Uh. Social commentary about the cold war? Highly unlikely. Vince Clarke - who wrote this song - isn't exactly known for penning symbolic and insightful double entendres, so much as infectiously catchy "what you hear is what you get" pop songs. Depeche Mode weren't much more than a synthpop band among the throngs until Martin Gore assumed full song-writing responsibility and turned the band in to a masterpiece-producing phenomenon, following the departure of Vince Clarke. Before gaining mainstream success, Depeche Mode gained a loyal "underground" following in the club circuit - particularly in the gay community. "Boys Say Go!" and "What's Your Name?" (both are on Speak and Spell), are blatantly homoerotic songs - a classic example of catering to the largest audience at that time.
Uh. Social commentary about the cold war? Highly unlikely. Vince Clarke - who wrote this song - isn't exactly known for penning symbolic and insightful double entendres, so much as infectiously catchy "what you hear is what you get" pop songs. Depeche Mode weren't much more than a synthpop band among the throngs until Martin Gore assumed full song-writing responsibility and turned the band in to a masterpiece-producing phenomenon, following the departure of Vince Clarke. Before gaining mainstream success, Depeche Mode gained a loyal "underground" following in the club circuit - particularly in the gay community. "Boys Say Go!" and "What's Your Name?" (both are on Speak and Spell), are blatantly homoerotic songs - a classic example of catering to the largest audience at that time.