People Are People – English Lyrics

• By: Depeche Mode

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the powerful and direct message of Depeche Mode's "People Are People," a synth-pop anthem from 1984. This song's clear and universal lyrics about unity and understanding make it an excellent entry point for learning English. Its unique blend of electronic and industrial sounds offers a rich auditory experience, allowing you to connect with profound themes while exploring a classic of 80s music.

[English]

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 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

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

And 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 take 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 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

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
people /ˈpiːpəl/ A1	noun - human beings in general or considered collectively
understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ B1	verb - to grasp the meaning, significance, or nature of something
different /ˈdɪf.ər.ənt/ A2	adjective - not the same as another or each other
hate /heɪt/ B1	verb - to feel intense or passionate dislike for someone or something
man /mæn/ A1	noun - an adult male human
needs /niːdz/ B1	noun - something that is necessary to live or to achieve something
decency /ˈdiːsənsi/ B2	noun - behavior that conforms to accepted standards of morality or respectability
shouting /ˈʃaʊtɪŋ/ B1	verb - to cry out loudly
punching /ˈpʌnʧɪŋ/ B2	verb - to hit with a fist
kicking /ˈkɪkɪŋ/ B2	verb - to strike with the foot
travel /ˈtrævəl/ A2	verb - to make a journey, typically of some distance
exists /ɪɡˈzɪsts/ B2	verb - to have actual being; to be real

Key Grammar Structures

• People are people, so why should it be

  ➔ Modal verb + subject + base verb in question form

  ➔ The phrase uses 'should' for a rhetorical question, showing expectation or logical reasoning.

• So we're different colours and we're different creeds

  ➔ Contraction + coordinating conjunction

  ➔ "We're" is a contraction of "we are"; the conjunction 'and' links two coordinated clauses.

• It's obvious you hate me though I've done nothing wrong

  ➔ Present perfect + contrastive conjunction

  ➔ Uses 'I've done' (present perfect) to indicate past actions affecting now; 'though' introduces contrast.

• I've never even met you, so what could I have done

  ➔ Present perfect + modal perfect + question tag

  ➔ "I've never met" (present perfect) states an experience; 'could I have done' is a modal perfect to speculate about past possibility.

• I can't understand What makes a man Hate another man

  ➔ Modal verb + infinitive + embedded question

  ➔ "Can't understand" uses modal verb + base form; "What makes a man hate another man" is an embedded question acting as object.

• And now you're punching and you're kicking and you're shouting at me

  ➔ Present continuous tense with contractions and coordinating conjunctions

  ➔ The repeated "you're + verb -ing" shows actions happening now, connected by "and" for multiple simultaneous actions.

• I'm relying on your common decency

  ➔ Present continuous tense indicating current action or state

  ➔ "I'm relying" shows an action happening at the moment or a current state of trust.