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.
Torch
Soft Cell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm on the run
Looking for love
In a sad song
With your avenger eyes
And your catlike ways
I can hold you
For me to be cruel
I'm leaning on this bar
Listening to you sing
And your sad song
Rings in my ears
And I start to cry
He's searching
She's showing
See him heLd in a deep
Deep spell he knows
She's glowing
I can find within
My mind a way to go
I can look deep into
Your light and shout
Hold me
Hold me
Hold me
Hold me
Hold me
I hear the saxophone
And it tears my soul
And we're feeling old
Feeling so cold
She is the torch
And she is the theme
She could be a dream but
Oh boy - is she real
Try to avoid her eyes
To avoid her words
They will hit you
With all that you feel
He's searching
She's showing
See him heLd in a deep
Deep spell he knows
She's glowing.
I can find within
My mind a way to go
I can look deep into
Your light and shout
Hold me
Hold me
Hold me
Hold me
Hold me
See her eyes
They are bright tonight
See the stars
Coming out tonight
See the moon
Looking down tonight
See how they
Light your way tonight
See my eyes
They are bright tonight
See my hands
Reaching out tonight
Hear my words
They are dynamite
See how they
Light your way tonight
See her eyes
They are bright tonight
See her eyes
They are bright tonight
See how they
Light your way tonight
The song "Torch" by Soft Cell is a melancholy ballad about longing for love and finding it in sad songs. The opening lines of the song, "I'm lost again and I'm on the run, looking for love in a sad song," establish the emotional tone of the song as one of desperation and a search for something intangible. The song's narrator is searching for love and finds solace in a woman with avenger eyes and catlike ways.
The song's chorus, "Hold me, hold me, hold me," is a plea for intimacy and connection. The singer is drawn to the woman's light and tries to avoid her eyes and words, knowing that they will hit him with all that he feels. The song's imagery of stars, moon, and torch creates a dreamy, romantic atmosphere that gives the song a timeless quality.
Overall, "Torch" is a bittersweet love song that expresses a deep yearning for connection and intimacy. The song's lyrics are evocative and poetic, painting a vivid picture of the singer's emotional state and the object of his affection.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm lost again
I am feeling lost and unsure of what to do next
And I'm on the run
I feel like I am constantly moving and trying to find my place
Looking for love
I am trying to find a sense of belonging and intimacy
In a sad song
I find solace in the emotions and sentiments of music
With your avenger eyes
When you look at me with such intent and focus, it feels like you are trying to right a wrong
And your catlike ways
You move and act with grace and ease, like a feline
I can hold you
I am grateful to be able to embrace you
You are a fool
You are foolish to trust me and believe in me so easily
For me to be cruel
It would be unfair and unnecessary for me to treat you harshly
I'm leaning on this bar
I am using this counter for support as I listen to you sing
Listening to you sing
Your voice and lyrics are very moving and impactful
And your sad song
The tone and content of your music is melancholic and sorrowful
Rings in my ears
Your voice and melody linger in my mind even after the song is over
And I start to cry
The emotions evoked by your music are so strong that I cannot help but shed tears
He's searching
He is trying to find something that he feels is missing from his life
She's showing
She is revealing herself and her emotions to him
See him held in a deep, deep spell he knows
He is deeply entranced and captivated by her, and he realizes this
She's glowing
She radiates a bright and positive energy
I can find within my mind a way to go
I am able to envision a path forward for myself
I can look deep into your light and shout
I can see your inner glow and let out a cry of joy and relief
Hold me
I want you to embrace me and provide me with comfort and security
I hear the saxophone
The sound of the saxophone draws my attention and stirs my emotions
And it tears my soul
The music resonates deep within me and causes me to feel a profound sense of sadness
And we're feeling old
We feel as though we have lived through a lot and have grown weary
Feeling so cold
We feel emotionally detached and cold
She is the torch
She is a beacon of light and hope
And she is the theme
She is the inspiration behind the song and the focus of our attention
She could be a dream but
We are not sure if she is real or just a figment of our imagination
Oh boy - is she real
We are pleasantly surprised and relieved to discover that she is indeed a real person
Try to avoid her eyes
We try to avoid making eye contact with her so as to not reveal our true feelings
To avoid her words
We try to remain distant so as to not be influenced by her words or actions
They will hit you
Her words and actions have a powerful impact and can be overwhelming
With all that you feel
They elicit a range of intense emotions and feelings within us
See her eyes
Her gaze is captivating and enchanting
They are bright tonight
They seem to shine with a particular intensity on this evening
See the stars
We notice the beauty and wonder of the stars in the sky
Coming out tonight
They seem to be more visible and vibrant than usual
See the moon
We spot the glowing presence of the moon
Looking down tonight
It seems to be watching over us with a sense of warmth and protection
See how they light your way tonight
These celestial bodies provide a guiding light and sense of direction for us
See my eyes
My gaze is also intense and focused
They are bright tonight
I am feeling particularly animated and vigorous this evening
See my hands
I extend my hands as a gesture of invitation and warmth
Reaching out tonight
I want to make a connection with you and bridge the distance between us
Hear my words
My words are powerful and impactful
They are dynamite
They have the potential to stir up a lot of emotions and reactions
See how they light your way tonight
My words can also serve to guide and inspire you
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID JAMES BALL, MARC ALMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Paris__
You know what, one of the best things about being in my 50's now is that I lived my teenage years in the 80's..........Priceless and I wouldn't change them for the world!
@paulgeczi2276
Same . I’m 51 and I’ll forever remember the best music era ever
@roco9797
In 1982 I was 19 yo. Great music in those years.
@Slayerofwestoids
We all feel that our childhood’s years were special.
I was born in 2003, so I would say that for me 2009 to 2017 were golden years but of course for somebody else they may have been devastating years .
@Paris__
@AKH 2903 Totally missing the point bud
@2tylerownz
100% with you, 80s was the best decade...
@wagnerbelo
I was 11 when this song came out, it is been part of my life! I am 52 now and still love it! Long live the 80's!
@dee1458
So gloriously British synthpop new wave. The synth, the drumbeat, the trumpet, the Cindy dance, the Cindy end of song singing and climaxing duet. Stylish indeed.
@DemocracyCountsx
Marc Almond is a living legend and I'm off to see him in concert tomorrow at the Eventim at Hammersmith
@larsfillmore4765
It was good wasn't it? Soft Cell I mean?