Useless

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5. Uselink
6. Useless
List of Ultra songs
7. Sister Of Night
Useless
Single-Useless.jpg
Song Useless
By Depeche Mode
Songwriter Martin L. Gore
Produced by Depeche Mode
Tim Simenon
Recorded at Abbey Road
Eastcote
Westside
Strongroom
RAK (London)
Electric Lady (New York City)
Larrabee West (Los Angeles)
Length (mm:ss) 5:12 (album version)
4:53 (remix)
4:44 (edit)
Tempo 94 BPM
Time signature 4
4
Key B Major
Programmed by Kerry Hopwood
Engineered by Q
Engineering assistance Paul Hicks
Guy Massey
Lee Fitzgerald
Tom Rixton
Gary Forde
Lee Phillips
Jamie Campbell
Jim
Greg
Audie Chamberlain
Robbie Kazandjian
Mixed by Tim Simenon
Q
Mastered by Mike Marsh
Keyboards Dave Clayton
Percussion Danny Cummings
Drums Gota Yashiki
Keith LeBlanc
Vocal coach Evelyn Halus
Art direction Anton Corbijn
Colour prints Brian Dowling
Sleeve design Area
Recorded January 1996–February 1997
Originally released 20 October 1997
Live performances as Depeche Mode 122 times *
Total live performances 144 times *

"Useless" is a song from the 1997 album Ultra by Depeche Mode. It was released as a single on 20 October 1997.

Notes

When Depeche Mode started recording an album in November 1995, 'Useless' was one of the three songs that Martin Gore had ready as a demo.

Martin Gore in Bong magazine issue no. 37, 1998:

"It's one of the rockiest pieces that we’ve ever done and it's probably up there with 'I Feel You'. I think we're on that right side of another line when it comes to rock, but I don't think we'll ever be a rock band or a heavy metal band. We might branch out and do things like pop or we might do some rock but we'll still retain some identity."

Lyrics


Useless

Well it's about time

It's beginning to hurt

Time you made up your mind

Just what is it all worth


All my useless advice

All my hanging around

All your cutting down to size

All my bringing you down


Watch the clock on the wall

Feel the slowing of time

Hear a voice in the hall

Echoing in my mind


All your stupid ideals

You've got your head in the clouds

You should see how it feels

With your feet on the ground


Here I stand the accused

With your fist in my face

Feeling tired and bruised

With the bitterest taste


All my useless advice

All my hanging around

All your cutting down to size

All my bringing you down


All your stupid ideals

You've got your head in the clouds

You should see how it feels

With your feet on the ground


Songwriter: Martin L. Gore
Publishing Information: ©1997 Grabbing Hands Music Ltd/EMI Music Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

Music video

Live performances

Main article: Available recordings of "Useless"
Main article: List of dates where "Useless" 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
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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