Policy of Truth

"**Policy of Truth**" is the seventh track and the third single on Depeche Mode's seventh studio album, *Violator*. It was released on May 7, 1990.

## Music video

The video for the single was filmed in New York between March 10 and 14 while the band, Anton and his crew were conducting photoshoots and filming the footage to be used on the screens for the World Violation Tour.

## B-side

The B-side of the single comes with the instrumental, Kaleid. A version of it was used as intro music for World Violation Tour in 1990.

## Releases

**7-inch, cassette: Mute / Bong19, CBong19 (UK)**

1. "Policy of Truth" (5:10)
2. "Kaleid" (4:17)

**12-inch: Mute / 12Bong19 (UK)**

1. "Policy of Truth [Beat Box Mix] [Edit]" (6:30) (remixed by François Kevorkian)
2. "Policy of Truth [Capitol Mix]" (8:00) (remixed by François Kevorkian)
3. "Kaleid [When Worlds Mix]" (5:22) (remixed by Daniel Miller and George Holt)

**12-inch: Mute / L12Bong19 (UK)**

1. "Policy of Truth [Trancentral Mix]" (5:55) (remixed by The KLF)
2. "Kaleid [Remix]" (4:36) (remixed by Bruce Smith and Sean Oliver)
3. "Policy of Truth [Pavlov's Dub]" (6:02) (remixed by François Kevorkian)

**CD: Mute / CDBong19 (UK)**

1. "Policy of Truth [Beat Box Mix Edit]" (6:31)
2. "Policy of Truth [Capitol Mix]" (8:00)
3. "Kaleid [Remix]" (4:36)

**CD: Mute / LCDBong19 (UK)**

1. "Policy of Truth" [Trancentral Mix] (6:00)
2. "Kaleid" [When Worlds Mix] (5:22)
3. "Policy of Truth" [Pavlov's Dub] (5:51)
4. "Policy of Truth" [7-inch Version] (5:08)
5. "Kaleid [7-inch Version] (4:16)

**CD: Mute / CDBong19X (EU; 2004)**

1. "Policy of Truth" (5:10)
2. "Kaleid" (4:17)
3. "Policy of Truth [Beat Box Mix]" (7:13)
4. "Policy of Truth [Capitol Mix]" (8:00)
5. "Kaleid [When Worlds Mix]" (5:22)
6. "Policy of Truth [Trancentral Mix]" (5:55)
7. "Kaleid [Remix]" (4:36)
8. "Policy of Truth [Pavlov's Dub]" (6:02)

**CD: Sire/Reprise / 9 21534-2 (US)**

1. "Policy of Truth" (5:10)
2. "Policy of Truth [Capitol Mix]" (8:00)
3. "Policy of Truth [Beat Box Mix]" (7:13)
4. "Kaleid [Remix]" (4:36)
5. "Policy of Truth [Pavlov's Dub]" (6:02)

* "Pavlov's Dub" is mislabeled on the Sire/Reprise version's cover art as the "Trancentral Mix"

## Official remixes

* Single version
* Beat Box Mix
* Pavlov's Dub
* Trancentral Mix
* Capitol Mix

## Lyrics

You had something to hide

Should have hidden it, shouldn't you?

Now you're not satisfied

With what you're being put through

It's just time to pay the price

For not listening to advice

And deciding in your youth

On the policy of truth

Things could be so different now

It used to be so civilised

You will always wonder how

It could have been if you'd only lied

It's too late to change events

It's time to face the consequence

For delivering the proof

In the policy of truth

Never again is what you swore

The time before

Never again is what you swore

The time before

Now you're standing there tongue-tied

You'd better learn your lesson well

Hide what you have to hide

And tell what you have to tell

You'll see your problems multiplied

If you continually decide

To faithfully pursue

The policy of truth

Never again is what you swore

The time before

Never again is what you swore

The time before

## Trivia

* A remixed acapella version of Policy of Truth was used on the 2022 20th Century Studios trailer *Death on the Nile*.

## Sources

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policy\_of\_Truth
* https://dmlive.wiki/wiki/Policy\_Of\_Truth
* http://almostpredictablealmost1.blogspot.com/2020/03/something-to-hide-policy-of-truth.html
* https://genius.com/Depeche-mode-policy-of-truth-lyrics