43 years ago (12 March 1982), Depeche Mode released “People Are People” - the lead single from their fourth studio album “Some Great Reward”. It was their first hit single in the US, peaking at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2011 the song was included on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of the "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll".
[Chorus: Dave Gahan & Martin L. Gore]
People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?
People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?
[Verse 1: Dave Gahan]
So we're different colours and we're different creeds
And different people have different needs
It's obvious you hate me, though I've done nothing wrong
I've never even met you, so what could I have done?
[Pre-Chorus: Martin L. Gore]
I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand
[Chorus: Dave Gahan & Martin L. Gore]
People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?
People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?
[Post-Chorus: Martin L. Gore]
(Help me understand)
(Help me understand, help me understand)
[Verse 2: Dave Gahan]
Now you're punching and you're kicking and you're shouting at me
I'm relying on your common decency
So far it hasn't surfaced, but I'm sure it exists
It just takes a while to travel from your head to your fists
[Pre-Chorus: Martin L. Gore]
I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand
[Chorus: Dave Gahan & Martin L. Gore]
People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?
People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?
[Outro: Martin L. Gore]
I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand
I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand
I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand
I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
(Why should it be?)
Help me understand
I can't understand
What makes a man
(Why should it be?)
Hate another man
Help me understand
I can't understand
What makes a man
(Why should it be?)
Hate another man
Help me understand