Shame

Notes

Martin Gore told the 1983-09-17 issue of the NME:

"I think ['Everything Counts'] was partly [inspired by] going to Thailand as well [as the song 'Shame'] – that’s where the oriental flavour comes in, like Korea ‘n’ all that. But you go over there and all the hotels are full of, like, businessmen and basically they tend to treat people as though they’re nothing. All they’re interested in is their business – that’s what I really hate about big business, people just don’t seem to matter. Just money. You see all the women over there ‘n’ they’re all prostitutes – that’s the only way they can make any money. ’Course, the businessmen love it. Work [will "remove the stains"]. It’s no good just sitting back and hoping things’ll change, you’ve got to actually work together. The material’s there; it’s like, there’s enough food in the world to feed everybody and then half the world’s eating three quarters of it and the rest of the world’s starving. But the food is there. There is a solution. The thing is, the people in power don’t care about someone with a low wage, they only care about their own power. But I think people should care about other people, y’know, cos from the moment we’re born we’re put into competition with everybody else. I really don’t understand why people go into politics – what makes someone at 16 or 17 decide to go into parliament? It’s got to be people themselves. People’s attitudes have got to be changed. For instance, when I wrote “All we need’s universal revolution”, I didn’t mean, like, everyone to take up arms, but more a total change of attitude. That’s what’s needed. People’s attitudes have got to be changed. You’ve got to look at the world to change things. Attitudes in the world, poverty in the world. The thing is when we talk about socialism, we don’t mean “English Socialism” we mean “International Socialism”."

Lyrics

Shame

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

Songwriter: Martin L. Gore
Publishing Information: ©1983 Grabbing Hands Music Ltd/EMI Music Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dates with available recordings of Shame

There are currently 76 recordings of Shame available.

• 1983-09-12 Colston Hall, Bristol, England, UK/Source 1
• 1983-09-16 City Hall, Sheffield, England, UK/Source 1
• 1983-09-19 Playhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK/Source 1
• 1983-09-20 Tiffany's, Glasgow, Scotland, UK/Source 1
• 1983-09-20 Tiffany's, Glasgow, Scotland, UK/Source 2
• 1983-09-21 City Hall, Newcastle, England, UK/Source 1
• 1983-09-23 Empire, Liverpool, England, UK/Source 1
• 1983-09-24 Apollo, Manchester, England, UK/Source 1
• 1983-10-03 Guildhall, Portsmouth, England, UK/Source 1
• 1983-10-08 Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, UK/Source 1
• 1983-12-01 Draken, Stockholm, Sweden/Source 1
• 1983-12-02 Saga, Copenhagen, Denmark/Source 1
• 1983-12-08 Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany/Source 1
• 1983-12-10 Musensaal, Mannheim, Germany/Source 1
• 1983-12-12 Ausstellungshalle, Sindelfingen, Germany/Source 1
• 1983-12-13 Hugenottenhalle, Neu-Isenburg, Germany/Source 1
• 1983-12-15 Sartory Saal, Cologne, Germany/Source 1
• 1983-12-16 Philipshalle, Dusseldorf, Germany/Source 1
• 1983-12-20 Stadthalle, Bremen, Germany/Source 1
• 1983-12-23 Musikhalle, Hamburg, Germany/Source 1
• 1983-12-23 Musikhalle, Hamburg, Germany/Source 2
• 1984-02-03 Odeon, Birmingham, England, UK/Source 1
• 1984-02-03 Odeon, Birmingham, England, UK/Source 2
• 1984-03-05 Teatro Tenda, Bologna, Italy/Source 1
• 1984-03-06 Orfeo Music Hall, Milan, Italy/Source 1
• 1984-03-08 Pacha Club, Valencia, Spain/Source 1
• 1984-03-09 Studio 54, Barcelona, Spain/Source 1
• 1984-03-10 University, Madrid, Spain/Source 1
• 1984-06-02 Suedwest Stadium, Ludwigshafen, Germany/Source 1
• 1984-10-05 SFX, Dublin, Ireland/Source 1
• 1984-10-08 Apollo, Manchester, England, UK/Source 1
• 1984-10-13 Odeon, Birmingham, England, UK/Source 1
• 1984-10-16 Barrowlands, Glasgow, Scotland, UK/Source 1
• 1984-10-20 City Hall, Newcastle, England, UK/Source 1
• 1984-10-23 The Dome, Brighton, England, UK/Source 1
• 1984-11-02 Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, UK/Source 2
• 1984-11-15 Falkoner Theatre, Copenhagen, Denmark/Source 1
• 1984-11-16 Eriksdalshallen, Stockholm, Sweden/Source 1
• 1984-11-17 Olympen, Lund, Sweden/Source 1
• 1984-11-17 Olympen, Lund, Sweden/Source 2
• 1984-11-20 Grugahalle, Essen, Germany/Source 1
• 1984-11-21 Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, Ludwigshafen, Germany/Source 1
• 1984-11-26 Teatro Tenda, Florence, Italy/Source 1
• 1984-11-27 Teatro Tenda, Bologna, Italy/Source 1
• 1984-11-28 Teatro Tenda, Milan, Italy/Source 1
• 1984-11-28 Teatro Tenda, Milan, Italy/Source 2
• 1984-11-30 St. Jacobs Sporthalle, Basel, Switzerland/Source 1
• 1984-11-30 St. Jacobs Sporthalle, Basel, Switzerland/Source 2
• 1984-11-30 St. Jacobs Sporthalle, Basel, Switzerland/Source 3
• 1984-12-01 Deutches Museum, Munich, Germany/Source 1
• 1984-12-03 Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany/Source 1
• 1984-12-04 Eilenriedehalle, Hannover, Germany/Source 1
• 1984-12-05 Münsterlandhalle, Münster, Germany/Source 1
• 1984-12-07 Weser-Ems-Halle, Oldenburg, Germany/Source 1
• 1984-12-08 Ostseehalle, Kiel, Germany/Source 1
• 1984-12-11 Sporthalle, Böblingen, Germany/Source 1
• 1984-12-14 Alsterdorf Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany/Source 1
• 1984-12-17 Bercy, Paris, France/Source 1
• 1984-12-18 Zaal Brielpoort, Deinze, Belgium/Source 1
• 1985-03-14 Warner Theatre, Washington, D.C., USA/Source 1
• 1985-03-15 Beacon Theatre, New York City, NY, USA/Source 1
• 1985-03-26 Cullen Auditorium, Houston, TX, USA/Source 1
• 1985-03-27 Bronco Bowl, Dallas, TX, USA/Source 1
• 1985-04-07 Koseinenkin Hall, Tokyo, Japan/Source 1
• 1985-04-08 Nakano Sun Plaza, Tokyo, Japan/Source 1
• 1985-04-09 Koseinenkin Hall, Osaka, Japan/Source 1
• 1985-04-12 Nakano Sun Plaza, Tokyo, Japan/Source 1
• 1985-07-09 Theatre De Verdure, Nice, France/Source 1
• 1985-07-23 Volan Stadium, Budapest, Hungary/Source 1
• 1985-07-30 Torwar Hall, Warsaw, Poland/Source 1
• 1985-07-30 Torwar Hall, Warsaw, Poland/Source 2
• 1985-07-30 Torwar Hall, Warsaw, Poland/Source 3
• 1985-07-30 Torwar Hall, Warsaw, Poland/Source 4
• 1985-07-30 Torwar Hall, Warsaw, Poland/Source 5
• 2010-03-19 Meistersaal, Hansa Tonstudios, Berlin, Germany/Source 1
• Something Went Wrong (compilation)

Dates where Shame was played

1983-1984 Construction Time Again Tour

Shame was played 48 times during this tour.

• 1983-09-07 Regal, Hitchin, England, UK
• 1983-09-09 SFX, Dublin, Ireland
• 1983-09-10 Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
• 1983-09-12 Colston Hall, Bristol, England, UK
• 1983-09-13 The Dome, Brighton, England, UK
• 1983-09-14 Gaumont, Southampton, England, UK
• 1983-09-15 Apollo, Coventry, England, UK
• 1983-09-16 City Hall, Sheffield, England, UK
• 1983-09-18 Capitol, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
• 1983-09-19 Playhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
• 1983-09-20 Tiffany's, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
• 1983-09-21 City Hall, Newcastle, England, UK
• 1983-09-23 Empire, Liverpool, England, UK
• 1983-09-24 Apollo, Manchester, England, UK
• 1983-09-25 Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, England, UK
• 1983-09-26 Victoria Hall, Hanley, England, UK
• 1983-09-28 Odeon, Birmingham, England, UK
• 1983-09-30 St. David's Hall, Cardiff, Wales, UK
• 1983-10-01 Apollo, Oxford, England, UK
• 1983-10-03 Guildhall, Portsmouth, England, UK
• 1983-10-06 Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, UK
• 1983-10-07 Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, UK
• 1983-10-08 Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, UK
• 1983-12-01 Draken, Stockholm, Sweden
• 1983-12-02 Saga, Copenhagen, Denmark
• 1983-12-03 Foreningen Akademy, Lund, Sweden
• 1983-12-05 Hof Ter Lo, Antwerp, Belgium
• 1983-12-06 Paradiso, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• 1983-12-08 Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany
• 1983-12-10 Musensaal, Mannheim, Germany
• 1983-12-11 University Haula, Saarbrucken, Germany
• 1983-12-12 Ausstellungshalle, Sindelfingen, Germany
• 1983-12-13 Hugenottenhalle, Neu-Isenburg, Germany
• 1983-12-15 Sartory Saal, Cologne, Germany
• 1983-12-16 Philipshalle, Dusseldorf, Germany
• 1983-12-17 Stadthalle, Borken, Germany
• 1983-12-19 Hallemünsterland, Münster, Germany
• 1983-12-20 Stadthalle, Bremen, Germany
• 1983-12-21 Musikhalle, Hamburg, Germany
• 1983-12-22 Musikhalle, Hamburg, Germany
• 1983-12-23 Musikhalle, Hamburg, Germany
• 1984-02-03 Odeon, Birmingham, England, UK
• 1984-03-05 Teatro Tenda, Bologna, Italy
• 1984-03-06 Orfeo Music Hall, Milan, Italy
• 1984-03-08 Pacha Club, Valencia, Spain
• 1984-03-09 Studio 54, Barcelona, Spain
• 1984-03-10 University, Madrid, Spain
• 1984-06-02 Suedwest Stadium, Ludwigshafen, Germany

1984-1985 Some Great Reward Tour

Shame was played 77 times during this tour.

• 1984-09-27 Coliseum, St. Austell, England, UK
• 1984-09-28 Victoria Hall, Hanley, England, UK
• 1984-09-29 Empire Theatre, Liverpool, England, UK
• 1984-10-01 Apollo, Oxford, England, UK
• 1984-10-02 Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, England, UK
• 1984-10-04 SFX, Dublin, Ireland
• 1984-10-05 SFX, Dublin, Ireland
• 1984-10-06 Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
• 1984-10-08 Apollo, Manchester, England, UK
• 1984-10-09 Leisure Centre, Gloucester, England, UK
• 1984-10-10 St. David's Hall, Cardiff, Wales, UK
• 1984-10-12 Odeon, Birmingham, England, UK
• 1984-10-13 Odeon, Birmingham, England, UK
• 1984-10-14 King George's Hall, Blackburn, England, UK
• 1984-10-16 Barrowlands, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
• 1984-10-17 Capitol Theatre, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
• 1984-10-18 Playhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
• 1984-10-19 City Hall, Sheffield, England, UK
• 1984-10-20 City Hall, Newcastle, England, UK
• 1984-10-22 Colston Hall, Bristol, England, UK
• 1984-10-23 The Dome, Brighton, England, UK
• 1984-10-24 Guildhall, Portsmouth, England, UK
• 1984-10-27 Gaumont, Ipswich, England, UK
• 1984-10-29 De Montford Hall, Leicester, England, UK
• 1984-10-30 Gaumont, Southampton, England, UK
• 1984-11-01 Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, UK
• 1984-11-02 Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, UK
• 1984-11-03 Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, UK
• 1984-11-04 Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, UK
• 1984-11-15 Falkoner Theatre, Copenhagen, Denmark
• 1984-11-16 Eriksdalshallen, Stockholm, Sweden
• 1984-11-17 Olympen, Lund, Sweden
• 1984-11-20 Grugahalle, Essen, Germany
• 1984-11-21 Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, Ludwigshafen, Germany
• 1984-11-22 Siegerlandhalle, Siegen, Germany
• 1984-11-23 Stadthalle, Freiburg, Germany
• 1984-11-26 Teatro Tenda, Florence, Italy
• 1984-11-27 Teatro Tenda, Bologna, Italy
• 1984-11-28 Teatro Tenda, Milan, Italy
• 1984-11-30 St. Jacobs Sporthalle, Basel, Switzerland
• 1984-12-01 Deutches Museum, Munich, Germany
• 1984-12-03 Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany
• 1984-12-04 Eilenriedehalle, Hannover, Germany
• 1984-12-05 Münsterlandhalle, Münster, Germany
• 1984-12-07 Weser-Ems-Halle, Oldenburg, Germany
• 1984-12-08 Ostseehalle, Kiel, Germany
• 1984-12-09 Alsterdorf Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
• 1984-12-11 Sporthalle, Böblingen, Germany
• 1984-12-12 Stadthalle, Offenbach, Germany
• 1984-12-13 Phillipshalle, Düsseldorf, Germany
• 1984-12-14 Alsterdorf Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
• 1984-12-16 De Doelen, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
• 1984-12-17 Bercy, Paris, France
• 1984-12-18 Zaal Brielpoort, Deinze, Belgium
• 1985-03-14 Warner Theatre, Washington, D.C., USA
• 1985-03-15 Beacon Theatre, New York City, NY, USA
• 1985-03-16 Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA, USA
• 1985-03-18 Le Spectrum, Montreal, QC, Canada
• 1985-03-19 Massey Hall, Toronto, ON, Canada
• 1985-03-20 Royal Oak Theatre, Detroit, MI, USA
• 1985-03-22 Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, IL, USA
• 1985-03-23 Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, USA
• 1985-03-24 Shryock Auditorium, Carbondale, IL, USA
• 1985-03-26 Cullen Auditorium, Houston, TX, USA
• 1985-03-27 Bronco Bowl, Dallas, TX, USA
• 1985-03-30 Palladium, Los Angeles, CA, USA
• 1985-03-31 Irvine Meadows, Laguna Hills, CA, USA
• 1985-04-01 Sports Arena, San Diego, CA, USA
• 1985-04-03 Kaiser Auditorium, Oakland, CA, USA
• 1985-04-07 Koseinenkin Hall, Tokyo, Japan
• 1985-04-08 Nakano Sun Plaza, Tokyo, Japan
• 1985-04-09 Koseinenkin Hall, Osaka, Japan
• 1985-04-12 Nakano Sun Plaza, Tokyo, Japan
• 1985-07-09 Theatre De Verdure, Nice, France
• 1985-07-11 Espace Tony Garnier, Lyon, France
• 1985-07-23 Volan Stadium, Budapest, Hungary
• 1985-07-30 Torwar Hall, Warsaw, Poland

1986 Black Celebration Tour

• Shame was not played during this tour.

1987-1988 Music For The Masses Tour

• Shame was not played during this tour.

1990 World Violation Tour

• Shame was not played during this tour.

1993 Devotional Tour

• Shame was not played during this tour.

1994 Exotic Tour

• Shame was not played during this tour.

1997 Ultra Parties

• Shame was not played during this tour.

1998 The Singles Tour

• Shame was not played during this tour.

2001 Exciter Tour

• Shame was not played during this tour.

2003 Paper Monsters Tour (Dave Gahan solo)

• Shame was not played during this tour.

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

• Shame was not played during this tour.

2005-2006 Touring The Angel

• Shame was not played during this tour.

2009-2010 Tour Of The Universe

• Shame was not played during this tour.

2013-2014 Delta Machine Tour

• Shame was not played during this tour.

2017-2018 Global Spirit Tour

• Shame was not played during this tour.