Puppets

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Puppets
Song	Puppets
By	Depeche Mode
Songwriter	Vince Clarke
Working title	"Operator"
Produced by	Depeche Mode Daniel Miller
Recorded at	Blackwing Studios (London)
Length (mm:ss)	3:55
Tempo	124 BPM
Time signature	4 4
Key	D Major
Engineered by	Eric Radcliffe John Fryer
Originally released	6 November 1981
Live performances as Depeche Mode	136 times *
Total live performances	136 times *

"Puppets" is a song from the 1981 album Speak & Spell by Depeche Mode.

Notes

A working title for this song was "Operator" and Dave Gahan refers to the song by this title during several gigs during the autumn dates of the 1981 Tour.

Lyrics

Puppets

Get that feeling

Head is reeling

You think you're in control

But you don't know me babe

I can move you

I can soothe you

I can take you places in a different way

I don't think you understand

What I'm trying to say

I'll be your operator baby

I'm in control

Watch your action

Close reaction

And everything you're thinking babe inside your head

Conversation, my creation

Nothing that you do

You do unless I said

You don't know the consequences

Of the things you say

I'll be your operator baby

I'm in control

All the things you tried to do babe

And all the words we said before

Are only part of what I started baby

And you can't stop me anymore

Songwriter: Vince Clarke
Publishing Information: ©1981 Musical Moments Ltd./Sony Music Publishing Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Dates with available recordings of Puppets

There are currently 78 recordings of Puppets available.

• 1981-07-23 The Venue, London, England, UK/Source 1
• 1981-07-25 Zuiderpark, The Hague, The Netherlands/Source 1
• 1981-08-02 Jenkinsons, Brighton, England, UK/Source 1
• 1981-08-05 Rafters, Manchester, England, UK/Source 1
• 1981-08-05 Rafters, Manchester, England, UK/Source 2
• 1981-09-26 Paradiso, Amsterdam, The Netherlands/Source 2
• 1981-09-26 Paradiso, Amsterdam, The Netherlands/Source 3
• 1981-09-29 Les Bains Douches, Paris, France/Source 1
• 1981-09-29 Les Bains Douches, Paris, France/Source 2
• 1981-09-29 Les Bains Douches, Paris, France/Source 3
• 1981-10-23 Something Else, BBC2, London, England, UK/Source 1
• 1981-10-23 Something Else, BBC2, London, England, UK/Source 2
• 1981-11-03 Fagins, Manchester, England, UK/Source 1
• 1981-11-04 Locarno, Birmingham, England, UK/Source 1
• 1981-11-07 Polytechnic, Sheffield, England, UK/Source 1
• 1981-11-11 Top Rank, Brighton, England, UK/Source 1
• 1981-12-03 Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester, England, UK/Source 1
• 1981-12-03 Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester, England, UK/Source 2
• 1982-02-10 BBC Paris Studio, London, England, UK/Source 1
• 1982-02-10 BBC Paris Studio, London, England, UK/Source 2
• 1982-02-10 BBC Paris Studio, London, England, UK/Source 3
• 1982-02-16 University, Exeter, England, UK/Source 1
• 1982-02-21 Tiffany's, Glasgow, Scotland, UK/Source 1
• 1982-02-27 Bridge House, London, England, UK/Source 1
• 1982-03-05 Rockola, Madrid, Spain/Source 1
• 1982-03-06 Rockola, Madrid, Spain/Source 1
• 1982-03-24 Trinity Hall, Hamburg, Germany/Source 1
• 1982-03-24 Trinity Hall, Hamburg, Germany/Source 2
• 1982-03-25 Ballroom Blitz, Hannover, Germany/Source 1
• 1982-03-26 Metropol, Berlin, Germany/Source 1
• 1982-04-02 Théâtre Le Palace, Paris, France/Source 1
• 1982-05-07 The Ritz, New York City, NY, USA/Source 1
• 1984-10-05 SFX, Dublin, Ireland/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 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
• 1984-11-23 Stadthalle, Freiburg, 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
• 1985-03-16 Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA, 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

Dates where Puppets was played

1981 Tour

Puppets was played 20 times during this tour.

• 1981-07-23 The Venue, London, England, UK
• 1981-07-25 Zuiderpark, The Hague, The Netherlands
• 1981-07-29 Bridge House, London, England, UK
• 1981-08-02 Jenkinsons, Brighton, England, UK
• 1981-08-05 Rafters, Manchester, England, UK
• 1981-08-26 Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, England, UK
• 1981-09-19 The Venue, London, England, UK
• 1981-09-25 Markthalle, Hamburg, Germany
• 1981-09-26 Paradiso, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• 1981-09-28 Disco Rouge, Brussels, Belgium
• 1981-09-29 Les Bains Douches, Paris, France
• 1981-10-19 Lawrence Weston School, Bristol, England, UK
• 1981-10-23 Something Else, BBC2, London, England, UK
• 1981-11-03 Fagins, Manchester, England, UK
• 1981-11-04 Locarno, Birmingham, England, UK
• 1981-11-06 University, Liverpool, England, UK
• 1981-11-07 Polytechnic, Sheffield, England, UK
• 1981-11-11 Top Rank, Brighton, England, UK
• 1981-11-12 Arts Centre, Poole, England, UK
• 1981-12-03 Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester, England, UK

1982 See You Tour

Puppets was played 39 times during this tour.

• 1982-01-20 Crocs, Rayleigh, Essex, England, UK
• 1982-01-22 The Ritz, New York, NY, USA
• 1982-01-23 The Ritz, New York, NY, USA
• 1982-02-10 BBC Paris Studio, London, England, UK
• 1982-02-12 Top Rank, Cardiff, Wales, UK
• 1982-02-13 Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, UK
• 1982-02-14 Guildshall, Portsmouth, England, UK
• 1982-02-15 The Pavilion, Bath, England, UK
• 1982-02-16 University, Exeter, England, UK
• 1982-02-18 Victoria Hall, Hanley, England, UK
• 1982-02-19 University, Leeds, England, UK
• 1982-02-20 City Hall, Newcastle, England, UK
• 1982-02-21 Tiffany's, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
• 1982-02-22 The Tower, Hull, England, UK
• 1982-02-24 U.E.A., Norwich, England, UK
• 1982-02-25 Kent University, Canterbury, England, UK
• 1982-02-26 Polytechnic, Oxford, England, UK
• 1982-02-27 Bridge House, London, England, UK
• 1982-02-28 Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, UK
• 1982-03-05 Rockola, Madrid, Spain
• 1982-03-06 Rockola, Madrid, Spain
• 1982-03-20 The Ritz, Stockholm, Sweden
• 1982-03-24 Trinity Hall, Hamburg, Germany
• 1982-03-25 Ballroom Blitz, Hannover, Germany
• 1982-03-26 Metropol, Berlin, Germany
• 1982-03-28 De Lantaren, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
• 1982-03-30 Rainbow Club, Oberkorn, Luxembourg
• 1982-04-02 Théâtre Le Palace, Paris, France
• 1982-04-03 Volksbelang, Brussels, Belgium
• 1982-04-10 Fort Regent, St. Helier, Jersey, UK
• 1982-04-12 Beau Sejour, St. Peter Port, Guernsey
• 1982-05-07 The Ritz, New York City, NY, USA
• 1982-05-08 East Side Club, Philadelphia, PA, USA
• 1982-05-09 Concert Hall, Toronto, ON, Canada
• 1982-05-10 Stages, Chicago, IL, USA
• 1982-05-12 Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC, Canada
• 1982-05-14 Kabuki Theatre, San Francisco, CA, USA
• 1982-05-15 Perkins Palace, Pasadena, CA, USA
• 1982-05-16 The Roxy, Los Angeles, CA, USA

1982-1983 A Broken Frame Tour

• Puppets was not played during this tour.

1983-1984 Construction Time Again Tour

• Puppets was not played during this tour.

1984-1985 Some Great Reward Tour

Puppets 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

• Puppets was not played during this tour.

1987-1988 Music For The Masses Tour

• Puppets was not played during this tour.

1990 World Violation Tour

• Puppets was not played during this tour.

1993 Devotional Tour

• Puppets was not played during this tour.

1994 Exotic Tour

• Puppets was not played during this tour.

1997 Ultra Parties

• Puppets was not played during this tour.

1998 The Singles Tour

• Puppets was not played during this tour.

2001 Exciter Tour

• Puppets was not played during this tour.

2003 Paper Monsters Tour (Dave Gahan solo)

• Puppets was not played during this tour.

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

• Puppets was not played during this tour.

2005-2006 Touring The Angel

• Puppets was not played during this tour.

2009-2010 Tour Of The Universe

• Puppets was not played during this tour.

2013-2014 Delta Machine Tour

• Puppets was not played during this tour.

2017-2018 Global Spirit Tour

• Puppets was not played during this tour.