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.
Mr. Self Destruct
Soft Cell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But if I get all the words
Try to play this and sing at the same time
That's what rock and roll is all about
Always the dreamer, but never the dead
You had a rocky road mapped out somewhere in your head
Anyone in your way, was a spike in your side
You could look in their eyes, you perfected a lie
Never gave them the chance to question why
If they hit on you then you slammed them right back
Never keeping their cool it was up and attack
You should have seen you when you were eighteen
You were the toughest little fucker I've ever seen
And with each downfall you turned ten foot tall
The biggest kick in the balls you've ever been
And Dr Diablo's on his rounds again
Looking for blame and you know
That he'll diagnose pain again
Yeah, pain again
Narrow the sorrow, sick of the slick
Of the doors of discovery you had your pick
If they hit on you then you hit right back
Never keeping their cool, it was up and attack
You could look in their eyes, you perfected a lie
Never gave them the chance to question why
If they hit on you then you hit them right back
Never keeping their cool it was up and attack
Whoa, you're looking so torrid today, life
Has gone wild, no one blocks out the way
You even look good, so they say
A new lease of life flowed through your body today
Not that looks are all to go by, but anyway
The stuff is free and you can now go to town
Building your life up and smashing it down
Building your life up and smashing it down
You couldn't escape from this fact of life
That existing makes you a mess
That every decision or feeling or reason
Causes some sort of mental distress
You could look in their eyes, you perfected a lie
Never gave them the chance to question why
If they hit on you then you hit right back
Never keeping their cool it was up and attack
Keep the cool for the fool
Keep the cool for the fool
Keep the cool for the fool
Keep the cool for the fool
Hey, hey
You couldn't escape from this fact of life
That existing makes you a mess
That every decision or feeling or reason
Causes some sort of mental distress
You could look in their eyes, you perfected a lie
Never gave them the chance to question why
If they hit on you then you hit right back
Never keeping their cool it was up and attack
Building your life up and smashing it down
Building your life up and smashing it down
Yeah, building your life up and smashing it down
The first verse of this song describes the persona who has always had a dream but has never achieved it. The lyrics suggest he had a rough path mapped out for himself and anyone who got in his way was hurt. The use of 'rocky road' is quite interesting, as it is suggestive of the troubles the persona may have encountered. He is portrayed as someone who has swindled people out of their money with the other hand in their wallets. The lyrics seem to indicate that he was quite aggressive with his approach to life, slamming those who 'hit on him' right back at them. The description of him at eighteen suggests he was very tough, fearless and intimidating. The lyrics offer a retrospective picture of how he must have been in his younger days in contrast to his current state.
The chorus, introducing the character Dr Diablo, who seems to be blaming the persona for the pain he is experiencing. The lyrics suggest that this is a recurring event in his life.
The second verse describes how the persona has overcome his inner demons by living life to the fullest. He is no longer trapped by slick discoveries doors, and he hits anyone who gets in his way right back, much like how he used to be in verse one. The persona appears to have improved, is looking great, and has a new lease on life. The last verse and the chorus repeat the idea that existing makes a mess of people and every decision, feeling or reason causes mental distress.
* The song was written by Marc Almond of Soft Cell.
* It was released as a B-Side to the duo's first single 'A Man Could Get Lost.'
* The version that was later released as a track on the duo's debut album adds a spoken-word introduction by Almond.
* The song opens with an intentional tongue-twister.
* The lyrics present a kind of character study and a bleak view of human existence.
* It's one of the band's more obscure songs and rarely played live.
* The band initially formed in 1978 in Leeds, as a literary/artistic collaboration between Almond and guitarist David Ball.
* Soft Cell is often considered one of the pioneers of the New Wave genre.
* They are best known for their hit single 'Tainted Love,' which was originally a 1964 song by Gloria Jones.
* Soft Cell disbanded in 1984 but reunited in 2001 for a series of live shows.
Chords (if known):
Unfortunately, there are no chords available for this song at this time.
Line by Line Meaning
Always the dreamer, but never the dead
You were constantly imagining a different life, but could never achieve it
You had a rocky road mapped out somewhere in your head
You had a difficult and challenging future planned out in your mind
Anyone in your way, was a spike in your side
Anyone who got in your way caused you irritation and frustration
With one hand in the wallet, you took them for the ride
You took advantage of people for financial gain
You could look in their eyes, you perfected a lie
You were skilled at deceiving people
Never gave them the chance to question why
You never allowed people to ask you questions or challenge your lies
If they hit on you then you slammed them right back
If someone criticized or attacked you, you responded in a harsh manner
Never keeping their cool it was up and attack
You were always quick to react and retaliate, never calm or composed
You should have seen you when you were eighteen
You were once full of energy, determination, and courage
You were the toughest little fucker I've ever seen
You were incredibly resilient and refused to be defeated
And with each downfall you turned ten foot tall
Every time you failed, you only became stronger and more determined
The biggest kick in the balls you've ever been
You have experienced some of the most brutal setbacks imaginable
And Dr Diablo's on his rounds again
You are encountering problems again
Looking for blame and you know
You are trying to find someone to blame for your problems
That he'll diagnose pain again
You are experiencing pain and discomfort
Narrow the sorrow, sick of the slick
You are trying to reduce your sadness and are tired of fake people
Of the doors of discovery you had your pick
You had many opportunities to explore new things and ideas
Whoa, you're looking so torrid today, life
You are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted with life
Has gone wild, no one blocks out the way
You feel like everything in life is out of control and unpredictable
You even look good, so they say
Despite feeling overwhelmed, others still see you as attractive or put together
A new lease of life flowed through your body today
You regained some energy, enthusiasm, or hope
Not that looks are all to go by, but anyway
You acknowledge that appearances aren't everything
The stuff is free and you can now go to town
You have access to resources or opportunities without cost
Building your life up and smashing it down
You are constantly trying to create and destroy your life
Keep the cool for the fool
Stay composed and collected, even if others act foolishly
Hey, hey
Expression of enthusiasm or encouragement
You couldn't escape from this fact of life
You are unable to avoid the reality of life's challenges and struggles
That existing makes you a mess
Simply existing can lead to mental or emotional turmoil
That every decision or feeling or reason
Every thought, emotion, or action can have consequences
Causes some sort of mental distress
These consequences can lead to stress or discomfort
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID JAMES BALL, MARC ALMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind