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


Lyrics submitted by antispork, edited by UltimateWho

Enjoy The Silence [Harmonium] Lyrics as written by Martin Gore

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O DistroKid

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Enjoy The Silence song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

176 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +28
    General Comment

    I think it's about a relationship. He is saying that if we don't speak we can't hurt each other, i enjoy being with you, in your arms, and it's perfect, but don't tell me things I won't want to hear...

    klepto2000on June 08, 2002   Link
  • +22
    General Comment

    I think this song just expresses exactly HOW powerful words can be among people. He's saying "enjoy the silence" because once the silence is broken... You are bound to be hurt at one point or another.. Which is very true.. I'm JUST getting into Depeche Mode and I think they ROCK the house.

    maxpower114on February 08, 2002   Link
  • +13
    Song Meaning

    actions/behavior > verbal communication

    that's what I read from this song. Every time a boyfriend tells me he loves me for the first time, I feel like rolling my eyes and saying "well duh, you act like it" or "yeah I know, I don't need you to tell me that". Of course, I never actually say this.

    But it seems like the narrator is commenting on the triviality of words like these. He is emphasizing the power of non-verbal communication. Words don't matter -- which is why I hate it when people tell me they love me. Things like that are more effectively SHOWN than TOLD.

    leerishon September 21, 2010   Link
  • +9
    General Comment

    I've always thought that the song is referring to that very specific moment right after making love, when there are intense feelings around, and for some people (mostly men) pillow talk is not only unnecessary, but can ruin the moment. That's just my two cents.

    hestia74on March 24, 2013   Link
  • +8
    General Comment

    silence is beautiful...don't screw it up with stupid meaningless words that won't get you anywhere

    amberl0396on May 11, 2002   Link
  • +6
    General Comment

    Man, I had forgotten how beautiful this song is. I always think of my gf when I hear this song. To me its not about ruining anything with words, or expecting one of us to say something wrong, or even to try to communicate better or any of that crap. When I'm just holding my gf in my arms, I have anything I need. I enjoy the silence because it helps point out a feeling I get that I can't describe with words. Any words spoken at that point would just halt my silent message of love to her......

    um, yeah, anyways.... good song! hehe

    blinkbomberon July 31, 2002   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    It's about how sometimes saying the wrong thing can destroy everything,

    jimmyjango2000on April 04, 2003   Link
  • +4
    My Interpretation

    Depenche mode - Enjoy the sillence meaning is a loop!

    First of all, it is a love song. He is talking to his love, telling her about, words..

    Besides from, him or her being mean to each other, he still feels that there is love between them, everyday growing even stronger. "All I ever wanted, All I ever needed, Is here in my arms". Meaning, All I ever wanted was to have you, here in my arms. That shows how much he still does love her.

    He is blaming words that are "trivial" and "forgettable" and "can only do harm" for what happened between them and for alot of reasons. With one of them, being that words are easily misinterpreted and misunderstood compared to actions.

    Enjoy the silence, is a song that means, // I lost you and you lost me and all that because of just words, which are trivial and forgettable // ... They can only do harm because I can never see you again or you to see me again. We lost ourselves inside a dictionary... Maybe if words weren't there, we would still be around to each other.

    This is a unique and extraordinary song. Because he brings up AND devalues the topic of verbal communication, using... verbal communication!! Literally the lyrics ARE words! Meaning, that he is still inside the same trap! Unable to get out! Unable to express himself withought words! He understands that words are bad, but he still uses them to make the song! But at the same time, trying to show her how he feels. But he can't because he still use words even to make the song! (words are trivial and forgettable and can only do harm). That's the loop. And that loop is the true meaning of the song.

    Have a very nice day :)

    Drunk584on March 02, 2015   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    COME ON!!!!!! Just because he says "All I ever needed is here in my arms" You guys think it's about heroin. DICKS. First of all- Heroin is ALMOST ALWAYS referred to as a male. Second of all there is nothing else to indicate that this is about heroin. This song is about an interpersonal relationship between a man and a woman. You people know fucking ZERO about junkies, and you should be happy that you don't. But don't pretend to know what the fuck you're talking about.

    LoganNYCon October 13, 2004   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I have been a Depeche Mode fan since the first time I hard songs from there Music for the Masses album. I think when they look back on this band, this song will always be the song that is synonymous with the band, it’s their definitive song. It’s as good to listen to today as the first time I heard it, and is timeless in it’s truest sense of the word.

    Having read all the interpretations on this site, viewing the music video repeatedly, I think that the overall theme of this song, at it’s highest level, is one of escapism. Escapism is a mental diversion by which to relieve oneself of the perceived unpleasant aspects of daily stress.

    This claim we be illustrated against both the interpretations of a drug induced stupor, deep romantic involvement, as well as symbolism within the music video, which I will explore further. I do realize that is often not good to explore music video symbolism with actual song meanings, but since the crowned king/prince symbol is closely tied to this song in the video as well as during concert performances; I feel that this is significant to the meaning and should be explored.

    Lets break down the inner meanings of the word silence first. It could mean a quiet moment (who’s counter point would be chaos), or it could mean the act of not expressing, as an act of preserving.

    The song begins with the first stanza:

    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

    Simply stated, he is speaking of a chaotic point of violence in the world around him, that it is painful. And there is a need to have an escape. If you follow the romantic relationship interpretation, it is him pressing his need to be in a quiet moment with his loved one to escape. If you follow the drug interpretation, it is his confession to his naive “little girl” that he needs an injection to escape. And if you follow the music video symbolism of a crowned king/prince (often a literary symbol of privilege, authority, higher spiritual state, or superego), then he is explaining the desire to flee the bickering of his court to his “little girl” princess.

    The main chorus continues and is repeated:

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

    Here is where interpretations of the song’s meaning diverge a bit, but at a high level, essentially have the same meaning. If you follow the romantic relationship interpretation, he is confessing that his love for his “little girl” is his escape, and that why worry a perfect moment with imperfect words. If you follow the drug interpretation, he is confessing that all he needs is the drugs running “in my arms” and that words would only take him way from his high. And if you follow the symbolism of the video, then his escape is being way from his court and using the chair in his “arms” to enjoy the silence and actually enjoy his kingdom or “little world” or just his daily journey through life. There is also an underlying desire to stay away from expression, as “words are very unnecessary, they can only do harm”

    The second stanza before the main chorus is repeated:

    Vows are spoken To be broken Feelings are intense Words are trivial Pleasures remain So does the pain Words are meaningless And forgettable

    Again divergence in interpretation, but the higher meaning is the same. If you follow the romantic relationship interpretation, he saying, why make vows, they can be broken, let’s just enjoy the feelings, the pleasures and even the pains the relationship brings without words. This reinforces the “in my arms” escape. In you follow the drug interpretation, it’s breaking of a vow because feelings are so intense for the drug, though gives pleasure, it doesn’t remove the pain it was meant to quell, and the stupor of the high makes words meaningless and forgettable. And finally, for the folks following the music video symbolism, vows and promises are often made in a position of privilege, but no matter how you try to escape, “pleasures remain, so does the pain” and hence you can never have a moment of escape last.

    So hopefully I have illustrated that now matter how you try to interpret this song, it is ultimately about escapism. How everyone needs it, how good it feels, and ultimately how it is only temporary. Enjoy the Silence :)

    Paralloxon March 12, 2008   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
Blue
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.