If You Want

I find it hard to discern the meaning of this song; Alan's lyrics are so much more oblique than those of Martin. I will relate to the first stanza only (which is my favourite part of the song). At first, when just looking at the words, it seems a joyful celebration of leisure time at the weekend ('Working week's come to its end, party time is here again'). But the gloomy, brooding atmosphere/music in the first stanza suggests something different. There is that low bubbling bass synthesizer, that raw stomping beat, various unsettling noises/samples (e.g. a shrieking door), and Dave's voice is also very eerie on this one. This makes me think that the lyrics are tongue-in-cheek or obliquely suggestive. Alan Wilder may somehow refer to his role as an occasional outsider who despises the masses and their inclinations (boozing, disco, partying etc). The quintessence of the first stanza may read like this: 'You can come with me if you want to; it's surely not gonna be what you're expecting or what most people do. It may also be dangerous somehow, solitary too (just the two of us). But if you dare to do so, it might be something of high value, interesting, and more fulfilling than the ordinary dispersions of the masses (boozing, disco, partying etc).' With this meaning in mind, it is effectively similar to Martin's "Something to do" ('I can't stand another drink, it's surprising this down doesn't sink. You're feeling the boredom too, I gladly go with you'), and would suit the general mood of the related album (Some Great Reward) very well. I could be wrong of course, but it makes sense to me somehow.

Underrated to the max!

I love this song. It was actually one of the first songs that got me started on Depeche Mode

I think it's an open invitation to 'Depeche Mode' to adapt to change.