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)
The Meaning of Love
Depeche Mode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seen love mentioned many thousand times
But despite all the places I've looked
It's still no clearer, it's just not enough
I'm still no nearer, the meaning of love
The meaning of love
The meaning of love
Noted down all my observations
Spent an evening watching television
Still, I couldn't say with precision
Know it's a feeling and it comes from above
But what's the meaning, the meaning of love?
The meaning of love (tell me)
The meaning of love
From the notes that I've made so far
Love seems something like wanting a scar
Well, I could be wrong
I'm just not sure, you see
I've never been in love before
(Never been in love before, never been in love before)
Next, I asked several friends of mine
If they could spare a few minutes of their time
Their looks suggested that I'd lost my mind
Tell me the answer, my lord high above
Tell me the meaning, the meaning of love
The meaning of love (tell me)
The meaning of love (tell me)
The meaning of love (tell me)
The meaning of love
From the notes that I've made so far
Love seems something like wanting a scar
Well, I could be wrong
I'm just not sure, you see
I've never been in love before
(Never been in love before, never been in love before)
The meaning of love (tell me)
The meaning of love (tell me)
The meaning of love (tell me)
The meaning of love (tell me)
The meaning of love (tell me)
The meaning of love (tell me)
The meaning of love (tell me)
The meaning of love (tell me)
The Meaning of Love by Depeche Mode is a song that explores the concept of love and its meaning. The lyrics speak of the confusion and inability to fully understand love, despite reading countless books and observing it in various forms. The singer laments that despite all of their attempts to grasp the concept of love, they are still no closer to understanding its true meaning. The chorus repeats the title of the song, questioning and seeking the answer to the meaning of love. The singer notes that love seems like a desire for an emotional scar and acknowledges their uncertainty since they have never experienced love themselves.
The song speaks to the universal struggle to comprehend such an intangible concept as love. The lyrics suggest that love is more than just a feeling, but rather something that comes from a higher power. The line "It's still no clearer, it's just not enough, I'm still no nearer, the meaning of love" portrays a sense of frustration and uncertainty, that even though the singer has tried to understand love, they still feel no closer to comprehending it. The use of repetition in the chorus emphasizes the obsession with finding the meaning of love.
In summary, The Meaning of Love is a contemplative song that delves into the complexities of love and the difficulty in fully comprehending it, despite all efforts to do so. Through its introspective lyrics, it captures the universal struggle to understand the enigmatic concept of love.
Line by Line Meaning
I've read more than a hundred books
I've searched extensively through various forms of literature to find the definition of love.
Seen love mentioned many thousand times
Love is a commonly used word, but its true definition remains elusive.
But despite all the places I've looked
Despite my efforts, I have not found a clear definition for love.
It's still no clearer, it's just not enough
I have not gained a better understanding of love, and my current knowledge feels insufficient.
I'm still no nearer, the meaning of love
Despite my attempts to understand love, I remain just as far from comprehending its true meaning.
Noted down all my observations
I have taken careful note of my personal observations and experiences with love.
Spent an evening watching television
I have even attempted to find answers about love from popular media.
Still, I couldn't say with precision
Despite all of my efforts, I cannot pinpoint a concise definition of love.
Know it's a feeling and it comes from above
I understand that love is an emotion that seems to come from a higher power.
But what's the meaning, the meaning of love?
What exactly does love mean and entail?
From the notes that I've made so far
Reflecting on my observations and musings about love thus far,
Love seems something like wanting a scar
Love appears to be the desire to experience pain, like willingly asking to be hurt.
Well, I could be wrong
Of course, my assumptions about love may be incorrect.
I'm just not sure, you see
I lack certainty when it comes to understanding love.
I've never been in love before
I have yet to experience romantic love firsthand.
Next, I asked several friends of mine
I consulted some close companions in hopes of finding a more accurate definition of love.
If they could spare a few minutes of their time
I requested that they take some time to share their thoughts and ideas with me.
Their looks suggested that I'd lost my mind
Their expressions hinted at their disbelief and confusion at my inquiry.
Tell me the answer, my lord high above
I implore a higher power or authority to reveal the true meaning of love to me.
The meaning of love (tell me)
My persistent questions and search for answers about love continue.
The meaning of love
Despite my ongoing efforts and inquiries, the true meaning of love remains elusive.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Martin Gore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lennox T. Anderson
@stanislav 182000 it’s my 4th favorite DM album
14. Exciter (2001)
13. Delta Machine (2013)
12. Sounds of the Universe (2009)
11. Playing The Angel (2005)
10. Speak and Spell (1981)
9. Ultra (1997)
8. Spirit (2017)
7. Construction Time Again (1983)
6. Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993)
5. Some Great Reward (1984)
4. A Broken Frame (1982)
3. Black Celebration (1986)
2. Violator (1990)
1. Music for the Masses (1987)
Manuel Carballo
@Lennox T. Anderson My List:
14- Delta Machine
13- Spirit
12- Sounds of the Universe
11- Exciter
10- Songs of Faith and Devotion
9- Playing the Ángel
8- Speak and Spell
7- A Broken Frame
6- Construction Time Again
5- Ultra
4- Music For The Masses
3- Some Great Reward
2- Violator
1- Black Celebration
Atheist Leopard
**THE MEANING OF LOVE-lyrics**
I've read more than a hundred books
Seen love mentioned many thousand times
But despite all the places I've looked
It's still no clearer, it's just not enough
I'm still no nearer the meaning of love
The meaning of love
The meaning of love
Noted down all my observations
Spent an evening watching television
Still I couldn't say with precision
Know it's a feeling and it comes from above
But what's the meaning, the meaning of love?
The meaning of love
Tell me the meaning of love
From the notes that I've made so far
Love seems something like wanting a scar
Well, I could be wrong, I'm just not sure you see
I've never been in love before, never been in love before
Never been in love before
Next I asked several friends of mine
If they could spare a few minutes of their time
Their look suggested that I'd lost my mind
Tell me the answer, my Lord high above
Tell me the meaning, the meaning of love
The meaning of love
Tell me the meaning of love
Tell me the meaning of love
Tell me the meaning of love
From the notes that I've made so far
Love seems something like wanting a scar
Well, I could be wrong, I'm just not sure you see
I've never been in love before, never been in love before
Never been in love before
The meaning of love
Tell me the meaning of love
Tell me the meaning of love
Tell me the meaning of love
Tell me the meaning of love
Tell me the meaning of love
Tell me the meaning of love
Tell me the meaning of love
Tell me
D A C
I've read more than a hundred books
Seen love mentioned many thousand times
But despite all the places I've looked
It's still no clearer, it's just not enough
I'm still no nearer the meaning of love
Noted down all my observations
Spent an evening watching television
Still I couldn't say with precision
Know it's a feeling, and it comes from above
But what's the meaning, the meaning of love?
Tell me (the meaning of love)
From the notes that I've made so far
Love seems something like wanting a scar
Well, I could be wrong, I'm just not sure, you see
I've never been in love before
(Never been in love before)
(Never been in love before)
Next I asked several friends of mine
If they could spare a few minutes of their time
Their look suggested that I'd lost my mind
Tell me the answer, my Lord, high above
Tell me the meaning, the meaning of love
Tell me (the meaning of love)
Tell me (the meaning of love)
Tell me (the meaning of love)
From the notes that I've made so far
Love seems something like wanting a scar
Well, I could be wrong, I'm just not sure, you see
I've never been in love before
(Never been in love before)
(Never been in love before)
Tell me (the meaning of love)
Tell me (the meaning of love)
Tell me (the meaning of love)
Tell me (the meaning of love)
Tell me (the meaning of love)
Tell me (the meaning of love)
Tell me (the meaning of love)
Tell me.
Roseanne Ramona
From the notes that I've made so far
Love seems something like wanting a scar
But i could be wrong
I'm just not sure you see
I've never been in love before
Never been in love before
Never been in love before
The meaning of love
Tell me
The meaning of love
Tell me...
MissKitty
Gotta love this era of Depeche Mode when they had "goofy and happy" sounding songs and then switch up to something dark. But I love both styles
JeterSwisherFan88
Yeah; same.
WINTERLAND
Same time they had goofy happy sound they were doing Nothing to Fear, My Secret Garden or The Sun and the Rainfall. They had mixed tunes from this transition Post Clarke era. Amazing.
A. N. T. Alex
Black celebration was definitely a turning point in their music
303maschine
Especially when Vince Clarke was present. "Just can't get enough", "New life". "The Meaning of Love" is something what Vince Clarke would made, but he already departed from Depeche Mode at that time.
ソトヤママリアテレサ
i prefer Depressed Mode. ☮️🎶 considering the
loss of Andrew Fletcher RIP i don't blame Depeche Mode. stay Depressed Mode. ☮️🎶-j from my wife's YouTube.
SparkJoy
This video just shows just how many different periods and phases this band has gone through. Further proof of their legendary and iconic status.
Rossana Bachiorri
👍👍
Calico_Shard
from this to "Who's making your decisions? You or your religion? Your government, your countries? You patriotic junkies"
christdragon
Amen!