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: 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

Lip-Synch Rebels

Lip-Synch RebelsSong Writing

What happens when Kurt Cobain, Iron Maiden and Johnny Lydon are told to lip-synch? Some hilarious "performances."

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Dwight Twilley

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

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.

George Clinton

George ClintonSongwriter Interviews

When you free your mind, your ass may follow, but you have to make sure someone else doesn't program it while it's wide open.