intense desire
Sweet sister, just feel me
The person is asking to be felt and understood by the 'Sister of night'
I'm trembling, you heal me
The person is asking to be helped and calmed down
Hey sister, I feel it too
The person is saying that they also feel the intense desire
Sister of night
The person addressed in the song is being called 'Sister of night'
In your saddest dress
Wearing something that reflects your inner sadness
As you walk through the light
As you go through life trying to be noticed
You're desperate to impress
You want to be seen as special and important
So you slide to the floor
You feel defeated and helpless
Feeling insecure
Not confident or sure of yourself
Sister of night
The person addressed in the song is being called 'Sister of night'
With the loneliest eyes
Eyes that show deep loneliness
Tell yourself it's alright
Trying to convince yourself that everything is okay
He'll make such a perfect prize
Thinking that someone will be drawn to and want you
But the cold light of day
The harsh reality that comes with daylight
Will give the game away
The truth will be revealed and the illusion will fall apart
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Martin Gore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind