☝️ Key Points
- The song strongly opposes prejudice, hatred, and discrimination.
- It highlights the diversity of people and emphasizes that despite these differences, there should be no hatred.
- The chorus conveys disbelief and astonishment at human hatred and discrimination.
- Violence and the desperate hope for human decency are addressed.
- The song is a call for tolerance and understanding between people, regardless of their differences.
Interpretation
The song 'People Are People' by
Depeche Mode is a powerful message against prejudice, hate, and discrimination. The lyrics shed light on the absurd fact that people, although they are just people ('People are people'), often treat each other poorly ('You and I should get along so awfully').
The lines 'So we're different colours and we're different creeds, And different people have different needs' refer to the diversity of humanity. Despite these differences, there should be no hate ('It's obvious you hate me though I've done nothing wrong').
The repeated refrain 'I can't understand, What makes a man, Hate another man, Help me understand' emphasizes the lack of understanding and the absurdity of hate and discrimination between people.
The verses 'And now you're punching and you're kicking and you're shouting at me, I'm relying on your common decency' describe violence and the desperate hope for human decency.
Overall, the song is a call for tolerance and understanding between people, regardless of their differences. It raises questions about human nature and why people hate each other even though we are all humans.