Primary members: Vince Clarke, Andrew Fletcher, Martin Gore, Dave Gahan, Alan Wilder
Band Biography
Albums of focus: Construction Time Again (1983), Some Great Reward (1984)
Songs for study:

"Pipeline"	"Everything Counts"	"Two Minute Warning"
"Shame"	"Lie to Me"	"People Are People"
"Master and Servant"	"Blasphemous Rumors"	"People Are People (Live TV performance, 1984) "

A note about Depeche Mode's Construction Time Again:

"The major technical advance on Construction Time Again is that it was the first time we used sampling. Vince Clarke [former Depeche Mode band member] had already bought a Fairlight that he used on the first Yazoo album [Clarke's new band], Martin bought the first Emulator and I bought this ridiculous system called a Synclavier. We were not sampling from records, we just went out sampling from the world around us and recorded anything that made a sound. Martin brought in all these weird toy instruments and Eastern instruments and we started testing all the possibilities. The track that epitomised this technique was "Pipeline." The song was already there so we went out to a derelict building site in Shoreditch [a then grim area of East London]. We only used sounds from the building site for the backing track but to complete the concept we had to get Martin to sing in the same location. We had two tape recorders, one playing back the track so he could monitor it, and the other recording his vocals. It was right beside the railway line, so if you listen carefully you can hear trains going past and other random noises." - Daniel Miller (note: the same Daniel Miller from The Normal, Crash music)

"Two Minute Warning" - from Construction Time Again (1983)

We're lying by the orange sky Two million miles across the land Scattered to the highest high Expect they'll either laugh or cry No sex, no consequence, no sympathy You're good enough to heat Two minute warning Two minutes later When time has come My days are numbered

The dawning of another year Marks time for those who understand One in four still here While you and I go hand in hand No radio, no sound, no sin, no sanctuary So welcome to your last The sun, the solitude, the cemetery So welcome to your last

"Shame" - from Construction Time Again (1983)

Do you ever get that feeling When the guilt begins to hurt Seeing all the children Wallowing in dirt Crying out with hunger Crying out in pain At least the dirt will wash off When it starts to rain Soap won't wash away your shame Do you ever get that feeling That something isn't right Seeing your brother's fists Clenched ready for the fight Soon the fighting turns to weapons And the weapons turn to wounds So the doctors stitch and stitch And stitch and stitch and stitch And stitch and stitch

Surgery won't improve your pain It all seems so stupid It makes me want to give up But why should I give up When it all seems so stupid Do you ever get the feeling That something can be done To eradicate these problems And make the people one Do you ever get that feeling Something like a nagging itch And all the while the doctors Stitch and stitch and stitch And stitch and stitch Hope alone won't remove the stains Shame

"Master and Servant" - from Some Great Reward (1984)

It's a lot, it's a lot, it's a lot It's a lot, it's a lot, it's a lot It's a lot ... like life There's a new game We like to play you see A game with added reality You treat me like a dog Get me down on my knees We call it master and servant We call it master and servant It's a lot like life This play between the sheets With you on top and me underneath Forget all about equality Let's play master and servant Let's play master and servant It's a lot like life And that's what's appealing If you despise that throwaway feeling From disposable fun Then this is the one

Domination's the name of the game In bed or in life They're both just the same Except in one you're fulfilled At the end of the day Let's play master and servant Let's play master and servant Let's play master and servant Come on master and servant It's a lot, it's a lot, it's a lot It's a lot, it's a lot, it's a lot It's a lot ... like life It's a lot like life And that's what's appealing If you despise that throwaway feeling From disposable fun Then this is the one Let's play master and servant Come on master and servant

"Blasphemous Rumors" - from Some Great Reward (1984)

Girl of 16 Whole life ahead of her Slashed her wrists Bored with life Didn't succeed Thank the lord For small mercies Fighting back the tears Mother reads the note again 16 candles burn in her mind She takes the blame It's always the same She goes down on her knees And prays I don't want to start Any blasphemous rumours But I think that God's Got a sick sense of humour And when I die I expect to find Him laughing

Girl of 18 Fell in love with everything Found new life In Jesus Christ Hit by a car Ended up On a life support machine Summer's day As she passed away Birds were singing In the summer sky Then came the rain And once again A tear fell From her mother's eye I don't want to start Any blasphemous rumours But I think that God's Got a sick sense of humour And when I die I expect to find Him laughing (repeat to fade out)

"People Are People" - live TV performance (March 1984 on The Tube) Note: Notice the use of instruments: synthesizers and construction equipment (corrugated sheet metal and pipes) from a building site.

People are people So why should it be You and I should get along so awfully People are people So why should it be You and I should get along so awfully So we're different colours And we're different creeds And different people have different needs It's obvious you hate me Though I've done nothing wrong I've never even met you so what could I have done I can't understand What makes a man Hate another man Help me understand People are people So why should it be You and I should get along so awfully People are people So why should it be You and I should get along so awfully Help me understand...

Now you're punching And you're kicking And you're shouting at me I'm relying on your common decency So far it hasn't surfaced But I'm sure it exists It just takes a while to travel From your head to your fists I can't understand What makes a man Hate another man Help me understand People are people So why should it be You and I should get along so awfully People are people So why should it be You and I should get along so awfully I can't understand What makes a man Hate another man Help me understand (repeat 6x)

Here is an example of one of Depeche Mode's earlier, pre-Construction Time Again hit singles: