{{Short description|1988 single by Pet Shop Boys}} {{Use British English|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox song | name = Left to My Own Devices | cover = Lefttomyowndevices.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Pet Shop Boys | album = Introspective | B-side = The Sound of the Atom Splitting | released = {{start date|1988|11|14|df=y}} | genre = * Synth-pop<ref name="Edwards & Elliott 2023">{{cite web|first1= Luke|last1= Edwards|first2= Mark|last2= Elliott|title= Best Pet Shop Boys Songs: 30 Synth-Pop Hits Always On Our Mind|website= Dig!|date= 16 June 2023|url= https://www.thisisdig.com/feature/best-pet-shop-boys-songs/|access-date= 24 September 2025|archive-date= 30 May 2025|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250530154410/https://www.thisisdig.com/feature/best-pet-shop-boys-songs/|url-status= dead}}</ref> * dance-pop<ref name="Pitchfork 2006">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9487-popart-the-hits/|title= Pet Shop Boys - ''PopArt: The Hits''|work=Pitchfork |date= 6 October 2006|access-date= 10 January 2025|last= Abebe|first= Nitsuh|quote= These songs are, in a way, the urtext of dance-pop...the incredibly sly, stylish sing-speak on "Left to My Own Devices".}}</ref> * orchestral pop<ref>{{cite web|website=Classic Pop|title=Classic Album: Pet Shop Boys - Introspective|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/features/classic-album/classic-album-pet-shop-boys-introspective/|last=Wade|first=Ian|date=14 April 2025}}</ref> | recorded = | studio = * Advision (London, England){{efn|Vocals recording}}<ref name="introspectivefurther">{{Cite AV media notes |title=Introspective: Further Listening 1988-1989|title-link=Introspective |last=Heath|first=Chris|author-link=Chris Heath|others=Pet Shop Boys|date=2018|page=6|type=booklet |publisher=Parlophone Records|id=0190295826178}}</ref> * Sarm West (London, England)<ref>{{cite magazine |date=22 October 2025|title=Trevor Horn's Studio Mixing Desk to Feature in Music Auction|url=https://www.goldminemag.com/collector-resources/trevor-horns-studio-mixing-desk-to-feature-in-music-auction/ |magazine=Goldmine|access-date=25 December 2025}}</ref> * Abbey Road (London, England){{efn|Orchestra recording}}{{sfn|Heath|2018|p=7}} | length = * 8:16 (album version) * 4:43 (7-inch) | label = Parlophone | writer = * Chris Lowe * Neil Tennant | producer = * Trevor Horn * Stephen Lipson | prev_title = Domino Dancing | prev_year = 1988 | next_title = It's Alright | next_year = 1989 | misc = {{Extra album cover | header = Alternative cover | type = single | cover = Lefttomyowndevicesuk.jpg | border = | alt = | caption = 12-inch single cover }} }}
"'''Left to My Own Devices'''" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released in November 1988 by Parlophone as the second single from their third studio album, ''Introspective'' (1988). It is the first track of the album. The song fared better than the album's lead single, "Domino Dancing", charting three positions higher on the UK Singles Chart, at number four.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/26802/pet-shop-boys/|title=Pet Shop Boys Songs and Albums: Full Official Chart History|website=Official Charts|access-date=22 October 2024}}</ref> It was the first song that Pet Shop Boys recorded with an orchestra, arranged by Richard Niles.<ref name="piano room">{{cite AV media |people=Kay, Vernon (host) |date=24 February 2024 |title=Piano Room: Pet Shop Boys |type=radio programme |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001wjsx |publisher=BBC Radio 2}}</ref> Since its release, it has become a staple of Pet Shop Boys' live performances.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/pet-shop-boys-7bd6ae70.html?songid=73d6167d|title=Left to My Own Devices performed by Pet Shop Boys|website=Setlist.fm|access-date=22 October 2024}}</ref> Eric Watson directed its music video.<ref>{{cite news |last=Perrone |first=Pierre |date=5 April 2012 |title=Eric Watson: Photographer who worked with the Pet Shop Boys and for pop bible Smash Hits|url=https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/eric-watson-photographer-who-worked-with-the-pet-shop-boys-and-for-pop-bible-smash-hits-7622219.html|work=The Independent |location=London |access-date=22 October 2024}}</ref>
==Background and composition== "Left to My Own Devices" was written because Pet Shop Boys wanted to work with producer Trevor Horn and they needed a song to record.{{sfn|Heath|2018|p=3}} The day before their meeting with Horn, they made a demo at Abbey Road Studios of an instrumental by Chris Lowe, with a line Neil Tennant came up with, "left to my own devices I probably would". Tennant finished the lyrics a few days later, and explained his process:
{{blockquote|That's when I realised what the song was about – that this person goes through life always doing what he wanted to do. I liked the idea of writing a really up pop song about being left alone.{{sfn|Heath|2018|p=4}}
... The song is a day in the life of someone, so it starts off with getting out of bed and being on the phone and drinking tea and all the rest of it, and it ends up with coming home. ... By this time I was making the words very exaggerated and camp, though writing a book and going on stage were both things I had wanted to do when I was young.<ref name="introspectivefurther"/> }} Tennant called the song an exaggerated autobiography.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=21 September 1988|title=Pet Shop Boys: Why is their new LP called ... Introspective ????|magazine=Smash Hits}}</ref><ref name="100lyrics">{{cite book |last=Tennant|first=Neil|date=2018|title=One Hundred Lyrics and a Poem: 1979–2016|location=London|publisher=Faber & Faber|page=110|isbn=9780571348916}}</ref> He included a childhood reminiscence of being "in a world of my own at the back of the garden" playing with toy soldiers at his family home in Newcastle, although he actually pretended to be a Cavalier instead of "a Roundhead general" as in the song.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thisisnotretro.com/interviews/pet-shop-boys-interview-2004/|title=Pet Shop Boys interview|date=March 2004|website=This Is Not Retro|access-date=16 November 2024}}</ref> The "party animal" on the phone was Tennant's friend Jon Savage.{{sfn|Heath|2018|p=4}} The line "It's not a crime" is taken from a Pet Shop Boys song of the same name written in 1982<ref name="100lyrics"/> that was released in 2024. Trevor Horn was the source of the phrase "Debussy to a disco beat", which Tennant paired with Che Guevara "to combine revolution with beauty".<ref name="introspectivefurther"/>
==Recording and release== "Left to My Own Devices" was produced by Trevor Horn and Stephen Lipson. Lipson took the Pet Shop Boys' demo, which had a Motown sound, and added the popular house music influence of the time.<ref name="piano room"/> The song opens with mezzo-soprano Sally Bradshaw singing the word "house".{{sfn|Heath|2018|p=7}}
An orchestra was recorded at Abbey Road, arranged and conducted by Richard Niles. Pet Shop Boys had not worked with an orchestra before and they were initially taken aback by the arrangement; Lowe in particular felt it was too much. The arrangement was pared down, but they retained most of it on the track and continued to work with Niles on future projects.{{sfn|Heath|2018|p=7}}
The album version includes a long outro in which fragments of the main song lyrics are cut into a different order, such as "Che Guevara's drinking tea".
As with the other tracks on ''Introspective'', it has a longer version on the album and was edited down to become more radio-friendly when released as a single. This is mainly due to Pet Shop Boys wanting to be different from other artists at the time. Tennant stated:
{{blockquote|It was quite exciting to plan the songs as long because we had been so disciplined at making four-minute pop singles, with the exception of "It's a Sin", which is five minutes. The idea also was to have an album where every track was a single.{{sfn|Heath|2018|p=1}} }}
The "Disco" mix on the 12-inch and CD singles was made by Horn and Lipson along with Robin Hancock. Additional remixes of "Left to My Own Devices" were made by Frankie Knuckles<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Coleman|first=Bill|date=17 December 1988|title=Dance Trax|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1988/BB-1988-12-17.pdf |magazine=Billboard|page=27|location=New York|access-date=25 December 2025|via=World Radio History}}</ref> and Shep Pettibone.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Coleman|first=Bill|date=7 January 1989|title=Dance Trax|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1989/BB-1989-01-07.pdf |magazine=Billboard|page=29|location=New York|access-date=25 December 2025|via=World Radio History}}</ref>
===Super version=== In April 2017, Pet Shop Boys released a new version of "Left to My Own Devices" as a bonus track on the single "Undertow" from their 2016 album ''Super''. It was produced by Stuart Price and was based on the live performance of the song during their Super Tour,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/pet-shop-boys-undertow-vinyl-ep/ |title=Pet Shop Boys / Undertow vinyl EP |last=Sinclair |first=Paul |date=15 March 2017 |website=Super Deluxe Edition |access-date=16 November 2024}}</ref> featuring tour musicians Afrika Green, Christina Hizon, and Simon Tellier on backing vocals, keyboards, and percussion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/10168073-Pet-Shop-Boys-Undertow |title=Pet Shop Boys - Undertow |website=Discogs |access-date=16 November 2024}}</ref>
==Critical reception== Miranda Sawyer from ''Smash Hits'' named "Left to My Own Devices" Single of the Fortnight, writing, "Pop perfection from the winsome twosome. Complete with swank orchestra, this massive stomper galumphs away at a breakneck pace into all sorts of dramatic twists and turns, over which Neil's deadpan vocals sound brilliantly menacing. [...] A storming chorus plus! — plus! — one of those superbly pretentious talking bits Neil does, rounded off with a breathtaking violin swoosh, must ensure that this soars to the top of the charts and stays there for weeks and weeks. A truly awe-inspiring Single of the Fortnight."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Miranda|last=Sawyer|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/37141279803/in/album-72157686371664832/|title=Singles: Single of the Fortnight|magazine=Smash Hits|date=16 November 1988|page=77|access-date=9 March 2023|author-link=Miranda Sawyer}}</ref>
==Artwork== The cover photos were taken by Michael Roberts, who was fashion editor at ''Tatler'' at the time. The 7-inch single showed Tennant and Lowe wearing pieces of medieval armour, with a bicycle wheel suspended over their heads. The cover designer, Mark Farrow, thought the photos were pretentious so he created a yellow outer sleeve, resembling a manila envelope, to cover them.<ref name="catalogue"/>
==Music video== The accompanying music video for "Left to My Own Devices", directed by longtime Pet Shop Boys director Eric Watson, primarily consists of Tennant and Lowe dancing on an invisible glass floor, with the camera angle facing upwards. Tennant and Lowe are joined by several acrobats who are also seen from the same camera angle. At one point, balloons are also visible.<ref name="catalogue">{{cite book |last1=Hoare|first1=Philip|last2=Heath|first2=Chris|year=2006|title=Pet Shop Boys Catalogue|location=New York|publisher=Thames & Hudson|pages=108–11|isbn=9780500513071}}</ref>
Watson had used a similar technique, filming through layers of perspex, on the video for "Breakaway" by the Australian band Big Pig, but Pet Shop Boys were not happy with the result. Watson recalled, "I thought I'd pulled it off, but they were furious because it was so dark".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Heath|first=Chris|date=May 1992|title=Interview with Eric Watson|magazine=Literally|type=fan club magazine|issue=8|page=17|others=Pet Shop Boys|location=London|publisher=Areagraph Ltd.}}</ref>
==Live performances== Pet Shop Boys performed "Left to My Own Devices" on their first tour in 1989, with Tennant dressed in pyjamas and a dressing gown in reference to the opening line, "I get out of bed at half past ten".<ref>{{cite book |last=Heath|first=Chris|year=2020|orig-year=1990|title=Pet Shop Boys, Literally|location=London|publisher=William Heinemann|page=26|isbn=9781473575691}}</ref> On the Discovery Tour (1994), the song was played in a medley with Corona's "The Rhythm of the Night" (1993), sung by backing vocalist Katie Kissoon. The performance is included on the live album and film ''Discovery: Live in Rio 1994''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Smith|first=Nadine|date=17 May 2021|title=Discovery: Live in Rio 1994|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/pet-shop-boys-discovery-live-in-rio-1994/|website=Pitchfork|access-date=25 December 2025}}</ref> "Left to My Own Devices" was performed on the Nightlife Tour (1999–2000) and was included in the concert film ''Montage''.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=26 October 2001|title=Pet Shop Boys bring 'Montage' to video|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/pet-shop-boys-bring-montage-to-video-77935/ |magazine=Billboard|location=New York|access-date=25 December 2025}}</ref> The song also appears on the live album, ''Concrete'' (2006), with opera singer Sally Bradshaw reprising her vocals, backed by the BBC Concert Orchestra.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Hubbard|first=Michael|date=23 October 2006|title=Pet Shop Boys - Concrete (Parlophone)|url=https://www.musicomh.com/albums5/pet-shop-boys-3_1006.htm |magazine=MusicOMH|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061114053135/https://www.musicomh.com/albums5/pet-shop-boys-3_1006.htm |url-status=dead|archive-date=14 November 2006|access-date=25 December 2025}}</ref> The live album and film ''Pandemonium'' features the song paired with "Closer to Heaven" (1999), as performed on the Pandemonium Tour (2009–10).<ref>{{cite web |last=Diver|first=Mike|date=23 February 2010|title=Pet Shop Boys Pandemonium Review|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/xj9p|website=BBC Music |access-date=25 December 2025}}</ref> The new version of "Left to My Own Devices" for the Super Tour (2016–19)—with the original orchestrations replaced with synthesizers and lively percussion, and featuring dancers in inflatable balloon costumes—appears on the live album and film ''Inner Sanctum'' (2019).<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated -->|date=29 November 2016|title=Pet Shop Boys met smaakvolle kitsch in 013 |url=https://www.nporadio2.nl/nieuws/npo-radio-2/1ffd9fcf-fec6-4161-b9e3-4ad6c22d416c/pet-shop-boys-met-smaakvolle-kitsch-in-013 |website=NPO Radio 2|language=Dutch|location=Netherlands|access-date=25 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Green|first=Thomas H.|date=23 April 2019|title=DVD/Blu-ray: Pet Shop Boys – Inner Sanctum |url=https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/dvdblu-ray-pet-shop-boys-inner-sanctum |website=The Arts Desk|location=London|access-date=25 December 2025}}</ref> The hit song was also included on the set list of the Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live tour, launched in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last=Simpson|first=Dave|date=21 May 2022|title=Pet Shop Boys review – kitchen sink dramas turned into wild extravaganza |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/may/21/pet-shop-boys-review-kitchen-sink-dramas-turned-into-wild-extravaganza |work=The Guardian |location=London|access-date=25 December 2025}}</ref>
==Usage in other media== Turkey's longest-running weekly video-music programme ''Pop Saati'' (lit. ''Pop Hour'') on TRT begins with the intro of the song.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.milliyet.com.tr/-pop-saati--rekora-kosuyor-muzik-532009/ |title='Pop Saati' rekora koşuyor |website=www.milliyet.com.tr |date=2 March 2006 |access-date=22 August 2014}}</ref>
In 2024, the song was used in a television commercial titled "Clocking Off" for the British telecommunications company EE, depicting people leaving a drab workplace for a vibrant home life.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.decisionmarketing.co.uk/reviews/ee-wi-fi-7-clocking-off-orwell-wouldve-been-up-for-it|title=EE Wi-Fi 7 'Clocking Off': Orwell would've been up for it|website=Decision Marketing|date=18 October 2024|access-date=22 October 2024}}</ref>
==Track listings== "Left to My Own Devices" is written by Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant; "The Sound of the Atom Splitting" is credited to Lowe/Tennant/Lipson/Horn. {{Track listing | headline = UK 7-inch single | title1 = Left to My Own Devices | length1 = 4:43 | title2 = The Sound of the Atom Splitting | note2 = extended version | length2 = 5:13 | total_length = 9:56 }} {{Track listing | headline = UK 12-inch single | title1 = Left to My Own Devices | note1 = Disco mix | length1 = 11:28 | title2 = Left to My Own Devices | length2 = 4:43 | title3 = The Sound of the Atom Splitting | length3 = 3:37 | total_length = 19:48 }} {{Track listing | headline = UK CD single | title2 = Left to My Own Devices | note2 = Disco mix | length2 = 11:28 | title1 = Left to My Own Devices | length1 = 4:43 | title3 = The Sound of the Atom Splitting | length3 = 3:37 | total_length = 19:48 }}
==Personnel== Personnel are adapted from the liner notes for ''Introspective: Further Listening 1988–1989''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Introspective: Further Listening 1988–1989|author=Pet Shop Boys|date=2018|type=liner notes|publisher=Parlophone|id=0190295826178}}</ref> and "Left to My Own Devices".<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Left to My Own Devices|author=Pet Shop Boys|date=1988|type=liner notes|publisher=Parlophone|id=R 6198}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Left to My Own Devices|author=Pet Shop Boys|date=1988|type=liner notes|publisher=Parlophone|id=12R 6198}}</ref>
'''Pet Shop Boys''' * Neil Tennant * Chris Lowe
'''Additional musicians''' * Sally Bradshaw – additional vocals (album version and Disco mix) * Bruce Woolley – additional vocals (7-inch single version and Disco mix) * Stephen Lipson – guitar (7-inch single version)
'''Technical''' * Trevor Horn – production, remixing * Stephen Lipson – production, engineering, remixing * Richard Niles – orchestral arrangement, conducting * Danton Supple – engineering assistance * Robin Hancock – remixing (Disco mix)
'''Artwork''' * Mark Farrow and PSB – design * Michael Roberts – photography
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ {{sro|Weekly chart performance for "Left to My Own Devices"}} ! scope="col"| Chart (1988–1989) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{single chart|Australia|48|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=Left to My Own Devices|rowheader=true|access-date=23 June 2012}} |- {{single chart|Flanders|17|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=Left to My Own Devices|rowheader=true|access-date=1 May 2020}} |- ! scope="row"| Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RPM-IDX/IDX/80s/RPM-1989-03-04-OCR-Page-0006.pdf |title=RPM 100 Singles |magazine=RPM |volume=49 |issue=18 |date=27 February – 4 March 1989 |page=6 |issn=0033-7064 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> | 85 |- ! scope="row"| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/80s/88/M&M-1988-12-10-OCR-Page-0012.pdf |title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles |magazine=Music & Media |volume=5 |issue=50 |date=10 December 1988 |page=22 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> | 14 |- ! scope="row"| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)<ref>{{cite book |last=Pennanen |first=Timo |title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 |language=fi |edition=1st |location=Helsinki |publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava |year=2006 |page=233 |isbn=978-951-1-21053-5}}</ref> | 8 |- ! scope="row"| Greece (IFPI)<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/80s/89/M&M-1989-01-28-OCR-Page-0018.pdf |title=Top 3 in Europe |magazine=Music & Media |volume=6 |issue=4 |date=28 January 1989 |page=32 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> | 3 |- {{single chart|Ireland2|3|song=Left to My Own Devices|rowheader=true|access-date=1 May 2020}} |- ! scope="row"| Italy (''Musica e dischi'')<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php |title=Classifiche |work=Musica e dischi |language=it |access-date=30 May 2022}} ''Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Pet Shop Boys" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".''</ref> | 13 |- {{single chart|Dutch40|19|artist=Pet Shop Boys|rowheader=true|access-date=1 May 2020}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|18|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=Left to My Own Devices|rowheader=true|access-date=23 June 2012}} |- {{single chart|New Zealand|22|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=Left to My Own Devices|rowheader=true|access-date=30 August 2019}} |- ! scope="row"| Spain (AFYVE)<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverrie |first=Fernando |date=September 2005 |title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 |language=es |edition=1st |location=Madrid |publisher=Fundación Autor/SGAE |isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref> | 5 |- {{single chart|Switzerland|12|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=Left to My Own Devices|rowheader=true|access-date=1 May 2020}} |- {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|4|artist=Pet Shop Boys|artistid=26802|rowheader=true|access-date=9 November 2016}} |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|84|artist=Pet Shop Boys|rowheader=true|access-date=1 May 2020}} |- {{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|8|artist=Pet Shop Boys|rowheader=true|access-date=1 May 2020}} |- {{single chart|Billboarddancesales|25|artist=Pet Shop Boys|rowheader=true|access-date=1 May 2020}} |- ! scope="row"| US ''Cash Box'' Top 100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19890204.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending February 4, 1989 |work=Cash Box |access-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611093406/https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19890204.html |archive-date=11 June 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> | 74 |- {{single chart|West Germany|9|songid=1886|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=Left to My Own Devices|rowheader=true|access-date=1 May 2020}} |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ {{sro|Year-end chart performance for "Left to My Own Devices"}} ! scope="col"| Chart (1989) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| West Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1989 |title=Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1989 |language=de |publisher=GfK Entertainment |access-date=1 May 2020}}</ref> | 79 |} {{col-end}}
==Release history== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+ {{sro|Release dates and formats for "Left to My Own Devices"}} ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format(s) ! scope="col"| Label(s) ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref(s).|Reference(s)}} |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2"| United Kingdom | 14 November 1988 | {{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl}} | rowspan="2"| Parlophone | align="center"| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Smith |first=Robin |date=12 November 1988 |title=News: Nuclear Device |magazine=Record Mirror |page=4 |issn=0144-5804}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=New Singles |magazine=Music Week |page=31 |date=12 November 1988}}</ref> |- | 21 November 1988 | {{hlist|CD|cassette}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite magazine |title=New Singles |magazine=Music Week |page=36 |date=19 November 1988}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| Japan | 25 January 1989 | Mini-CD | EMI | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/152447/products/312325/1/ |title=レフト・トゥ・マイ・オウン・ディバイセズ {{!}} ペット・ショップ・ボーイズ |trans-title=Left to My Own Devices {{!}} Pet Shop Boys |publisher=Oricon |language=ja |access-date=22 January 2024}}</ref> |}
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/lyrics/left-to-my-own-devices Lyrics: Left to My Own Devices]
{{Pet Shop Boys singles}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1988 singles Category:1988 songs Category:Music videos directed by Eric Watson (photographer) Category:Parlophone singles Category:Pet Shop Boys songs Category:Song recordings produced by Stephen Lipson Category:Song recordings produced by Trevor Horn Category:Songs written by Chris Lowe Category:Songs written by Neil Tennant