Depeche Mode is an English band founded in 1980, originally from Basildon, … Read Full Bio ↴Depeche Mode is an English band founded in 1980, originally from Basildon, Essex, United Kingdom. They are one of the most enduring and successful bands that emerged during the 80s, particularly from the new wave/new romantic era. The band name is derived from a French fashion magazine, Dépêche mode, which means "fashion dispatch."

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)

Strangelove
Depeche Mode Lyrics

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Strangelove
Strange highs and strange lows
Strangelove
That's how my love goes
Strangelove
Will you give it to me?

Will you take the pain

I will give to you?
Again and again
And will you return it?

There'll be times
When my crimes
Will seem almost unforgivable
I give in to sin
Because you have to make this life livable

But when you think I've had enough
From your sea of love
I'll take more than another river full
Yes, and I'll make it all worthwhile
I'll make your heart smile

Strangelove
Strange highs and strange lows
Strangelove
That's how my love goes
Strangelove
Will you give it to me?

Will you take the pain
I will give to you?
Again and again
And will you return it?

There'll be days
When I stray
I may appear to be constantly out of reach
I give in to sin
Because I like to practice what I preach

I'm not trying to say
I'll have it all my way
I'm always willing to learn
When you've got something to teach
Oh and I'll make it all worthwhile
I'll make your heart smile

Pain, will you return it?
I'll say it again, pain
Pain, will you return it?
I'll say it again, pain

Pain, will you return it?
I'll say it again, pain
Pain, will you return it?
(I won't say it again)

Strangelove
Strange highs and strange lows
Strangelove
That's how my love goes
Strangelove
Will you give it to me?

Strangelove
Strange highs and strange lows
Strangelove
That's how my love goes
Strangelove
Will you give it to me?

Strangelove
Strange highs and strange lows
Strangelove
That's how my love goes
Strangelove
Will you give it to me?

Strangelove
Strange highs and strange lows
Strangelove
That's how my love goes

Strangelove
Will you give it to me?

Overall Meaning

"Strangelove," recorded by Depeche Mode, is a self-descriptive song that touches upon the strange highs and lows of love. It delves into the concept of taking both pleasure and pain from a relationship and the willingness to reciprocate that with one’s partner. It is about accepting imperfections and admiring the person as a whole.

The song implies that the singer is ready to do whatever it takes to make the relationship work, even if it means committing crimes that seem almost unforgivable. The singer finds comfort in sin because it makes life possible to bear. However, they are also willing to learn from their partner and practice what they preach. The chorus is a series of whispers of the word "Strangelove," which seems like an invitation to indulge in love, no matter how strange it gets.

Overall, "Strangelove" speaks of the darkness and complexity that comes with love, the desire to take and give, and the acceptance of all the weird bits that come with it.

Line by Line Meaning

Strangelove
The song title, repeated throughout the song

Strange highs and strange lows
My love is unpredictable and has many ups and downs

Will you give it to me?
Are you willing to accept my love as it is, with its highs and lows?

Will you take the pain I will give to you?
Are you strong enough to handle the pain that comes with my love?

Again and again And will you return it?
Will you continue to take my love and the pain that comes with it, and give me your love in return?

There'll be times When my crimes Will seem almost unforgivable
I will make mistakes that may seem unforgivable, but I hope you can forgive me

I give in to sin Because you have to make this life livable
I may make bad choices, but I do so to cope with the difficulties of life

But when you think I've had enough From your sea of love I'll take more than another river full Yes, and I'll make it all worthwhile I'll make your heart smile
When you think I can't take any more of your love, I will continue to accept it and make it worth your while, and bring joy to your heart

There'll be days When I stray I may appear to be constantly out of reach
I may have moments of weakness and be distant, but I still love you

I give in to sin Because I like to practice what I preach
I may preach one thing but do another, but I do so intentionally as part of my lifestyle

I'm not trying to say I'll have it all my way I'm always willing to learn When you've got something to teach Oh and I'll make it all worthwhile I'll make your heart smile
I am open to learning and growing with you, and I will make sure that my love is worth it and makes you happy

Pain, will you return it? I'll say it again, pain
Will you give me the same pain that I give you in our relationship?

(I won't say it again)
I won't repeat this line again

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Martin Gore

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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