Martyr

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Martyr
Single-Martyr.jpg
Song Martyr
By Depeche Mode
Songwriter Martin L. Gore
Working title "Martyr For Love"
Produced by Ben Hillier
Recorded at Sound Design (Santa Barbara)
Length (mm:ss) 3:23 (single version)
3:07 (radio version)
Tempo 108 BPM
Time signature 4
4
Key B♭ Major
Programmed by Dave McCracken
Richard Morris
Engineered by Ben Hillier
Richard Morris
Mixing assistance Devin Workman
Kt Rangnick
Mastered by Emily Lazar
Mastering assistance Sarah Register
Recording assistance Nick Sevilla
Arjun Agerwala
Rudyard Lee Cullers
Devin Workman
Kt Rangnick
Design Anton Corbijn
Four5one.com
Photography Anton Corbijn
Recorded 2005
Originally released 30 October 2006
Live performances as Depeche Mode 0 times *
Total live performances 0 times *

"Martyr" is a song from the 2006 compilation album The Best Of Depeche Mode Volume 1 by Depeche Mode. It was released as a single on 30 October 2006.

Notes

Martyr was one of the first songs written during the Santa Barbara sessions, according to FletchCam home video #3 it may have been the first single possibly titled "Martyr For Love".

In October, Daniel "BRAT" Barassi commented that according to Martin, Martyr remained an unreleased track.

The final version of the song was released as a single before the release of The Best Of Depeche Mode Volume 1 compilation in 2006 and independently of the previous releases belonging to Playing The Angel.

From an interview with programmer Dave McCracken for Home

"That was a different song, the first song we did when we got out there, and it was a brilliant song, the album took a different turn and we didn't use it. But it was finished, it was like an electronic" T REX" song, it was a bit poppier than the rest of the album. I think it will show its head somewhere, at some point."

From an interview with producer Ben Hillier for the documentary "The Best of Depeche Mode (A Short Film)"

"Martyr is a really interesting, one like Precious, it's quite a vintage "depeche" song.

We all had confidence in the track, as it being a good enough track to be used for something, and it was definitely a single contender as well for Playing The Angel. So it was quite an odd decision to sort of say actually this isn't going to go on the record."

Lyrics


Martyr

I've been a martyr for love

And I will die in the flames

As I draw my last breath

As I'm closing on death

I will call out your name


I've been a martyr for love

Nailed up on the cross

While you're having your fun

As the damage is done

I'm assessing the cost


I knew what I was letting myself in for

I knew that I could never even the score


I've been a martyr for love

I need to be by your side

I have knelt at your feet

I have felt your deceit

Couldn't leave if I tried


I've been a martyr for love

Tortured every hour

From the day I was born

I've been moved like a pawn

By the greatest of powers


I knew that I would have to suffer in vain

Aware that I would never outgrow the pain


I've been a martyr for love


Songwriter: Martin L. Gore
Publishing Information: ©2005 EMI Music Publishing Ltd., Assigned by Grabbing Hands Music Overseas Ltd. All rights reserved.

Music video

According to GP newspaper, the music video is being shot in Gothenburg, Sweden by Swedish director Andreas Nilsson, but without the band.

But for unknown reasons, this video remained unreleased, which was replaced by a video montage created by Robert Chandler, which consists of music videos, live releases from various periods, and screenings of Behind The Wheel from the World Violation Tour

Dates where Martyr was played

Martyr has never been played live.


1981-1985: Dreaming Of MeNew LifeJust Can't Get EnoughSee YouThe Meaning Of Love
Leave In SilenceGet The Balance RightEverything CountsLove In ItselfPeople Are PeopleMaster And ServantBlasphemous Rumours / SomebodyShake The DiseaseIt's Called A Heart
1986-1989: StrippedBut Not TonightA Question Of LustA Question Of TimeStrangelove
Never Let Me Down AgainBehind The WheelLittle 15Personal Jesus
1990-1998: Enjoy The SilencePolicy Of TruthWorld In My EyesI Feel YouWalking In My ShoesCondemnationIn Your RoomBarrel Of A GunIt's No GoodHomeUseless
Only When I Lose Myself
2001-2009: Dream OnI Feel LovedFreeloveGoodnight LoversPreciousA Pain That I'm Used To
Suffer WellJohn The Revelator / LilianMartyrWrongPeaceFragile Tension / Hole To Feed
2013-2017: HeavenSoothe My SoulShould Be HigherWhere's The RevolutionGoing Backwards
Cover Me
2023: Ghosts Again
1992-1998: Faith HealerDriftingStalker / Missing Piece
2000-2008: Strange HoursJezebelPreyAllelujah
2003-2008: Dirty Sticky FloorsI Need YouBottle Living / Hold OnA Little PieceKingdomSaw Something / Deeper And Deeper
2012-2015: Longest DayTake Me Back HomeAll Of This And NothingShine
1989-2003: CompulsionStardustLoverman
2012-2015: SpockSingle BlipAftermathsEuropa Hymn • "Pinking" (Christoffer Berg Remix)
Official releases