Both Marc Almond and Dave Ball grew up in seaside towns (the former, Southport, and the latter, Blackpool), and later met while students at the Leeds Polytechnic Fine Arts University (now Leeds Metropolitan University). Almond, a performance artist, collaborated with Ball on a few avant-garde multi-media performances at the university. Although Ball's musical background consisted of guitar, he had access to the university studio and was experimenting with the nascent synthesizer technology at the time. The two students became the prototypical synth duo and were initially associated with other New Wave scenesters dubbed "New Romantics" by the British Press. Other bands associated with this scene included Visage, Duran Duran, and Spandau Ballet.
Marc Almond had a productive career as a solo artist later in the 80s and 90s and with Marc & the Mambas and other collaborations. Dave Ball has done a few solo productions with other British new wave acts in the early 80s. He also later was involved in the electronic dance act The Grid with Richard Norris.
Almond and Ball's reunion as Soft Cell became official with well-received initial concerts - they performed at the opening of the Ocean nightclub in London in March 2001 to strong reviews, and a mini tour followed later in the year. The track "God Shaped Hole" featured on the Some Bizzare compilation titled "I'd Rather Shout at a Returning Echo than Kid Someone's Listening", released in 2001. The album Cruelty Without Beauty was released in late 2002, followed by a European tour and a partial US tour in early 2003. The new album featured their first new songs together in almost twenty years. One of those songs was their 2003 single "The Night" (UK #39). Interestingly, Soft Cell had considered recording "The Night" in place of "Tainted Love" back in 1981 as their last-ditch attempt to score a chart hit. In a 2003 interview with BBC's Top of the Pops, keyboardist David Ball asserted, "I think history has kind of shown that we did make the right choice [in 1981]."
In August 2007, the band announced they were working on a remix album, "Heat - The Remixes". The remix album is expected to be released in May 2008 and will include classic Soft Cell tracks remixed by such acts as Manhattan Clique, Cicada, Richard X, Ladytron, MHC, Mark Moore, Kinky Roland, Spektrum, George Demure, Yer Man and many more.
Born To Lose
Soft Cell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will I ever win?
All the pain and suffering
Born to lose, accept my fate
Looking back I hate myself for the scars I've left
I have become my nightmares
I have become my fears
Can I redeem myself for the pain I've caused?
Filled with regrets
My heart in my hands
To love is to lose, to hope is to die
In the end I've lost everything I had
I live this life with guilt in my heart
The lyrics to Soft Cell's song "Born to Lose" seem to be about a person who is struggling to find success in love and seems to be plagued by their past mistakes. The singer appears to be filled with guilt and regret over the mistakes he has made and is unsure if he will ever find love that will last. The lyrics suggest that the singer believes he is destined to fail in love and must accept his fate. He is also haunted by the scars he's caused and is filled with self-loathing as he ruminates on his past mistakes.
The line "everything I've touched has rot away" is a strong indication that he has failed in all his attempts at love and seems to be a man abandoned by all whom he has loved. It appears that he is seeking redemption for the pain he has caused and is living with a deep sense of guilt in his heart. The lyrics suggest that he has lost hope in love and that his life has been filled with more pain and suffering than joy.
In conclusion, Soft Cell's "Born to Lose" is an emotionally charged song that explores themes of love, self-doubt, and guilt. The lyrics are powerful and deeply introspective, offering a peek into the mind of someone who has lost everything in their search for love.
Line by Line Meaning
I've failed in love again
I have not been successful in romantic relationships once more
Will I ever win?
Is it possible for me to succeed in this aspect of my life?
All the pain and suffering
The emotional distress and hurt that I have experienced
Born to lose, accept my fate
It seems like failure is inevitable, so I have come to terms with it as my destiny
Looking back I hate myself for the scars I've left
Upon reflection, I deeply regret the negative impact I've had on others
I have become my nightmares
My worst fears and insecurities have consumed me
I have become my fears
My anxieties and worries have taken over my life
Everything I've touched has rot away
Every person or situation I have been a part of has ended negatively
Can I redeem myself for the pain I've caused?
Am I capable of making up for the harm and hurt that I have inflicted?
Filled with regrets
I am overwhelmed with remorse for my actions
My heart in my hands
I am emotionally vulnerable and exposed
To love is to lose, to hope is to die
Loving someone leaves you open to heartache, and being optimistic leads to disappointment
In the end I've lost everything I had
Ultimately, I have nothing left due to my failures
I live this life with guilt in my heart
I carry a heavy burden of shame and regret throughout my existence
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: John Genzale
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind