For
years I only really knew and loved a couple of Depeche Mode songs.
"Enjoy The Silence" has been on my favorite list since the
moment I heard it. Once I began studying Gnosticism, all things
esoteric and heretical, it gave me a new appreciation for Depeche
Mode. I find many of their lyrics and music videos contain multiple layers of meaning, many with a "gnostic vibe."
This is my take on their song and music video for "Suffer Well." I seem to find something new each time I listen to this
song or watch the vid. Obviously I am writing this post, so these
are my PERSONAL interpretations and opinions.
Just the name of the song are two words with opposite connotations.
Suffer - endure trials... be subjected to pain or sickness
Well - good... abundantly... healthy
Just the name of the song are two words with opposite connotations.
Suffer - endure trials... be subjected to pain or sickness
Well - good... abundantly... healthy
Here are the lyrics:
Where were you when I fell from grace
Frozen heart, an empty space
Something's changed and it's in your eyes
Please don't speak, you'll only lie
I found treasure not where I thought
Peace of mind can't be bought
Still I believe
I just hang on
Suffer well
Sometimes it's hard
It's hard to tell
An angel led me when I was blind
I said take me back, I've changed my mind
Now I believe
From the blackest room, I was torn
You called my name, a love was born
So I believe
I just hang on
Suffer well
Sometimes it's hard
It's hard to tell
I just hang on
Suffer well
Sometimes it's hard
It's hard to tell
The
exoteric meaning of the lyrics and video relate to the struggles Dave
Gahan, the lead singer, experienced while living the rock
star lifestyle which nearly killed him. The lyrics are also a
questioning of religion, truth and reality.
Here are the thoughts I have on what may lie beneath the surface interpretation.
The video starts with a clean-cut Dave getting out of a limousine dressed in a gray jacket and black pants. Gray is a mixture of black and white. Black and white are symbolic of duality, two poles of extremity... masculine/feminine, light/dark, good/evil dichotomies.. Seeing only in black and white is viewed as being in a state of base or lower consciousness. Think of the checkerboard pattern, the twin columns of freemasonry and the pillars of severity and mercy in Kabbalah. Gray would be symbolic of the mixture/balancing of these dichotomies or “middle way.”
He then removes his wedding band. Marriage is the joining of the masculine and feminine (not getting into a debate or discussion on marriage and gender, this is about symbolism). The wedding band would also be symbolic of that middle way and balance between dichotomies. When he removes it, this is another indicator of a state of imbalance.
Here are the thoughts I have on what may lie beneath the surface interpretation.
The video starts with a clean-cut Dave getting out of a limousine dressed in a gray jacket and black pants. Gray is a mixture of black and white. Black and white are symbolic of duality, two poles of extremity... masculine/feminine, light/dark, good/evil dichotomies.. Seeing only in black and white is viewed as being in a state of base or lower consciousness. Think of the checkerboard pattern, the twin columns of freemasonry and the pillars of severity and mercy in Kabbalah. Gray would be symbolic of the mixture/balancing of these dichotomies or “middle way.”
He then removes his wedding band. Marriage is the joining of the masculine and feminine (not getting into a debate or discussion on marriage and gender, this is about symbolism). The wedding band would also be symbolic of that middle way and balance between dichotomies. When he removes it, this is another indicator of a state of imbalance.
He
breaks into a jewelry store which is shown with glittering curtains.
Symbolic of materialism and greed. He puts on a cross necklace,
some rings and his clothes change into a black shirt and
pants with a white tank top underneath. The black is predominant. His
hair and mustache have grown, symbolic of time. He also puts on
sunglasses, symbolic of having his eyes covered... “being blind.”
He sees an angel in heaven and starts walking across the street towards it, nearly being ran over in the process. He's traveling toward the perceived light, goodness or truth but he is “blind”.... enveloped by darkness (ignorance)... his vision has been obscured.... lacking mental perception. The angel then vanishes, symbolic of that which he was seeing being illusory. (The angel is actually his wife, who will make another appearance later.)
He sees an angel in heaven and starts walking across the street towards it, nearly being ran over in the process. He's traveling toward the perceived light, goodness or truth but he is “blind”.... enveloped by darkness (ignorance)... his vision has been obscured.... lacking mental perception. The angel then vanishes, symbolic of that which he was seeing being illusory. (The angel is actually his wife, who will make another appearance later.)
Then
he comes to the next building labeled “FUTURE.”
The neon signs say “we sell HELL and suffer well” and “palms read, fortunes told”
He doesn't enter this building, he just stares at the neon sign for a while then moves on. I see these two neon signs representing the church (who sells hell) and new age beliefs.... or more generally, mainstream/accepted beliefs vs. alternative beliefs. Both are chock full of charlatans and bullshit to be avoided.
The wind starts blowing hard as he walks away from the window. Notice his pants are now gray, He goes into the tavern which is unattended so he just helps himself to some drinks. .. (Notice the black and white checkerboard floor.) Liquor is referred to as a “spirit.” He drinks the “spirit,” passes out, then wakes up, now wearing the white tank top. The cross on his necklace has changed, it's hard to see but it looks like it's now a crucifix... symbol of death/dying. He is drunk and disheveled and begins dancing on the checkerboard floor. Symbolic of gluttony, lack of self control.... base consciousness
He exits the tavern and it's raining. He tries to cover his head with a newspaper but sees that it is useless.
Now he comes to DM's Bridal Shop, where his other two bandmates are bride and groom mannequins. Again with the symbolism as mentioned above. He stands between the bride and groom.... struggling between the two dichotomies, or two pillars. The bride mannequin begins singing... showing a questioning of reality.
The snow starts falling and then it shows Dave in an even more disheveled appearance, longer hair/mustache, his sunglasses have changed and the necklace is gone. He crawls through the snow and then is shown lifeless against a building. Next you see Dave as he was in the beginning. A symbolic death and resurrection. His wife walks up, gives him a kiss, and he's wearing the wedding band. All symbolic of a returning state of balance and equilibrium, They then pass by his old, dead self which is buried in snow.
The neon signs say “we sell HELL and suffer well” and “palms read, fortunes told”
He doesn't enter this building, he just stares at the neon sign for a while then moves on. I see these two neon signs representing the church (who sells hell) and new age beliefs.... or more generally, mainstream/accepted beliefs vs. alternative beliefs. Both are chock full of charlatans and bullshit to be avoided.
The wind starts blowing hard as he walks away from the window. Notice his pants are now gray, He goes into the tavern which is unattended so he just helps himself to some drinks. .. (Notice the black and white checkerboard floor.) Liquor is referred to as a “spirit.” He drinks the “spirit,” passes out, then wakes up, now wearing the white tank top. The cross on his necklace has changed, it's hard to see but it looks like it's now a crucifix... symbol of death/dying. He is drunk and disheveled and begins dancing on the checkerboard floor. Symbolic of gluttony, lack of self control.... base consciousness
He exits the tavern and it's raining. He tries to cover his head with a newspaper but sees that it is useless.
Now he comes to DM's Bridal Shop, where his other two bandmates are bride and groom mannequins. Again with the symbolism as mentioned above. He stands between the bride and groom.... struggling between the two dichotomies, or two pillars. The bride mannequin begins singing... showing a questioning of reality.
The snow starts falling and then it shows Dave in an even more disheveled appearance, longer hair/mustache, his sunglasses have changed and the necklace is gone. He crawls through the snow and then is shown lifeless against a building. Next you see Dave as he was in the beginning. A symbolic death and resurrection. His wife walks up, gives him a kiss, and he's wearing the wedding band. All symbolic of a returning state of balance and equilibrium, They then pass by his old, dead self which is buried in snow.
