The Darkest Star

The song, is soothing throughout like someone said. It's dark yet, focused and soothing. To me the entire album is like this, it's dark like NIN but it isn't masochistic. Also the chorus that serves as background vocals is eerie, but fits well with the mood.

The lyrics: To me kinda symbolize people who enjoy having a black mood, and those who see the world as a "loaded gun".

Stay as you are the Darkest Star Shining for me Majestically

I don't want you to change anything you do I don't want you to be someone else for me

-very soothing

verse 1-3 : This might be referring to the fact that most people are miserable and sad in there lifes and they try to act like saintly people "playing the angel", and also when he says its easy, he probably means that it is easier to wear a false mask then be your real you.

verse 4-6 : Might be referring to people trying to be satisfied doing "bad" things for satisfaction like drugs,stealing,violence etc, and this might be in reference to Dave's addiction and he himself knowing that the drugs didnt satisfy him for long.

verse 7-8 : He wants people to remain as they are without them being someone else, like wearing a mask and being false as most people do.

verse 9-11 : Oh you dark one, eternal outsider, this might be the first reference to someone who is really being as who he is, but since he is being a real person he has been caught in society's web to destroy his individuality and he keeps spinning in it without any direction since he is who he is.

verse 12-14 : This part is contradictory, it might be a subtle way to show peoples contradictory nature which is, people being blind to reality and thus acting kind and gentle when really seeing the world in a different point of view. Probably meaning that they are acting just to fit in and not be harmed by society since they know its a "loaded gun".

verse 15-16 : same as 7 and 8

verse 17-19 : stay as you are your real you, even if you are dark and not being accepted by most of the people but you will be accepted by people who prefer to show there individuality and be themselves and there shining nature only shines for people who see that they are real and not people wearing false masks to hide there nature.

verse 20-21: same as 7 and 8

In my opinon, this song is a wonderful description of each and every one of the members of the band and about Depeche Mode itself.

The first paragraph tells us about Alan Wilder, former member of the band, the most important one at a sound level. He was in the band from 1982 to 1995 and left due to not having the other members' recognition. While the others were partying, he used to stay in the studio with the engineers and the producers to find new sounds for the songs. But the praises went to Dave Gahan (the singer) and Martin Gore (the songwriter). The song references to the sadness the situation created in him and the fact that "playing the angel" (creating music for Depeche Mode) wasn't so easy for him without the others' assistance.

The second paragraph is a clear description of the singer, Dave Gahan. In his wildest years, he was known to have a difficult personality and he always was angry. Besides that, everyone knows about his drug addiction problems in the late 80s and early 90s…that meant that he had to "dance" with the devil many times. As he wasn't happy, of course he wasn't fully satisfied with his life.

The third description tells us about Martin Gore, the band's songwriter. He's always been an outsider, since in music bands, the spotlight is usually on the singer. But he feels comfortable with that role due to his shy personality, although he normally sings a couple of songs in every album. Of course, the band is still alive because of the spider web he's been spinning for more than 30 years.

Finally, the forth description goes to the most unknown member of the band: Andy Fletcher. He's basically the treasurer and the manager of the band and has no musical influence at all in the group. But he's mainly the link that keeps the tension away between Dave Gahan and Martin Gore (two difficult and opposite personalities). He is short-sighted (he wears glasses or prescription lenses sunglasses), so he's "blind". In the last line, the songs says that he sees the world as a loaded gun, since he is known to be quite cautious and mistrustful.

The chorus tells us about the band itself. After so many years of problems, success and break-up possibilities, the song tells that the band should stay where it is and change nothing at all, by working the same way they've worked up until this moment because that's been the key to their success. If they do so, the band will keep shining and the darkest star (the Depeche Mode music style: dark and obscure sometimes) will continue its existence.

At least, that's my vision and my opinion.

This song makes me peer into my Soul...

Am I the only one that finds this song very relaxing :P lol even during the hard parts

This is a great song... Complicated both musically and lyrically...

Personally, I think he's fallen for someone that is in a relationship and that relationship is an unhappy and repressive one and one where she is only staying in it because that's all she knows; the repression, so she's blind to his feelings for her, she is scared of the world because of the repression and she's helped trap herself in the spiders web by giving and loving openly. He doesn't want her to change, he wants her to shine...

Hope that sort of made sense...

the best song ML Gore has ever written. kind of acceptance song, the one which tells you to live with your darkside whatever it is. dont afraid to be one - eternal outsider - or play the angel... scary, but beautiful

It sounds like an ironical song about someone's seeing God as The Darkest Star.

For me, this is from Dave to Martin. Then again, it's written by Martin. It's hard to say who the darker force is, who drives who in DM and whatever else. Still, for me, this is from Dave to Martin.

Martin, a self-proclaimed agnostic (TV interview 1993), likes to ponder on person\'s spiritual path towards good or evil. He does so time and time again in his song lyrics. Truth is each person plays the angel at times, and fraternizes with the "devil" at other times. Happiness doesn\'t come easy, no matter the path you try to take. Contentment is key. Don\'t change anything you do, don\'t try to be something else. You\'re a dark star that shines. And you should be so lucky to find someone that accepts you as you are.