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)
Waiting For The Night
Depeche Mode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know that it will save us all
When everything's dark
Keeps us from the stark reality
I'm waiting for the night to fall
When everything is bearable
And there in the still
There is a star in the sky
Guiding my way with its light
And in the glow of the moon
Know my deliverance will come soon
I'm waiting for the night to fall
I know that it will save us all
When everything's dark
Keeps us from the stark reality
I'm waiting for the night to fall
When everything is bearable
And there in the still
All that you feel is tranquillity
There is a sound in the calm
Someone is coming to harm
I press my hands to my ears
It's easier here just to forget fear
And when I squinted
The world seemed rose-tinted
And angels appeared to descend
To my surprise
With half-closed eyes
Things looked even better
Than when they were open
Been waiting for the night to fall
I knew that it would save us all
Now everything's dark
Keeps us from the stark reality
Been waiting for the night to fall
Now everything is bearable
And here in the still
All that you feel is tranquility
The song "Waiting for the Night" by Depeche Mode is a contemplative and introspective ballad that explores the theme of escape, both physical and emotional. The first verse expresses a longing for darkness, which seems to offer solace from the harsh realities of life. The singer awaits the nightfall, believing that it will save them from the brutal, unrelenting truth of existence. The second verse is more hopeful, describing the beauty and tranquility that can be found in the quiet stillness of the night. The singer sees a star in the sky, which gives them guidance and hope, and the moonlight promises deliverance in the future.
The chorus repeats the longing for darkness, but suggests that it is necessary to keep us from facing the stark reality of our lives. The verses that follow explore the idea of escape in more detail, highlighting the overwhelming fear and anxiety that can be generated by the world around us. The singer presses their hands to their ears, trying to block out the sounds of suffering and strife, and experiences a moment of transcendence when they see the world through rose-tinted glasses, and angels appear to descend.
Overall, "Waiting for the Night" is a powerful exploration of the human need for escape, and the delicate balance between acceptance of the world as it is, and the dream of a better tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm waiting for the night to fall
The singer is anxiously anticipating the arrival of nighttime.
I know that it will save us all
Nighttime provides relief from the harshness of reality.
When everything's dark
In the absence of daylight, reality becomes less overwhelming.
Keeps us from the stark reality
Nighttime acts as a buffer against an unforgiving world.
When everything is bearable
Nighttime allows the artist to face their problems more easily.
And there in the still
In the quietness of the night, the singer finds peace.
All that you feel is tranquillity
The quietness of the night creates a calming atmosphere for the singer.
There is a star in the sky
The artist notices a guiding light in the darkness.
Guiding my way with its light
The star is providing direction for the artist's journey.
And in the glow of the moon
The artist finds comfort in the moon's light.
Know my deliverance will come soon
The singer has faith that their problems will be resolved soon.
There is a sound in the calm
The night is not completely silent - there are still sounds to be heard.
Someone is coming to harm
The singer hears a sound that suggests someone is in danger.
I press my hands to my ears
The singer tries to block out the disturbing noise.
It's easier here just to forget fear
Nighttime provides a sense of safety and comfort, making it easier to forget about fear.
And when I squinted
The artist is struggling to see in the darkness.
The world seemed rose-tinted
In the dim light, the world appears more pleasant than it really is.
And angels appeared to descend
The singer imagines angelic beings appearing in the darkness.
To my surprise
The singer is caught off guard by this unexpected sight.
With half-closed eyes
The artist is struggling to see clearly in the darkness.
Things looked even better
Despite the darkness and danger, the world appears more beautiful to the artist.
Than when they were open
In the past, the world seemed harsher and less beautiful to the artist.
Been waiting for the night to fall
The singer has been anticipating the arrival of the night for some time.
Now everything's dark
With the arrival of nighttime, the world becomes shrouded in darkness.
Been waiting for the night to fall
The singer has been seeking relief from reality by waiting for nighttime.
Now everything is bearable
With the arrival of nighttime, the singer is able to face their problems more easily.
And here in the still
In the quietness of the night, the singer finds inner peace.
All that you feel is tranquility
The quietness of the night creates a calming atmosphere for the artist.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Martin Gore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@martina1843
I'm waiting for the night to fall
I know that it will save us all
When everything's dark
Keeps us from the stark reality
I'm waiting for the night to fall
When everything is bearable
And there in the still
All that you feel
Is tranquility
There is a star in the sky
Guiding my way with its light
And in the glow of the moon
Know my deliverance will come soon
There is a sound in the calm
Someone is coming to harm
I press my hands to my ears
It's easier here just to forget fear
And when I squinted
The world seemed rose-tinted
And angels appeared to descend
To my surprise
With half-closed eyes
Things looked even better
Than when they were opened
Been waiting for the night to fall
Now everything is bearable
And here in the still
All that you hear
Is tranquility..♥
@bobdobalina838
Words cannot even express how much this album meant to me. I bought it when it came out because I had just emigrated to London and it helped me through many, many painful and desperate times. God bless you depeche mode and rest in peace Fletcho.
@simonahmed7076
Same here. I got this rose as tattoo. ❤
@geggsccfc2332
I was born 1981 and I’ve always loved 80’s music. Hearing Depeche Mode played virtually every single day by my older brothers for years, I can’t thank them enough for introducing DM to me. Still the best band ever after all these years.
@luisdelcastillo123
Same situation here!
@dayzofrust9985
The Glove-Perfect Murder listen now 1984 Robert Smith side project from The Cure
@laurence.MusicAndSights
In 1980 when Vince Clark founded them, I was 11 and already knew they would go farther than the new wave mouvement. A legendary out of this world band
@DarkestStar78101
Same situation here,i was born''78 !!
@amoreayay8624
Born in 1974 and loved DM from the first moment i heard the sound of their 🎵. Listening my whole life to their music.
@KermisVoyager1997
This song is just timeless. Release it at any time and it would still be considered fresh. This song is just so amazing.
@sg2massive
Erm we know what timeless means.