Lyric differences

This page lists lyrical differences between album, demo, and live versions. Some lyrical oddities on the remaster releases are also described.

Many lyrical errors / mistakes / transposition of verses, etc. during live concerts are represented in the "Something Went Wrong" compilation, and don't qualify for inclusion on this page.

Demo and studio outtake differences

• On the demo for Ice Machine, Dave sings "The ice machine, the ice machine" at the end of the song. He also does this at 1980-10-30 Bridge House, London, England, UK, but not at the next available concert with a recording at 1980-11-14 Technical College, Southend-On-Sea, Essex, England, UK or at any concert in the future.

• Minor differences on Vince Clarke's original demo for Television Set compared to later live versions:
  • "I'm just a mass of communication" (live versions all say "for communication")
  • The final "a" in the chorus line "I'm just a television set" is not sung at the end of the demo snippet.

Bong Magazine Issue 24, Page 18, with Vince Clarke's original lyrics for Just Can't Get Enough.

• Vince's original demo lyrics for Just Can't Get Enough says "and when it rains, you're shining out for me" (see Bong Magazine 24 to the right), compared to the studio version "shining down". "Shining out" is what Dave sings live as late as 1981-06-01 Bridge House, London, England, UK. By the time of 1981-06-27 Crocs, Rayleigh, Essex, England, UK, he sings "shining down".

• The demo for Told You So has a change in the second verse; see Demos & Studio Outtakes / Told You So (Demo) for the exact differences written out and audio of the demo.

• The studio pre-mix for Master And Servant has some female backing vocals not present on the album version. Listen at Demos & Studio Outtakes / Master And Servant (Studio Pre-Mix).

• The demo for If You Want has a very minor word transposition; in the final line of the song, the demo says "even though you still may not want to", while the album and live versions say "even though you may still not want to". Oddly, the demo lyric is reflected on the 2006 remaster artwork and also on depechemode.com's archive section. The error on the official site archives is not correctable because the site must match the latest official release's artwork, even if it is inaccurate. You can listen to the demo on the song's page.

• The demo for Shake The Disease has some changed lyrics for the second verse; see Demos & Studio Outtakes / Shake The Disease (Demo) for the exact differences written out and audio of the demo.

• The demo for Here Is The House has some changed lyrics; see Demos & Studio Outtakes / Here Is The House (Demo) for the exact differences written out and audio of the demo.

• The studio pre-mix for Strangelove has Martin's backing vocal "it's important" before "pain, will you return it / I won't say it again", which is not on the album version or any live versions, and is not heard officially until the Strangelove '88 remixes. Listen at Demos & Studio Outtakes / Strangelove (Studio Pre-Mix).

• The studio pre-mix for I Want You Now uses a completely different vocal take. Listen at Demos & Studio Outtakes / I Want You Now (Studio Pre-Mix).

• The studio pre-mix for Halo uses a completely different vocal take. Listen at Demos & Studio Outtakes / Halo (Studio Pre-Mix).

• The studio outtake versions of Hole To Feed and Come Back have several differences to the album versions; see Demos & Studio Outtakes / 2009 Sounds Of The Universe Era for transcribed lyrics of the outtake versions and audio excerpts.

"Perversion" demo tape differences

Thanks to an anonymous ex-label employee, several songs' lyrical changes found on the "Perversion" demo tape are now known. Differences to the album version are emphasized in bold.

World In My Eyes

Album version	"Perversion" demo
That's all there is Nothing more than you can feel now That's all there is	That's all there is I don't mean to drag you down But that's all there is

Album version	"Perversion" demo
Let me put you on a ship On a long, long trip Your lips close to my lips	Let me put you on a ship On a long, long trip And you won't be feeling seasick

Waiting For The Night

Album version	"Perversion" demo
I press my hands to my ears It's easier here just to forget fear	I put my hands to my ears I've soon forgotten all my fears

Blue Dress

Album version	"Perversion" demo
Please don't question why	Don't you question why

Sea Of Sin

Album version	"Perversion" demo
It gets better and better As it gets wetter and wetter	And it gets better and better As we get wetter and wetter

Album version	"Perversion" demo
You look cheaper and cheaper As we sink deeper and deeper	And you look cheaper and cheaper As we go deeper and deeper

Album version	"Perversion" demo
Here under God's sky His watchful eye And all of the lies My consolation prize	Why save it for a rainy day? When we've got here and now Why save it for a rainy day? Anyhow

Album version	"Perversion" demo
When I'm in doubt My hands reach out And I'm never alone	My mind's in need And my body feeds So I'm never alone

Album version	"Perversion" demo
It gets wetter and wetter As it gets better and better	And it gets wetter and wetter As it gets better and better

Album version	"Perversion" demo
Sea of sin Know where you've been Yes I'm aware	Lines not present in demo

Album version	"Perversion" demo
Sea of sin Know where you've been And I don't care	Second repetition of these lines at end of song not present in demo

Sounds Of The Universe Box Set Demo CD

A collection of demos ranging from 1987 to 2009 included as the third CD in the Sounds Of The Universe box set.

Clean

Album version	Demo
I don't claim to know Where my holiness goes I just know that I like What is starting to show	I don't claim to know Where my holiness goes But I know that I like What is starting to show

Walking In My Shoes

Album version	Demo
Morality would frown upon Decency look down upon The scapegoat fate's made of me	Morality would frown upon Decency look down upon The scapegoat they've made of me

Only When I Lose Myself

Single version	Demo
Something beautiful is happening inside for me Something sensual, it's full of fire and mystery I feel hypnotised I feel paralysed I have found heaven	Something beautiful is happening inside for me Something sensual, it's full of fire and mystery I feel hypnotised I feel mesmerized I have found heaven

Surrender

Single version	Demo
Laying on your holy bed By the hallowed door Feeling like an infidel Not worthy of your call	Laying on your holy bed By the hallowed door Feeling like an infidel Not worthy of your floor

Nothing's Impossible

This change is also present in bare and live recordings of the song.

Album version	Demo
How did we get to be this far apart How did we get to be this far apart I want to be with you have something to share I want to be here I'm not there	How did we get to be this far apart Let's take a chance, go back to the start I want to be with you have something to share I want to be here I'm not there

Delta Machine demos

Secret To The End

Album version	Demo
When I look around this room There must be something I can do Can I convince you that it isn't true We've come to the end	When I look around this room There must be something I can do I can't convince you that it isn't true We've come to the end

Album version	Demo
The problem Should have been you (should have been you) Should have been you (could have been you) Should have been you (would have been you) (Should have been you, would have been you) If it hadn't been me	You must have the secret Is there a secret? A secret for love

The "rough" version also contains the "is not for you" lyric.

Album version	Demo
Thank God I'm not the same as you You always know exactly what to do It's who I am, it's not like you We've come to the end	I know I'm not the same as you You always know exactly what to do Who I am, is not for you So we've come to the end

Album version	Demo
Did I disappoint you I wanted to believe it's true The book of love was not enough To see us through	Did I disappoint you I wanted to believe in you The book of love was not enough To see us through

My Little Universe

Album version	Demo
Here I am king I decide everything I let no-one in No-one No-one No-one	And here I am king I decide everything I let no-one in No-one No-one No-one

Album version	Demo
Limited consciousness Preserves me It protects me And just connects enough To keep the wolves at bay	My veil of consciousness Supports me It protects me And just connects enough To keep the wolves at bay

Slow

At the end of the song, a different verse is repeated.

Album version	Demo
Slow, slow As slow as you can go That's how I like it I like it	Slow, slow As slow as you can go I want my senses to overflow Slow, slow And doesn't it show

Broken

Album version	Demo
You see the friend that I need Cannot be found Replaced by another Wearing his crown	You see the friend that I knew Cannot be found You are my brother So don't bring me down

Album version	Demo
Then you're so far away You're so far from here Do you remember A time without tears	Then you're so far away You're so far from here Do you remember Without any fear

Album version	Demo
When you were a child You'd dream all day long You'd dream of the future And get lost in your songs	When I was a child I'd dream all day long I'd dream of the future I'd get lost in your songs

Album version	Demo
Now that time is gone It's lost for you now Words long forgotten Forgotten somehow	Now that time is yours It's yours for you now You have to just take it And take it right now

Should Be Higher

Album version	Demo
I dream of a day when I dare to believe you're the answer When the shame and the guilt are removed and the truth appears Oh the touch of your hand, I lose who I am if I want to I try to resist but succumb to the bliss of your kiss	I dream of a day when I dare to believe you're the answer When the shame and the guilt are removed and the truth appears With the touch of your hand, I lose who I am if I want to I tried to resist but succumb to the bliss of your kiss

Album version	Demo
Your arms are infected They're holding the truth Oh stop all your crying This one you'll lose	Your arms are infected They're holding the truth Oh stop all your crying This one you'll lose

Change only in the second instance of the verse.

Album version	Demo
You should be higher I'll take you higher Don't be afraid You'll just have to pray	You should be higher I'll take you higher Don't be afraid You'll just have to pray

Soothe My Soul

Album version	Demo
I'll come to your house Break down the door Girl I'm shaking And I need more	I'll come to your house Knock down the door Girl I'm shaking And I need more

The first instance of the chorus is skipped in the demo.

Album version	Demo
There's only one way to soothe my soul Only one way (only one way)

Album version	Demo
I'm taking my place By your side And I'm not leaving Until I'm satisfied	I'm taking my place By your side And I'm not leaving Until I'm satisfied

All That's Mine

Album version	Demo
I know it's hard to reach you I know it's hard to breathe I know it's hard to be you sometimes I can't imagine what that means	I know it's hard to reach you I know it's hard to breathe I know it's hard to be you sometimes I can't imagine what that means

Album version	Demo
This must be someone else's story I can't follow what you've planned How can this be about me Am I supposed to understand	This is someone else's story This must be someone else's life How could this be my family I don't deserve this wife

Album version	Demo
Like a ship on the ocean Heading out to sea You can hardly see it now It's a lot like you Lost like me	Like a ship on the ocean Heading out to sea You can hardly see it now It's a lot like you It's a lot like me

Album version	Demo
You're still looking for redemption Still can't find a trace If there is nothing after There'll be no saving grace	We speak a different language We'll fight another fight Can we come together Oh we have to get it right

Album version	Demo
I'm giving you control now I need some kind of sign Come take away this sorrow now I gave you all that's mine	I'm losing all control now I need some kind of sign To take away this sorrow now Give me peace of mind

Extra verse not in the album version.

Album version	Demo
N/A	All of us in one state All of us in time Together with one another Imagine what it could be like

Happens All The Time

Album version	Demo
No need to feel ashamed There's nothing to be gained When your dreams are in the past	I've no need to feel ashamed There's nothing to be gained I'm dreaming in the past

Album version	Demo
Like stars, we crash and burn Only to return Life goes by so fast	Like stars, we crash and burn A lesson to be learned Life goes by so fast

Album version	Demo
So who is left to blame Nothing's quite the same We can't live in the past	So who is left to blame There's no two quite the same I can't live in the past

Album version	Demo
I'm burning as hot as the sun And I've only just begun Love, it fades so fast	I'm burning as hot as the sun And I've only just begun Love, it fades so fast

Album version	Demo
I know I've had enough Maybe far too much It's easy to be blind	I think I've had enough You see I'm not that tough Not easy to be kind

Album version	Demo
When it's just me and you I know what I have to do I can leave this world behind	When it's just me and you I know what I have to do I can leave this hell behind

Album version	Demo
Like stars, we crash and burn Only to return Times they change so fast	Like stars, we crash and burn Only to return Love, it fades so fast

Live and bare differences

• During New Life performed at 1980-10-30 Bridge House, London, England, UK, Dave sings "transition to another song" instead of "transition to another place".

• I Sometimes Wish I Was Dead had an early live version with completely different lyrics and arrangement. This version's lyrics are likely where the song's bizarre title originates. Read more & listen: I Sometimes Wish I Was Dead / Early live version

• The "Spring 1981" version of "I Sometimes Wish I Was Dead" has a few minor differences compared to the album and later live versions, detailed below.

Album version	1980 live version
Dancing with you all the time, and don't you think that it's a crime	Dancing with you all the time, and don't you think that it's a crime

Album version	1980 live version
I know where you go	And I know where to go

Album version	1980 live version
You say that it's from above, and I say this is modern love	You say that it's from above, and I say this is modern love

Furthermore, in all live versions of the song currently available between 1981 and 1982, there is one additional difference compared to the album version:

Album version	1980 - 1982 live version
Just for me and you	Just like me and you

• On all live versions of Dreaming Of Me, "filming the screening" is sung instead of the single version's "filming and screening".

• During Dreaming Of Me, Dave seemed to randomly swap out "sad" for "bad" in the second verse.

• All live cover versions of I Like It have one verse unsung compared to Gerry & The Pacemakers' original version, and there are a few other minor lyrical differences. Lyrics of Depeche Mode's rendition is available on the song's page.

• A slightly extended version of People Are People based on the "Different Mix" found on the 12" single was performed during the first seven concerts of the 1987-1988 "Music For The Masses" Tour as well as the second of three consecutive nights in Paris at 1987-11-17 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris, France. Martin sang "shouting at me / decency / sure it exists / head to your fists" during the instrumental break toward the end of the song, which matches the 12" version. At 1987-11-17 Paris, he missed the cue and didn't sing at all - probably because they hadn't performed this version for a bit over a month and a half by that point.

• The "Underground Resistance Remix" of People Are People released in 2006 makes use of the distorted backing vocals "different creeds / different needs / done nothing wrong / could I have done" in the left channel throughout the song.

• The bare studio session for Stories Of Old omits the first verse entirely.

• During 1984-12-03 Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany, Martin changes a lyric during Somebody to "... somebody who won't throw sparklers at me", reacting to a fan throwing sparklers at him.

• Also during Somebody, Martin sings "and in a place like this, I'll get away with it" (though sometimes omitting the "and") after the final line of the song, during most of the performances during the 1984-1985 "Some Great Reward" Tour and all performances during the 1987-1988 "Music For The Masses" Tour.
  • During the "Some Great Reward" tour, Martin first did this at either 1984-10-14 King George's Hall, Blackburn, England, UK or 1984-10-16 Barrowlands, Glasgow, Scotland, UK; as there is not a recording for the former, it can't be confirmed at which concert he first sang the line. On 1984-10-16 he sang the line, and did from then on.
  • Martin didn't sing the additional line during the only time the song was performed during the 1986 "Black Celebration" Tour, at the final concert of the tour at 1986-08-16 Valbyparken, Copenhagen, Denmark, nor did he sing the line at the several performances of the song at the final several UK gigs at the end of the 1993 "Devotional" Tour, nor any tour since then.

• During Master And Servant at 1984-10-13 Odeon, Birmingham, England, UK, Martin sings "treat me like a dog" at the beginning of the song and during the instrumental break in the middle of the song.

• After 1986 "Black Celebration" Tour, during A Question Of Time live, Dave sings "I know my kind / What goes on in their minds" compared to "What goes on in our minds" of the album version. "Their" is also grammatically incorrect following "I know my kind".

• For the majority of the live performances of World In My Eyes, "now let your body do the moving" was sung instead of "my body" as on the album version. The first 5 concerts of the Devotional tour had "my". For the two concerts in Sweden, Dave sang "your" and "my" for each respective concert, and the backing vocals were opposite of what Dave sang each night. By the next concert in Rotterdam, "your" was consistently sung. The 2023-2024 Memento Mori Tour had "my" sung more consistently, although there was still the occasional swap between the two words throughout the tour. Prior tours also may have had the word swaps, but at the time of writing, no other tours have been checked in full yet.

• During Personal Jesus at 1993-07-31 Crystal Palace Sports Ground, London, England, UK, Dave exclaims "where?" after "someone who's there".

• During Mercy In You on the 1993 "Devotional" Tour, Dave sings "I'll have faith I will find" instead of the correct line "I have faith I will find".

• Two lines are dropped during Rush as performed on the 1993 "Devotional" Tour and the 1994 "Exotic" Tour; see the changes below. On the album version, those lines have some overlap with the previous line, so it was probably infeasible for Dave to sing those line lives as a result.

1993-05-19 Lille through 1993-07-31 London:

Second verse	Fourth verse
Open your sensitive mouth Hold out your delicate hands With such a sensitive mouth I'm easy to see through	Seen the tears in my eyes Heard my truth turn to lies Seen the tears in my eyes I'm not proud of what I do

1993-09-07 Quebec (unconfirmed, no recording available), but definitely from 1993-09-15 Toronto and on:

Second verse	Fourth verse
Open your sensitive mouth Hold out your delicate hands With such a sensitive mouth I'm easy to see through	Seen the tears in my eyes Heard my truth turn to lies Seen the tears in my eyes I'm not proud of what I do

• In the demo / rough mix / vocal guide for Barrel Of A Gun, Martin sings "everything I've done" instead of "when everything that I've done".

• During John The Revelator performed during 2005-2006 "Touring The Angel", Dave seems to sing "all he ever gives is his blame" instead of "all he ever gives us is pain". For the several times the song is performed on the 2013-2014 "Delta Machine" Tour, Dave sings the correct line.

• During Photographic performed during 2005-2006 "Touring The Angel", Dave usually sings "a second past like an empty glass" instead of "a second past like an empty room" (as sung on 1986 and earlier live versions, on the Summer 1980 demo tape, the album version, and the "Some Bizzare Version"). Martin faithfully sings the backing vocal "a second past like an empty room".
  • During the two performances of the song during 2009-2010 "Tour Of The Universe" (2010-02-17 Royal Albert Hall, London, England, UK and 2010-02-27 Esprit Arena, Dusseldorf, Germany), Dave sings "cup" instead of "glass". Martin sings "room" at Royal Albert Hall; Martin either was not singing backing vocals at Dusseldorf or his vocals are way too low in the mix to hear.

• Sweetest Perfection as performed during 1990 World Violation Tour lacked the backing vocals that are sung by Dave and Alan on the album version, most likely because the song was performed in an acoustic format with just Martin singing. Furthermore, during Martin Gore's solo 2003 tour A Night With Martin L. Gore, this line was not present, along with the final chorus.

• In nearly every performance of Strangelove during the 2009-2010 "Tour Of The Universe", Dave sings "I'm always willing to learn if you've got something to teach". The album version lyric is "I'm always willing to learn when you've got something to teach". Dave does correctly sing "when" at 2009-06-13 Olympiastadion, Munich, Germany, 2009-06-23 Puskas Ferenc Stadium, Budapest, Hungary, and 2009-06-28 Zenith Amphitheatre, Nancy, France, and possibly others (I need to double check all of them again).
  • He also does not sing the "yes" before "and I'll make it all worthwhile" during this tour, unlike the album and previous live versions. However, "yes" is not written in the official lyrics, but is sung on the album version as well as live during the 1987-1988 "Music For The Masses" Tour and the 1990 "World Violation" Tour, so perhaps Dave is simply being completely faithful to the written lyrics during the 2009-2010 "Tour Of The Universe".

• In A Pain That I'm Used To during the 2017-2018 "Global Spirit Tour", Dave sings "pay your price for your paradise" instead of the correct line "pay the price".

Remaster oddities

• In the SACD and DTS multichannel 5.1 versions of Two Minute Warning, "and you and I go hand in hand" is sung instead of the original version, stereo remaster, and live lyric of "while you and I go hand in hand". A different vocal take must have been accidentally used in this particular instance.
  • Also in the multichannel version, the vocoded backing vocals for the lines "No radio, no sound, no sin, no sanctuary / So welcome to your last" as well as the later lines "The sun, the solitude, the cemetery / So welcome to your last" are erroneously not present.
• In the SACD and DTS multichannel 5.1 versions of Here Is The House, Dave sings the first "and as it happens, it happens here in this house" along with Martin, and the vocals seem to be slightly out of sync. The second "and as it happens..." is Martin only. On the original version and the stereo remaster, only Martin sings in both instances. During the full-band performance of the track from 1986-03-31 New Conference Centre, Brighton, England, UK, both Dave and Martin sing the line both times.