But Not Tonight

But Not Tonight
Song Artist Depeche Mode Album Black Celebration Songwriter Martin L. Gore Produced by Depeche Mode Gareth Jones Daniel Miller Recorded at Westside Genetic (London) Hansa Mischraum Label Mute Records Length (mm:ss) 4:15 Tempo 132 BPM Time signature 4/4 Key D Major Programming Martin L. Gore Engineering assistance Richard Sullivan Peter Schmidt Additional engineering Kevin Paul Kevin Vanbergen Roger Johnson Additional mixing Kevin Paul Mastering Tim Young Mastering engineer Tim Young Remastering engineer Simon Heyworth Recording Dave Allen Recording assistance Phil Tennant Photography Brian Griffin Photography assistance Stuart Graham Recorded Late 1985 Originally released February 10, 1986 Played live 62 times * Total live plays 62 times *

Notes

Denis McNamara from WLIR 92.7 Radio (who also interviewed Martin in 1986) wrote on his Facebook profile in 2019:

"Martin Gore once complained to me that Depeche Mode had to put this song on the 'Black Celebration' album because we played it so much as a B-side [from the single 'Stripped'] on [WLIR] 92.7 that it became so popular that they were told they would be crazy not to put it on the album. So they put it on as the last song and the rest is history. I've heard no complaints from him since."

This song was performed live for the first time in 2013. The quotes below describe the reason why it was played.

Martin Gore told Rolling Stone:

"This spring we played a small show at the Troubadour in L.A. and we did 'But Not Tonight' for the first time ever – we did that one acoustic and it was surprising how much people loved it. America is really the only place where the fans love that song – it was a single in America but not in the rest of the world. It's like a forgotten gem."

Andy Fletcher told the January 2014 issue of Playboy Ukraine:

[I]t's a B-side from the 'Stripped' single. Apparently Martin heard a piano version of this song somewhere, and he loved it very much. He played it a couple of times in the studio, and we decided to include it in the set list. And by the way, we are amazed at how the audience reacts to it! It's great! And how everyone sings along at the end!"

Fan Craig DeGraff wrote for his Depeche Mode Fakebook page takeover:

While A&R-ing a remix compilation I stumbled across a demo of 'But Not Tonight' with Martin Gore's vocals. It then hit me that the only way they might perform it live would be if Martin did an acoustic version. It'd also be a heck of a way to impress my wife. I plotted to create a piano version and get it to Martin. With the help of my friend Brian, we created a slowed down version with just vocals and piano. Fortunately he was DJing at an annual holiday charity event in Santa Barbara a few weeks later so I honed in on my opportunity. After the DJ gig we were talking and I gave him a USB drive with the warning "You may not want anyone to hear this." When he left I figured the odds were slim he'd check it out but it was worth a shot. In March of 2013 I went to SXSW to the kick off the Delta Machine album launch. After a great set at Brazos Hall we went up to the roof for the afterparty. I approached Martin and, before I could get a word out he smiled and said "You gave me the drive in Santa Barbara. I think it's great and we may play it on tour." I couldn't believe it. Needless to say my anticipation for the tour rose to new heights and, when the band announced a special L.A. show at the Troubadour I knew I had to be there. Half way through the set Martin walked out for his solo song and, as the opening chords of 'But Not Tonight' rang out, I (and the crowd) lost it. The joy in the room was overwhelming and to hear the crowd sing along was a feeling I'll never forget. After the gig I managed to grab a setlist and hurried next door for the aftershow. I managed to get Dave, Fletch (who said But Not Tonight was one of his favorite songs) and Martin to sign the setlist. Martin laughed while signing it and said "I told you we'd play it!"

Fan Michael Kachko replied to that same Facebook post:

"The best part was when [Craig and I] were backstage in Vegas and I thanked Martin for playing But Not Tonight and he turned to Craig and said "No thank him!""

Lyrics

But Not Tonight

Oh God, it's raining

But I'm not complaining

It's filling me up with new life

The stars in the sky

Bring tears to my eyes

They're lighting my way tonight

And I haven't felt so alive

In years

Just for a day

On a day like today

I'll get away from this constant debauchery

The wind in my hair

Makes me so aware

How good it is to live tonight

And I haven't felt so alive

In years

The moon

Is shining in the sky

Reminding me

Of so many other nights

But they're not like tonight

Oh God it's raining

And I'm not containing

My pleasure at being so wet

Here on my own

All on my own

How good it feels to be alone tonight

And I haven't felt so alive

In years

The moon

Is shining in the sky

Reminding me

Of so many other nights

When my eyes had been so red

I'd been mistaken for dead

But not tonight

Songwriter: Martin L. Gore
Publishing Information: ©1986 Grabbing Hands Music Ltd/EMI Music Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dates with available recordings of But Not Tonight

There are currently 14 recordings of But Not Tonight available.

• 2013-04-26 The Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA, USA/Source 1
• 2013-06-22 Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow, Russia/Source 1
• 2013-06-22 Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow, Russia/Source 2
• 2013-09-15 BB&T Center, Sunrise, FL, USA/Source 1
• 2013-10-11 Austin City Limits Festival, Austin, TX, USA/Source 1
• 2013-10-11 Austin City Limits Festival, Austin, TX, USA/Source 2
• 2013 Delta Machine Live (compilation)
• 2014-01-27 LG Arena, Birmingham, England, UK/Source 1
• 2017-10-18 Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, USA/Source 1
• 2017-10-18 Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, USA/Source 2
• 2023-12-17 Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA, USA/Source 1
• 2023-12-17 Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA, USA/Source 2
• 2023-12-17 Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA, USA/Source 3
• 2023-12-17 Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA, USA/Source 4

Dates where But Not Tonight was played

1986 Black Celebration Tour

• But Not Tonight was not played during this tour.

1987-1988 Music For The Masses Tour

• But Not Tonight was not played during this tour.

1990 World Violation Tour

• But Not Tonight was not played during this tour.

1993 Devotional Tour

• But Not Tonight was not played during this tour.

1994 Exotic Tour

• But Not Tonight was not played during this tour.

1997 Ultra Parties

• But Not Tonight was not played during this tour.

1998 The Singles Tour

• But Not Tonight was not played during this tour.

2001 Exciter Tour

• But Not Tonight was not played during this tour.

2003 Paper Monsters Tour (Dave Gahan solo)

• But Not Tonight was not played during this tour.

2003 "A Night With Martin L. Gore" (Martin L. Gore solo)

• But Not Tonight was not played during this tour.

2005-2006 Touring The Angel

• But Not Tonight was not played during this tour.

2009-2010 Tour Of The Universe

• But Not Tonight was not played during this tour.

2013-2014 Delta Machine Tour

But Not Tonight was played 59 times during this tour.

• 2013-04-26 The Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA, USA
• 2013-06-05 Commerzbank Arena, Frankfurt, Germany
• 2013-06-09 Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany
• 2013-06-17 Imtech Arena, Hamburg, Germany
• 2013-06-22 Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow, Russia
• 2013-06-29 Olympic Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
• 2013-08-22 DTE Energy Music Theatre, Detroit, MI, USA
• 2013-08-30 Ovation Hall at the Revel Casino, Atlantic City, NJ, USA
• 2013-09-01 Molson Canadian Amphitheatre, Toronto, ON, Canada
• 2013-09-03 Bell Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
• 2013-09-06 Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
• 2013-09-10 Jiffy Lube Live, Washington D.C., USA
• 2013-09-12 Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood, Atlanta, GA, USA
• 2013-09-14 Live Nation Amphitheatre at the Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa, FL, USA
• 2013-09-15 BB&T Center, Sunrise, FL, USA
• 2013-09-18 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Houston, TX, USA
• 2013-09-20 Gexa Energy Pavilion, Dallas, TX, USA
• 2013-09-22 Sleep Train Amphitheatre, San Diego, CA, USA
• 2013-09-24 Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
• 2013-09-26 Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountainview, San Francisco, CA, USA
• 2013-09-28 STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
• 2013-10-02 STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
• 2013-10-06 Pearl Concert Teater at Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, NV, USA
• 2013-10-08 Desert Sky Pavilion, Phoenix, AZ, USA
• 2013-10-11 Austin City Limits Festival, Austin, TX, USA
• 2013-11-09 The O2, Dublin, Ireland
• 2013-11-11 Hydro Arena, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
• 2013-11-15 Phones 4u Arena, Manchester, England, UK
• 2013-11-19 O2 Arena, London, England, UK
• 2013-11-21 Lanxess Arena, Cologne, Germany
• 2013-11-25 O2 World, Berlin, Germany
• 2013-11-27 O2 World, Berlin, Germany
• 2013-11-29 Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning, Denmark
• 2013-12-01 Messehalle, Erfurt, Germany
• 2013-12-03 ÖVB Arena, Bremen, Germany
• 2013-12-05 König-Pilsener-Arena, Oberhausen, Germany
• 2013-12-07 Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• 2013-12-09 Arena, Malmö, Sweden
• 2013-12-11 Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden
• 2013-12-13 Telenor Arena, Oslo, Norway
• 2013-12-15 Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland
• 2013 Delta Machine Live (compilation)
• 2014-01-15 Palau Saint Jordi, Barcelona, Spain
• 2014-01-17 Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad, Madrid, Spain
• 2014-01-21 Park & Suites Arena, Montpellier, France
• 2014-01-23 Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon, France
• 2014-01-25 Sportpaleis, Antwerp, Belgium
• 2014-01-27 LG Arena, Birmingham, England, UK
• 2014-01-29 Bercy, Paris, France
• 2014-02-02 Zénith de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
• 2014-02-06 Slovnaft Arena, Bratislava, Slovakia
• 2014-02-08 Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria
• 2014-02-10 O2 Arena, Prague, Czech Republic
• 2014-02-12 Messehalle, Dresden, Germany
• 2014-02-14 Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2014-02-18 Palaolimpico Isozaki, Torino, Italy
• 2014-02-24 Atlas Arena, Łódź, Poland
• 2014-02-28 Minsk Arena, Minsk, Belarus
• 2014-03-04 SKK Arena, St. Petersburg, Russia

2017-2018 Global Spirit Tour

But Not Tonight was played only once during this tour.

• 2017-10-18 Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, USA