Vows are spoken/
To be broken.

There is a common trope in movies where two lovers are in bed and usually the woman will say to the guy just stop talking and come here (and have sex with me). Hinting that more words are likely to seal the deal in the wrong direction. Why? Because sometimes words get in the way of communication.

This can also take place in a loving relationship with a significant other. There are several songs written about this. “Enjoy the Silence” riffs on that motif. Martin Gore is saying “as long as I am holding you, nothing else needs to be said. I have everything I want.” But he is also saying “don’t ruin a good thing by speaking.

Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence” is an 80s classic which means heavy on the synthesizer and drum machine. It works well with Depeche Mode’s somewhat unfeeling or monotonous vocal delivery. To be fair, the synthesizer is used much better here than in most songs. It is used as a supplementary instrument for the most part—except for the solo.

The use of the “choir” sound is especially good. The laser sounds are a bit over the top, but that was the time and place. Overall, the great melody holds together some of the idiosyncratic choices of production.

Lyrics Enjoy the Silence

Words like violence,
Break the silence.
Come crashing in
Into my little world.

Painful to me,
Pierce right through me.
Can’t you understand?
Oh my little girl.

All I ever wanted,
All I ever needed,
Is here in my arms.
Words are very unnecessary,
They can only do harm.

Vows are spoken
To be broken.
Feelings are intense,
Words are trivial.

Pleasures remain,
So does the pain.
Words are meaningless,
And forgettable.

All I ever wanted,
All I ever needed,
Is here in my arms.
Words are very unnecessary,
They can only do harm.

All I ever wanted,
All I ever needed,
Is here in my arms.
Words are very unnecessary,
They can only do harm.

All I ever wanted,
All I ever needed,
Is here in my arms.
Words are very unnecessary,
They can only do harm.

Songwriters: Martin Lee Gore