The single remix, by Alan Moulder, changes the intro and has an updated beat (similar to the changes done to the 7" versions of "Walking in My Shoes" and "Condemnation"), and adds some extra synth during the chorus. It also contains more grainy vocals. On the US double A-side single, the single remix is replaced by the CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Edit.
There are no actual B-sides for "Useless", except for remixes and live versions of the song. Some versions of the CD single feature the videos for "Barrel of a Gun" and "It's No Good".
The 1997 music video for "Useless" was the last Depeche Mode video to be directed by Anton Corbijn for more than eight years. Though he remained working for Depeche Mode on all their album/single covers, press images and tour projections/designs, the record label decided to experiment with new directors for music videos. Corbijn's next video project with Depeche Mode was for "Suffer Well".
Depeche Mode licensed the Kruder & Dorfmeister remix of "Useless" to Victoria's Secret, for use in their "Natural Miracle Bra" ad campaign. It aired on US television for a few weeks.
Useless
Depeche Mode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's beginning to hurt
Time you made up your mind
Just what is it all worth?
All my useless advice
All my hanging around
All your cutting down to size
Watch the clock on the wall
Feel the slowing of time
Hear a voice in the hall
Echoing in my mind
All your stupid ideals
You've got your head in the clouds
You should see how it feels
With your feet on the ground
Here I stand the accused
With your fist in my face
Feeling tired and bruised
With the bitterest taste
All my useless advice
All my hanging around
All your cutting down to size
All my bringing you down
All your stupid ideals
You've got your head in the clouds
You should see how it feels
With your feet on the ground
The song Useless by Depeche Mode is a soulful expression of frustration and despair of a person who has been offering advice to someone in their life. The lyrics are dejected and painful, with a sense of helplessness about the situation. The person has reached a point of exhaustion, where they feel that their advice is useless and their efforts have been in vain. The song seems to be directed towards someone who has unrealistic expectations and ideals, and is not willing to see things from a practical standpoint.
The lyrics convey a sense of anger towards the person, who is not willing to listen to reason and has their head in the clouds. The singer feels like a victim of abuse, with their fists in their face, feeling tired and bruised. They have been bringing the person down, cutting them down to size, with pointless advice and constant hanging around. The clock on the wall seems to be mocking them, with time slowing down and a voice in the hall echoing in their mind.
In conclusion, the song Useless by Depeche Mode is a poignant commentary on human relationships, and the struggles and emotions that come with them. It is a reflection of how the burden of trying to help someone who is stuck in their ways can be overwhelming, and how it can lead to feelings of exhaustion and futility.
Line by Line Meaning
Well it's about time
It's long overdue for the situation to change
It's beginning to hurt
The situation is becoming painful and unbearable
Time you made up your mind
You need to decide and take action
Just what is it all worth?
What is the value of it all? Is it worth the pain and effort?
All my useless advice
The advice I give is pointless and ineffective
All my hanging around
I am constantly present but not contributing anything meaningful
All your cutting down to size
You are belittling me and not valuing my contribution
All my bringing you down
My actions are causing you to feel discouraged and demotivated
Watch the clock on the wall
Notice the passage of time and the feeling of being stuck
Feel the slowing of time
Time seems to be passing slower than usual
Hear a voice in the hall
Hear a voice that echoes within your head
Echoing in my mind
The voice echoes and repeats in my thoughts
All your stupid ideals
Your unrealistic and impractical ideas
You've got your head in the clouds
You are being unrealistic and not facing reality
You should see how it feels
You need to understand the reality of the situation
With your feet on the ground
You need to be realistic and practical
Here I stand the accused
I am being blamed and held responsible for something
With your fist in my face
You are confronting me aggressively and violently
Feeling tired and bruised
Feeling exhausted and emotionally injured
With the bitterest taste
With a lingering sense of resentment and bitterness
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Anthem Entertainment
Written by: Martin Gore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@FrostedSeagull
@@depecheddurandU agree with you.
Whilst released in 1996, mist of Ultra was written and some recorded in '94.
Yeah. . . unfortunately Dave Gahan cleaned up by 1996 and so did their talent.
People think Ultra was DM's post heroin & alcohol album.
It wasn't.
EVIDENCE of This -
A late '94 clip surfaced a few years back of a hammered Dave Gahan hanging out of his hotel room.
Gahan's talking to a reporter in the last days of the SOFAD Tour and you can clearly hear Home and parts of Useless on Dave's hotel room stereo.
A drugged out Dave actually says,
'hey what do you think of these songs. . . they will be on our next .... '
Dave is then violently pulled in by someone & the hotel door slams shut.
ULTRA - Most of the songs are about Gahan's ugly druggie rock star lifestyle cliche.
Martin Gore was also heavily drinking and doing cocaine & ecstasy.
@NM34000
Well it's about time
It's beginning to hurt
Time you made up your mind
Just what is it all worth?
All my useless advice
All my hanging around
All your cutting down to size
All my bringing you down
Watch the clock on the wall
Feel the slowing of time
Hear a voice in the hall
Echoing in my mind
All your stupid ideals
You've got your head in the clouds
You should see how it feels
With your feet on the ground
Here I stand the accused
With your fist in my face
Feeling tired and bruised
With the bitterest taste
All my useless advice
All my hanging around
All your cutting down to size
All my bringing you down
All your stupid ideals
You've got your head in the clouds
You should see how it feels
With your feet on the ground
@sarzbeth
2024 and still in love with this song
@user-ih2gm3zc5c
Timeless, bro...
@AlbelKoRnZapi
All of us!!💟
@adrrjr
2666 and still loving dm
@yasemincankaterturk6925
Same here
@lunadelossantos284
❤
@argpalauanbruh
Dave: 🤬😡
Martin: 😐🎸
Andy: 😎🎸
@kidpog3d101
More like
🎸👀_👀
@lornagroggett7417
Dave❤❤❤
@1980sMusic
hi stranger, if you’re reading this. i just wanna tell you that you matter and you’re important ❤ i know you are tired,, but please never give up. okay? i believe you can do it :) and i’m proud of you!! even though i dont know you. always think positive and ignore the negativity that surrounds you. focus on positive side and the things that makes you happy. you are doing great hun. 😙 let’s keep going. we can get through this together. you are worth it. sending virtual hugs to everyone 🥰🤗have a good sleep tonight. tell your loved ones that you love them. sweet dreams my dear~ always smile 😊