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 Things You Said
Depeche Mode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I heard it from my friends about the things you said
But they know me better than that
They know me better than that
They know my weaknesses (I never tried to hide them)
They know my weaknesses (I never denied them)
I heard it from my friends about the things you said
I heard it from my friends about the things you said
How can a view become so twisted?
How can a view become so twisted?
They know my weaknesses (I never tried to hide them)
They know my weaknesses (you tried them)
I get so carried away
You brought me down to earth
I thought we had something precious
Now I know what it's worth
I heard it from my friends about the things you said
I heard it from my friends about the things you said
I've never felt so disappointed
Never felt so disappointed
They know my weaknesses (I never tried to hide them)
They know my weaknesses (thought that you liked them)
They know me better than that
The lyrics to Depeche Mode's song The Things You Said explore themes of betrayal and disappointment in a relationship. The singer hears from their friends about things their partner said behind their back and expresses confusion and sadness about the situation. They acknowledge that their friends know them well and are aware of their flaws, but are still hurt by the partner's actions. The second verse questions how someone's perception of a situation can become so twisted, perhaps suggesting that the partner's words may not have been entirely truthful.
The chorus expresses the singer's feelings of being brought down to earth and their disappointment in the situation. They had believed they had something precious with the partner, but now see that it was not as valuable as they thought. The repetition of the line "They know me better than that" emphasizes the trust and closeness the singer shares with their friends, and highlights the partner's betrayal in going against that trust.
Overall, the lyrics reflect the pain and confusion that can come with discovering that a partner has been dishonest or disloyal. The singer's vulnerability in admitting their weaknesses and disappointment adds depth to the song and makes it relatable to listeners who have experienced similar situations.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard it from my friends about the things you said
I received word from my acquaintances about what you had spoken
But they know me better than that
Those acquaintances possess a deeper level of understanding of who I am
They know my weaknesses (I never tried to hide them)
My flaws are known to them, and I didn't attempt to conceal them
They know my weaknesses (you tried them)
You deliberately exploited my shortcomings
How can a view become so twisted?
How is it possible for an outlook to become so distorted?
I get so carried away
I tend to become overly enthusiastic
You brought me down to earth
You sobered me up and caused me to see things in a realistic manner
I thought we had something precious
I believed that what we had was valuable and rare
Now I know what it's worth
I now comprehend its true value
Never felt so disappointed
I have never experienced such a profound sense of letdown
They know me better than that
My acquaintances have a more profound understanding of my nature
They know my weaknesses (thought that you liked them)
You seemed to find my flaws appealing, or so I believed
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Martin Lee Gore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Artstrada Magazine
I heard it from my friends
About the things you said
I heard it from my friends
About the things you said
But they know me better than that
They know me better than that
They know my weaknesses
I never tried to hide them
They know my weaknesses
I never denied them
I heard it from my friends
About the things you said
I heard it from my friends
About the things you said
How can a view become so twisted
How can a view become so twisted
They know my weaknesses
I never tried to hide them
They know my weaknesses
You tried them
I get so carried away
You brought me down to earth
I thought we had something precious
Now I know what it's worth
I heard it from my friends
About the things you said
I heard it from my friends
About the things you said
I've never felt so disappointed
Never felt so disappointed
They know my weaknesses
I never tried to hide them
They know my weaknesses
Thought that you liked them
They know me better than that
Gary Naude
One of the best songs ever written !
Bonnie Иван
@Johannes DC q11qqq11q
David Mckay
@Johannes DC Almost is Better!! Everyone to there own opinion but the main synth line is O. M. D.
David Mckay
@Estelle A Almost Perfect Pop By O. M. D.
David Mckay
@Johannes DC I Love The Mode Seen Them Live 5 Times but Almost In My Opinion Is Much Better and Without Realising The Things You Said Is A Very Similar Chord Structure.
Estelle A
@David Mckay p pop
Burak Şahin Atlaer
It is perhaps my favorite song of Depeche Mode, a song that can be listened to for hours without getting bored, a complete piece of art.
Sam Sneed
Truly underrated song, Martin is a genius
David Mckay
Listen to ALMOST BY O. M. D. DONE 7 YEARS BEFORE
CLUELESS JOE
@Łukasz Szczepaniak Poles.