Enjoy The Silence

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...

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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 :)

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.

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 :)