People Are People

Album: Some Great Reward (1984)
Charted: 4 13
Play Video
  • 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

    So we're different colors, and we're different breeds
    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?

    I can't understand
    What makes a man hate another man?
    Help me understand

    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

    Help me understand, help me understand
    Help me understand

    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 fist

    I can't understand
    What makes a man hate another man?
    Help me understand

    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

    I can't understand what make a man hate another man
    Help me understand
    I can't understand what make a man hate another man
    Help me understand
    I can't understand what make a man hate another man
    Help me understand
    I can't understand what make a man hate another man
    Help me understand
    I can't understand what make a man hate another man
    Help me understand
    I can't understand what make a man hate another man
    Help me understand Writer/s: Martin Gore
    Publisher: Audiam, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 6

  • Eric from FloridaI believe it was about prejudice on gays. I know none of the members are gay though
  • Rayhan from Hayes - Harlington Middx The cause is the lack of remembrance
    Of Allah (swt)
  • Sebastian from Seattle If you look back at the time period, when Europe was divided into Eastern and Western blocks, the song makes sense. To me, the song has been about the hate that is war, racism, and bigotry between any number of subjects. The song was perfect for Germany, and spoke to the split between East and West Germany.

    The song is too simple, and lacks Martin’s metaphors, that the band has not played it since 1988.
  • Lisa from Alabama I think maybe yall havent listened to the whole song. The lyrics beyond the chorus say “I’ve never even met you so what could I have done?” It’s challenging someone challenging racism, I think. I AM trying to get clarity on it, because I LOVE Depeche Mode but when I really listened was like “nope. Wait a minute.” I want some official interpretation not people online who think the chorus is anti racist. The song doesn’t seem to be.
  • Mimzy from Salem, Orthis is basically an anti-prejudice song.

    "it's so obvious you hate me though i've done nothing wrong"
  • Kristen from Clawson, MiDM is my fav. band and I'm always trying to figure out what the songs "mean". I have to be honest and say I had no idea what "people are people" meant (perhaps I still don't). Glad to have found this forum where other fans can voice their opinions!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Michael Bolton

Michael BoltonSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for this talk with Bolton from the '80s when he was a focused on writing songs for other artists.

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Janet Jackson

Janet JacksonFact or Fiction

Was Janet secretly married at 18? Did she gain 60 pounds for a movie role that went to Mariah Carey? See what you know about Ms. Jackson.

TV Theme Songs

TV Theme SongsFact or Fiction

Was a Beatles song a TV theme? And who came up with those Fresh Prince and Sopranos songs?

Daniel Lanois

Daniel LanoisSongwriter Interviews

Daniel Lanois on his album Heavy Sun, and the inside stories of songs he produced for U2, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan.