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While the Depeche Mode track known as "John the Revelator" should be considered a novel composition written by Martin Gore (rather than a "cover" song - like "Route 66", "Dirt" or "So Cruel" - three songs that are covered by Depeche Mode) the song has its origins in an early 20th-century gospel/folk song "John the Revelator" famously performed by Son House, Blind Willie Johnson, and later by such acts as The Holy Modal Rounders, The Blues Brothers and John Mellencamp, with each new version adding or ignoring the original lyrics if not the original context. Similarly, the Depeche Mode track employs several elements of the namesake including the call-and-response chorus ("who's that shouting? John the Revelator" etc. )
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