Depeche Mode

Released: April 13, 1987

Songwriter: Martin L. Gore

Producer: Depeche Mode Dave Bascombe

[Verse 1]
There'll be times when my crimes
Will seem almost unforgivable
I give in to sin
Because you have to make this life liveable

[Pre-Chorus]
But when you think I've had enough from your sea of love
I'll take more than another riverful
Yes, and I'll make it all worthwhile
I'll make your heart smile

[Chorus]
Pain (Pain, pain, pain, pain)
Pain (Pain, pain, pain, pain)
Pain (Pain, pain, pain, pain)
Pain

[Post-Chorus]
Will you take the pain I will give to you
Again and again and will you return it?

[Verse 2]
There'll be days when I'll stray
I may appear to be constantly out of reach
I give in to sin
Because I like to practice what I preach

[Pre-Chorus]
I'm not trying to say I'll have it all my way
I'm always willing to learn when you've got something to teach
Oh, and I'll make it all worthwhile
I'll make your heart smile

[Bridge]
Pain, will you return it?
I'll say it again: pain
Pain, will you return it?
I'll say it again: pain
Pain, will you return it?
I'll say it again: (Pain) pain (Pain, pain, pain, pain)
Pain, will you return it?
I won't say it again
Pain (Pain, pain, pain, pain)

[Chorus]
Pain (Pain, pain, pain, pain)
Pain
Pain (Pain, pain, pain, pain)
Pain, pain
P-p-pain, p-p-pain, pain pain

[Bridge]
Pain, will you return it?
I'll say it again: pain (Pain, pain, pain, pain)
Pain, will you return it?
I'll say it again: pain (Pain, pain, pain, pain)

[Interlude]

[Chorus]
Pain, pain, pain (Pain, pain, pain, pain)
Pain, pain, pain (Pain, pain, pain, pain)
Pain, pain (Pain, pain, pain, pain)

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

X¹ + X²

From the albums

X¹ + X² (1991)
DMBX4: Singles 19-24 (2004)

Depeche Mode popular songs

Strangelove (Pain Mix)Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode

X¹ + X²