Released: August 16, 1982

Songwriter: Martin L. Gore

Producer: Daniel Miller Depeche Mode

[Verse 1: Dave Gahan]
I've told myself so many times before
But this time I think I mean it for sure
We have reached a full stop
Nothing's going to save us from the big drop

[Verse 2: Dave Gahan]
Reached our natural conclusion
Outlived the illusion
I hate being in these situations
That call for diplomatic relations

[Pre-Chorus 1: Dave Gahan]
If I only knew the answer
Or I thought we had a chance
Or I could stop this
I would stop this thing
From spreading like a cancer

[Chorus: Dave Gahan, Andrew Fletcher & Martin L. Gore]
What can I say? I don't want to play anymore
What can I say? I'm heading for the door
I can't stand this emotional violence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence

[Instrumental Interlude]

[Verse 3: Dave Gahan]
We've been running around in circles all year
Doing this and that and getting nowhere
This will be the last time
I think I said that last time

[Interlude]

[Pre-Chorus 2: Dave Gahan]
If I only had a potion
Some magical lotion
That could stop this
I would stop this
I would set the wheels in motion

[Chorus: Dave Gahan, Andrew Fletcher & Martin L. Gore]
What can I say? I don't want to play anymore
What can I say? I'm heading for the door
I can't stand this emotional violence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence

[Outro: Dave Gahan]
Leave in silence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence
Leave in silence

Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode are recognized as one of the most artistically influential bands of the late 20th century. Commercially, they have released 14 studio albums to date, and sold more than 100 million records. Their most recent album, Spirit, hit the streets in March 2017.

The band got their start in Basildon, Essex in 1980, and named themselves after a French fashion magazine. They rose to fame with hits that have become “Just Can’t Get Enough” (1981), “Everything Counts” (1983), and “People Are People” (1984), to name a few. One of their most famous concerts was at the Pasadena Rose Bowl in 1988.

Martin Gore has been the band’s primary songwriter since Vince Clarke left in the early 1980s (and went on to form Yazoo and Erasure). Alan Wilder replaced Clarke on keyboards in 1982, but left in 1995 (reinvesting his creative energy in his band, Recoil, which he had started in 1986). Since then, the band has comprised frontman Dave Gahan, multi-instrumentalist Martin Gore, and keyboardist Andy Fletcher—all of whom are original members.

more tracks from the album

Video Singles Collection