John The Revelator

From DM Live - the Depeche Mode live encyclopedia for the masses
Jump to navigationJump to search
1. A Pain That I'm Used To
2. John The Revelator
List of Playing The Angel songs
3. Suffer Well
John The Revelator
Single-John.jpg
Song John The Revelator
By Depeche Mode
Songwriter Martin L. Gore
Produced by Ben Hillier
Recorded at Sound Design (Santa Barbara)
Length (mm:ss) 3:14
Tempo 130 BPM
Time signature 4
4
Key F♯ Minor
Programmed by Dave McCracken
Richard Morris
Engineered by Ben Hillier
Richard Morris
Mixing assistance Devin Workman
Kt Rangnick
Mastered by Emily Lazar
Mastering assistance Sarah Register
Recording assistance Nick Sevilla
Arjun Agerwala
Rudyard Lee Cullers
Devin Workman
Kt Rangnick
Art direction Anton Corbijn
Design Anton Corbijn
Four5one.com
Photography Anton Corbijn
Recorded January - July 2005
Originally released 5 June 2006
Live performances as Depeche Mode 225 times *
Total live performances 230 times *

"John The Revelator" is a song from the 2005 album Playing The Angel by Depeche Mode. It was released as a double A-side single alongside "Lilian" on 5 June 2006.

Notes

Martin Gore told La Libre newspaper (translated from French):

This song is inspired by a traditional tune. It talks about faith in God, no matter what. It also denounces the belief in a God who punishes and damns. In the 'Book of Revelation,' John describes his visions of these seven angels descending, blowing into their seven trumpets and causing plagues, epidemics, and floods that gradually exterminate a large part of humanity. Only the true believers remain. I do not believe in all that.

Martin Gore told WAMS magazine (translated from German):

"'John the Relevator' is a cover of a song by Blues singer Son House. I own an old Shellac single from the 1930s with the original song on it."

Martin Gore told the November 2005 of Keyboard magazine:

"I've been listening a great deal to a six-CD set of traditional gospel music called Goodbye Babylon, which is just phenomenal. 'John the Revelator' is a heavily re-interpreted old gospel tune about the author of the Book of Revelation, but our lyrical take on it is, “Armageddon? Gee, thanks.”"

Ben Hillier told the same magazine:

"[The high, randomish arpeggios at the beginning and end of 'John The Revelator' were] a VCS-3 simulated by [Native Instruments] Reaktor, combined with this cool ring mod Martin cooked up on his Nord Lead 2. Other software that saw a lot of use included their Pro-53 and [Way Out Ware] TimewARP 2600."

Martin Gore told Swedish newspaper "DN" in 2005 (translated from Swedish):

MG: I told Andy [Fletcher] that Christians will demonstrate outside of our concerts. He didn’t agree. He thinks it’s a positive and uplifting song. It’s not critical towards God, just towards John. If God does exist I don’t think he’s punishing and judgmental. I don’t think he sends plagues that wipe out a third of humanity. I don’t think he’s got seven angels blowing in seven trumpets and causing disasters.

DN: But isn’t God acting exactly like he does in the Book of Revelation when he sends a tsunami on people?

MG: I didn’t hear any trumpets.

Lyrics


John The Revelator

John the Revelator

Put him in an elevator

Take him up to the highest high

Take him up to the top

Where the mountains stop

Let him tell his book of lies


John the Revelator

He's a smooth operator

It's time we cut him down to size

Take him by the hand

And put him on the stand

Let us hear his alibis


By claiming God

As his holy right

He's stealing a God

From the Israelites

Stealing a God

From the Muslim too

There is only one God

Through and through


Seven lies multiplied by seven

Multiplied by seven again

Seven angels with seven trumpets

Send them home on the morning train


Well who's that shouting

John the Revelator

All he ever gives us is pain

Well who's that shouting

John the Revelator

He should bow his head in shame


By and By

By and By

By and By

By and By


Seven lies multiplied by seven

Multiplied by seven again

Seven angels with seven trumpets

Send them home on the morning train


Well who's that shouting

John the Revelator

All he ever gives us is pain

Well who's that shouting

John the Revelator

He should bow his head in shame


By and By

By and By

John the Revelator

By and By

John the Revelator

By and By

John the Revelator


Songwriter: Martin L. Gore
Publishing Information: ©2005 EMI Music Publishing Ltd., Assigned by Grabbing Hands Music Overseas Ltd. All rights reserved.

Music video

Live performances

Main article: Available recordings of "John The Revelator"
Main article: List of dates where "John The Revelator" was played


1981-1985: Dreaming Of MeNew LifeJust Can't Get EnoughSee YouThe Meaning Of Love
Leave In SilenceGet The Balance RightEverything CountsLove In ItselfPeople Are PeopleMaster And ServantBlasphemous Rumours / SomebodyShake The DiseaseIt's Called A Heart
1986-1989: StrippedBut Not TonightA Question Of LustA Question Of TimeStrangelove
Never Let Me Down AgainBehind The WheelLittle 15Personal Jesus
1990-1998: Enjoy The SilencePolicy Of TruthWorld In My EyesI Feel YouWalking In My ShoesCondemnationIn Your RoomBarrel Of A GunIt's No GoodHomeUseless
Only When I Lose Myself
2001-2009: Dream OnI Feel LovedFreeloveGoodnight LoversPreciousA Pain That I'm Used To
Suffer WellJohn The Revelator / LilianMartyrWrongPeaceFragile Tension / Hole To Feed
2013-2017: HeavenSoothe My SoulShould Be HigherWhere's The RevolutionGoing Backwards
Cover Me
2023: Ghosts Again
1992-1998: Faith HealerDriftingStalker / Missing Piece
2000-2008: Strange HoursJezebelPreyAllelujah
2003-2008: Dirty Sticky FloorsI Need YouBottle Living / Hold OnA Little PieceKingdomSaw Something / Deeper And Deeper
2012-2015: Longest DayTake Me Back HomeAll Of This And NothingShine
1989-2003: CompulsionStardustLoverman
2012-2015: SpockSingle BlipAftermathsEuropa Hymn • "Pinking" (Christoffer Berg Remix)
Official releases