Sacred

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Sacred
Song	Sacred
By	Depeche Mode
Songwriter	Martin L. Gore
Produced by	Depeche Mode Dave Bascombe Daniel Miller
Recorded at	Guillaume Tell (Paris) Konk (London)
Length (mm:ss)	4:47
Tempo	120 BPM
Time signature	4 4
Key	F♯ Major
Recorded	February - July, 1987
Originally released	28 September 1987
Live performances as Depeche Mode	101 times *
Total live performances	101 times *

"Sacred" is a song from the 1987 album Music For The Masses by Depeche Mode.

Notes

Andy Fletcher told Képes 7 magazine (translated from Hungarian):

"Sacred is about love, about love as a creed."

Dave Bascombe told Vaughn George in April 2020:

"[I would change] details on 'Sacred', because I'm never happy with that. I had a monitor mix on that which I think I lost. Actually, it did resurface online as a cassette mix I had done, and that was much more how it should have been, and I tried too hard on this mix. And I remember thinking, "I can't get all these parts", and I remember saying to Martin, "I think I might have leave out some of these parts", and he wasn't happy about that. I hadn't mixed it correctly, and I had emphasised certain things, and that was inexperience. I think now I would know that I had gone off on a tangent a lot easier. We didn't refer to rough mixes in those days. It was only after the event when I found this [monitor mix] that I thought "That's what it should have sounded like". It can't describe really what I don't like about it, but it's not as gritty and glam as it should have been. [The monitor mix] is the better mix, guys. We probably did it in five minutes."

When Depeche Mode was interviewed about the songs on the '101' CD for the April 1989 issue of French magazine 'Best', Alan Wilder said (translated from French):

"It was not one of the tracks that worked best on stage. We could have improved it by working on it in the studio, but we preferred to mixing the live version quickly due to wanting to mix one song a day. Our goal was that the live version matches exactly what was performed at the concert. Hearing the audience throughout the songs was done deliberately. We did not want a live album like that of the Simple Minds, for example, which has been almost entirely redone in the studio. The only sounds of atmosphere that they kept were a few applauses, and some shouts left at the beginnings and ends of the songs. That's not live, it's studio-live."

Lyrics

Sacred

Sacred

Holy

To put it in words

To write it down

That is walking on hallowed ground

But it's my duty

I'm a missionary

So here is my confession

It's an obsession

I'm a firm believer

And a warm receiver

And I've made my decision

This is religion

There's no doubt

I'm one of the devout

Trying to sell the story

Of love's eternal glory

Spreading the news around the world

Taking the word to boys and girls

I'm a firm believer

And a warm receiver

And I will go down on my knees

When I see beauty

There's no doubt

I'm one of the devout

Trying to sell the story

Of love's eternal glory

Sacred

Holy

To put it in words

To write it down

That is walking on hallowed ground

Songwriter: Martin L. Gore
Publishing Information: ©1987 Grabbing Hands Music Ltd/EMI Music Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dates with available recordings of Sacred

There are currently 78 recordings of Sacred available.

• 1987-10-22 Pabellon De Real Madrid, Madrid, Spain/Source 1
• 1987-10-23 Blaugrana Sports Palas, Barcelona, Spain/Source 1
• 1987-10-25 Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany/Source 1
• 1987-10-26 Palasport, Bologna, Italy/Source 1
• 1987-10-27 Paleur, Rome, Italy/Source 1
• 1987-10-29 Palasport, Turin, Italy/Source 1
• 1987-10-29 Palasport, Turin, Italy/Source 2
• 1987-10-30 Palatrussardi, Milan, Italy/Source 1
• 1987-11-02 Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart, Germany/Source 1
• 1987-11-03 Festhalle, Frankfurt, Germany/Source 1
• 1987-11-04 Grugahalle, Essen, Germany/Source 1
• 1987-11-04 Grugahalle, Essen, Germany/Source 2
• 1987-11-06 Sporthalle, Cologne, Germany/Source 1
• 1987-11-06 Sporthalle, Cologne, Germany/Source 2
• 1987-11-06 Sporthalle, Cologne, Germany/Source 3
• 1987-11-07 Messehalle, Hannover, Germany/Source 1
• 1987-11-09 Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany/Source 1
• 1987-11-11 Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, Ludwigshafen, Germany/Source 1
• 1987-11-12 Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland/Source 1
• 1987-11-12 Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland/Source 2
• 1987-11-13 Halle des Fêtes, Lausanne, Switzerland/Source 1
• 1987-11-16 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris, France/Source 1
• 1987-11-17 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris, France/Source 1
• 1987-11-18 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris, France/Source 1
• 1987-12-04 The Forum, Inglewood, CA, USA/Source 1
• 1987-12-04 The Forum, Inglewood, CA, USA/Source 2
• 1987-12-12 UIC Pavilion, Chicago, IL, USA/Source 1
• 1987-12-15 The Forum, Montreal, QC, Canada/Source 1
• 1987-12-18 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA/Source 1
• 1987-12-18 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA/Source 2
• 1988-01-09 Newport Centre, Newport, Wales, UK/Source 1
• 1988-01-11 Wembley Arena, London, England, UK/Source 1
• 1988-01-12 Wembley Arena, London, England, UK/Source 1
• 1988-01-15 N.E.C., Birmingham, England, UK/Source 1
• 1988-01-16 Icerink, Whitley Bay, England, UK/Source 1
• 1988-01-17 Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK/Source 1
• 1988-01-19 G-MEX Centre, Manchester, England, UK/Source 1
• 1988-01-20 Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield, England, UK/Source 1
• 1988-01-21 St. George's Hall, Bradford, England, UK/Source 1
• 1988-01-23 B.I.C., Bournemouth, England, UK/Source 1
• 1988-01-24 Centre, Brighton, England, UK/Source 1
• 1988-02-06 Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany/Source 1
• 1988-02-07 Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany/Source 1
• 1988-02-09 Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany/Source 1
• 1988-02-10 Weser-Ems-Halle, Oldenburg, Germany/Source 1
• 1988-02-12 Johanneshov Isstadion, Stockholm, Sweden/Source 1
• 1988-02-12 Johanneshov Isstadion, Stockholm, Sweden/Source 3
• 1988-02-12 Johanneshov Isstadion, Stockholm, Sweden/Source 4
• 1988-02-13 Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden/Source 1
• 1988-02-13 Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden/Source 2
• 1988-02-15 Drammenshallen, Drammen, Norway/Source 1
• 1988-02-17 Valbyhallen, Copenhagen, Denmark/Source 1
• 1988-02-18 Valbyhallen, Copenhagen, Denmark/Source 1
• 1988-02-19 Ostseehalle, Kiel, Germany/Source 1
• 1988-02-21 Forest National, Brussels, Belgium/Source 1
• 1988-02-23 Espace Foire, Lille, France/Source 1
• 1988-02-26 La Beaujoire, Nantes, France/Source 1
• 1988-02-27 Patinoire, Bordeaux, France/Source 1
• 1988-02-29 Palais des Sports, Toulouse, France/Source 1
• 1988-03-01 Le Zenith, Montpellier, France/Source 1
• 1988-03-02 Palais des Sports, Lyon, France/Source 1
• 1988-03-05 Hall Rhenus, Strasbourg, France/Source 1
• 1988-03-07 Werner-Seelenbinder-Halle, East-Berlin, East-Germany/Source 1
• 1988-03-09 Sportcsarnok, Budapest, Hungary/Source 1
• 1988-03-10 Sportcsarnok, Budapest, Hungary/Source 1
• 1988-03-11 Sportovni Hala, Prague, Czech Republic/Source 1
• 1988-03-13 Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria/Source 1
• 1988-04-18 Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan/Source 1
• 1988-04-19 Koseinenkin Hall, Nagoya, Japan/Source 1
• 1988-04-21 NHK Hall, Tokyo, Japan/Source 1
• 1988-04-22 NHK Hall, Tokyo, Japan/Source 1
• 1988-04-29 Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountainview, CA, USA/Source 1
• 1988-05-04 P.N.E. Coliseum, Vancouver, BC, Canada/Source 1
• 1988-05-08 Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, UT, USA/Source 1
• 1988-05-09 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, CO, USA/Source 1
• 1988-05-18 Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN, USA/Source 1
• 1988-05-20 Poplar Creek Music Fest, Chicago, IL, USA/Source 1
• 1988-06-01 Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, NJ, USA/Source 1

Dates where Sacred was played

1987-1988 Music For The Masses Tour

Sacred was played 101 times during this tour.

• 1987-10-22 Pabellon De Real Madrid, Madrid, Spain
• 1987-10-23 Blaugrana Sports Palas, Barcelona, Spain
• 1987-10-25 Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
• 1987-10-26 Palasport, Bologna, Italy
• 1987-10-27 Paleur, Rome, Italy
• 1987-10-29 Palasport, Turin, Italy
• 1987-10-30 Palatrussardi, Milan, Italy
• 1987-11-02 Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart, Germany
• 1987-11-03 Festhalle, Frankfurt, Germany
• 1987-11-04 Grugahalle, Essen, Germany
• 1987-11-06 Sporthalle, Cologne, Germany
• 1987-11-07 Messehalle, Hannover, Germany
• 1987-11-09 Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany
• 1987-11-11 Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, Ludwigshafen, Germany
• 1987-11-12 Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1987-11-13 Halle des Fêtes, Lausanne, Switzerland
• 1987-11-16 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
• 1987-11-17 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
• 1987-11-18 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
• 1987-12-01 Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA, USA
• 1987-12-04 The Forum, Inglewood, CA, USA
• 1987-12-05 The Forum, Inglewood, CA, USA
• 1987-12-07 Sports Arena, San Diego, CA, USA
• 1987-12-08 Compton Terrace, Phoenix, AZ, USA
• 1987-12-10 Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX, USA
• 1987-12-12 UIC Pavilion, Chicago, IL, USA
• 1987-12-14 Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON, Canada
• 1987-12-15 The Forum, Montreal, QC, Canada
• 1987-12-17 Patriot Center, Fairfax, VA, USA
• 1987-12-18 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA
• 1988-01-09 Newport Centre, Newport, Wales, UK
• 1988-01-11 Wembley Arena, London, England, UK
• 1988-01-12 Wembley Arena, London, England, UK
• 1988-01-15 N.E.C., Birmingham, England, UK
• 1988-01-16 Icerink, Whitley Bay, England, UK
• 1988-01-17 Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
• 1988-01-19 G-MEX Centre, Manchester, England, UK
• 1988-01-20 Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield, England, UK
• 1988-01-21 St. George's Hall, Bradford, England, UK
• 1988-01-23 B.I.C., Bournemouth, England, UK
• 1988-01-24 Centre, Brighton, England, UK
• 1988-02-06 Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
• 1988-02-07 Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
• 1988-02-09 Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany
• 1988-02-10 Weser-Ems-Halle, Oldenburg, Germany
• 1988-02-12 Johanneshov Isstadion, Stockholm, Sweden
• 1988-02-13 Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden
• 1988-02-15 Drammenshallen, Drammen, Norway
• 1988-02-17 Valbyhallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
• 1988-02-18 Valbyhallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
• 1988-02-19 Ostseehalle, Kiel, Germany
• 1988-02-21 Forest National, Brussels, Belgium
• 1988-02-23 Espace Foire, Lille, France
• 1988-02-25 Parc De Penfeld, Brest, France
• 1988-02-26 La Beaujoire, Nantes, France
• 1988-02-27 Patinoire, Bordeaux, France
• 1988-02-29 Palais des Sports, Toulouse, France
• 1988-03-01 Le Zenith, Montpellier, France
• 1988-03-02 Palais des Sports, Lyon, France
• 1988-03-04 Palais Des Sports, Besancon, France
• 1988-03-05 Hall Rhenus, Strasbourg, France
• 1988-03-07 Werner-Seelenbinder-Halle, East-Berlin, East-Germany
• 1988-03-09 Sportcsarnok, Budapest, Hungary
• 1988-03-10 Sportcsarnok, Budapest, Hungary
• 1988-03-11 Sportovni Hala, Prague, Czech Republic
• 1988-03-13 Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria
• 1988-04-18 Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan
• 1988-04-19 Koseinenkin Hall, Nagoya, Japan
• 1988-04-21 NHK Hall, Tokyo, Japan
• 1988-04-22 NHK Hall, Tokyo, Japan
• 1988-04-29 Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountainview, CA, USA
• 1988-04-30 Cal Expo Amphitheatre, Sacramento, CA, USA
• 1988-05-02 Coliseum, Seattle, WA, USA
• 1988-05-04 P.N.E. Coliseum, Vancouver, BC, Canada
• 1988-05-05 Civic Auditorium, Portland, OR, USA
• 1988-05-06 Civic Auditorium, Portland, OR, USA
• 1988-05-08 Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
• 1988-05-09 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, CO, USA
• 1988-05-11 Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX, USA
• 1988-05-13 Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, TX, USA
• 1988-05-14 Southern Star Amphitheater, Houston, TX, USA
• 1988-05-15 Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, LA, USA
• 1988-05-17 Five Seasons Center, Cedar Rapids, IA, USA
• 1988-05-18 Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN, USA
• 1988-05-20 Poplar Creek Music Fest, Chicago, IL, USA
• 1988-05-21 Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkston, MI, USA
• 1988-05-22 Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
• 1988-05-24 Starwood Amphitheatre, Nashville, TN, USA
• 1988-05-25 Southern Star Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA, USA
• 1988-05-27 The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA, USA
• 1988-05-28 Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD, USA
• 1988-05-30 Blossom Music Festival, Cleveland, OH, USA
• 1988-06-01 Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, NJ, USA
• 1988-06-03 Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY, USA
• 1988-06-04 Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY, USA
• 1988-06-07 Great Woods Amphitheater, Mansfield, MA, USA
• 1988-06-08 The Forum, Montreal, QC, Canada
• 1988-06-09 CNE Grandstand, Toronto, ON, Canada
• 1988-06-11 AJ Palumbo Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
• 1988-06-15 Compton Terrace, Phoenix, AZ, USA
• 1988-06-18 Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA, USA

1990 World Violation Tour

• Sacred was not played during this tour.

1993 Devotional Tour

• Sacred was not played during this tour.

1994 Exotic Tour

• Sacred was not played during this tour.

1997 Ultra Parties

• Sacred was not played during this tour.

1998 The Singles Tour

• Sacred was not played during this tour.

2001 Exciter Tour

• Sacred was not played during this tour.

2003 Paper Monsters Tour (Dave Gahan solo)

• Sacred was not played during this tour.

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

• Sacred was not played during this tour.

2005-2006 Touring The Angel

• Sacred was not played during this tour.

2009-2010 Tour Of The Universe

• Sacred was not played during this tour.

2013-2014 Delta Machine Tour

• Sacred was not played during this tour.

2017-2018 Global Spirit Tour

• Sacred was not played during this tour.