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)
Something To Do
Depeche Mode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come with me
And tell me
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
I'm going crazy with boredom
Come with me
And tell me
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
Grey sky over a black town
I can feel depression all around
You've got your leather boots on
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
I can't stand another drink
It's surprising this town doesn't sink
You've got your leather boots on
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
Your pretty dress is oil stained
From working too hard for too little
You've got your leather boots on
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
You're feeling the boredom too
I'd gladly go with you
I'd put your leather boots on
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
I'd put your pretty dress on
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
Is there something to do?
(Is there something to do?)
(Is there something to do?)
(Is there something to do?)
(Is there something to do?)
The lyrics of "Something to Do" by Depeche Mode convey the restless and bored state of the singer, who is looking for something to occupy his time. The song begins with an invitation to a "little girl" to come with him and ask if there's something to do. The tone of the song is somewhat melancholic, possibly echoing the mood of the environment and the singer's state of mind. The reference to "black town" and "depression all around" portray a sense of hopelessness and sadness. The leather boots and oil-stained dress suggest a contrast between the desire for something new and the repetitive nature of life.
As the song progresses, the singer asks repeatedly if there's something to do, seemingly desperate for an answer. The repetition of the phrase reinforces the sense of boredom and frustration experienced by the singer. The line "It's surprising this town doesn't sink" indicates that the singer feels trapped and desperate for a change of scenery. The final line, "I'd put your pretty dress on," could be seen as a metaphorical representation of the singer's wishes to experience something new and different.
Overall, "Something to Do" by Depeche Mode conveys a sense of restlessness and longing for change. The repetition of the phrase "Is there something to do?" reinforces the sense of boredom and frustration experienced by the singer, who is looking for something to break the monotony of his life.
Line by Line Meaning
My little girl, won't you come with me?
The singer is inviting someone close to him/her to come with them and do something else.
Come with me
The singer is asking the person to accompany them in their search for something to do.
And tell me
Is there something to do?
The singer is asking the person to suggest something exciting for them to do together since they are bored.
I'm going crazy with boredom
The singer is expressing their frustration and annoyance with their current state of boredom.
Grey sky over a black town
I can feel depression all around
The singer is describing the environment they are in as depressing, and the lack of things to do is contributing to their feelings of depression.
You've got your leather boots on
The singer comments on the person's outfit, possibly noting that it is not fitting for the current mood.
I can't stand another drink
It's surprising this town doesn't sink
You've got your leather boots on
The singer is fed up with drinking and partying and comments on the state of the town, which seems to be stagnant. They again mention the person's outfit, possibly indicating their desire to change the mood by dressing differently.
Your pretty dress is oil stained
From working too hard for too little
You've got your leather boots on
The singer notes that the person's dress is oily and worn from hard work. Again, they mention the leather boots, possibly indicating that the outfit is not matching the current situation.
You're feeling the boredom too
I'd gladly go with you
I'd put your leather boots on
I'd put your pretty dress on
The singer acknowledges that the person is feeling bored as well and offers to go out with them. They also mention that they would be willing to switch outfits, perhaps indicating that they want to try something new and different from their current monotony.
(Is there something to do?)
(Is there something to do?)
(Is there something to do?)
(Is there something to do?)
The singer repeats the same refrain, emphasizing their desire to find something to do and break their current boredom.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Martin Gore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BaronAnselme69
My little girl
Won't you come with me
Come with me
Tell me
Is there something to do (x4)
I'm going crazy with boredom
Come with me
Tell me
Is there something to do (x4)
Grey sky over a black town
I can feel depression
All around
You've got your leather boots on
Is there something to do (x4)
I can't stand another drink
It's surprising this town
Doesn't sink
You've got your leather boots on
Is there something to do (x4)
Your pretty dress is oil stained
From working too hard
For too little
You've got your leather boots on
Is there something to do (x4)
You're feeling the boredom too
I'd gladly go with you
I'd put your leather boots on
Is there something to do (x4)
I'd put your pretty dress on
Is there something to do (x4)
@bassdrummer9849
This is the point where DP became more abstract, sinister and darker.
What a genius band evolution of you ask me.
@CGWS2011
It's DM, not Deep Purple. Construction time again was already "more abstract, sinister and darker"... 😉
@cv507
one öff my möst shöcking büeyß´ ? alöng with shäpes v v ?
Push ön ^ ^?
@VIRGOLEGACY
I would say broken frame is where the darkness started lol
@thomaslaube8260
Love in Itself was dark already
@badkitty4922
Blasphemous Rumours was pretty dark and sad.
@user-zo7xz2om3s
Alan wilder at his best
@thomaslaube8260
Depeche Mode at its best
@jacquesievers7416
Probably their best song, and they've got many!!!
@leonboden7974
I remember buying the vinyl back in the day .putting it on the turntable and this was first track on album .... I was a teenager and it blew me away