The band originally consisted of Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, Daevid Allen and Mike Ratledge, most of whom were former members of The Wilde Flowers in 1966. Later members have included Hugh Hopper, Roy Babbington, Elton Dean, John Etheridge, Karl Jenkins, John Marshall, and Allan Holdsworth.
Soft Machine continued on in name, even after all the original founder members moved on; Mike Ratledge was the last to depart in 1976. Numerous offshoots and side projects have included "Soft" in their names: Soft Heap, Soft Head, Soft Works, and the band Matching Mole, a play on words for the French of Soft Machine ('machine molle'). As of 2005, Soft Machine Legacy is a working concern.
Other musicians in the band during the later period were bassists Percy Jones of Brand X and Steve Cook, saxophonists Alan Wakeman and Ray Warleigh, and violinist Ric Sanders. Their 1977 performances and record Alive and Well: Recorded in Paris were among the last for Soft Machine as a working band. The Soft Machine name was used for the 1981 record Land of Cockayne with Jack Bruce and Allan Holdsworth, plus Ray Warleigh and Dick Morrissey on saxes and John Taylor on electric piano, and for a final series of dates at London's Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in the summer of 1984, featuring Jenkins and Marshall leading an ad-hoc line-up of Etheridge, Warleigh, pianist Dave MacRae and bassist Paul Carmichael.
A Certain Kind
Soft Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Exists for me, and every night
Your kind of love sets me alight
And I know it's real, it's what I feel, what I feel
And loving you the way I do
Makes everything seem right again
And when you're near I know
When you, it's just not right
And so our love I see in you
The things today, the things we do
And when you're near I know
You just can't see, well
I know it's real, it's what I feel
And loving you the way I do
Makes everything seem right again
And when you're near I know
I know you just can't see
All the time of day
I know you're mine, and all the time
The lyrics of Soft Machine's song A Certain Kind speak of a certain kind of love that exists for the singer which sets him alight every night. He believes that it's real and it's what he feels. He goes on to talk about how loving this person makes everything seem right again and how he knows that when this person is near, he just can't tell the time. In other words, time seems to fly by when he's with this person.
He sees their love in the things they do and in every moment they spend together. He knows that this person just can't see what he sees and he believes that it's real and what he feels. This person's presence in his life makes everything seem right again and he knows that they belong to each other all the time.
The song's lyrics convey a sense of young love, where time seems to stand still and everything else fades away when you're with the person you love. It speaks about the intense feelings that arise in a relationship and how love can make everything seem right again.
Line by Line Meaning
A certain kind, of love, I'd say
I believe there is a specific type of love that I possess
Exists for me, and every night
This love exists within me and is present every night
Your kind of love sets me alight
The love that you give me ignites and energizes me
And I know it's real, it's what I feel, what I feel
I am certain that my love for you is genuine and originates from my deepest emotions
And loving you the way I do
The extent of my love for you is immeasurable
Makes everything seem right again
Loving you brings order and clarity back into my life after any chaos or confusion
And when you're near I know
Your presence reassures me
I know you just can't tell the time
When you are around, time seems to pass by quickly as I lose track of it
When you, it's just not right
Things feel wrong when you are not present
And so our love I see in you
I witness our love reflected in you
The things today, the things we do
Our present actions and behaviors illustrate our love for each other
You just can't see, well
You may be unaware of how much you mean to me
I know it's real, it's what I feel
My love for you is genuine and deep-rooted
All the time of day
Every moment of every day, I remain devoted to you
I know you're mine, and all the time
I am certain that we belong to each other and always will
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HUGH COLIN HOPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jepz11
A historic document, this clip. Even live played, it is great to see this favourite song of Soft Machines first lp. Legendary to me.
Thank you RaoulRoyal.
stevegale1948
Spot on with that comment bought the album cos OI liked the cover but it's the stuff of legends
dale
for me it's hands down their best song - so simple.
Mike MacKechnie
a beautiful song. RIP Hugh - I wish there was more of his music on here
Ben Haddar
Cette chanson me déchire toujours...depuis 1/2 siècle...
sinsagoodmansbrother
Stevie Hill from Bloodrock covered this song. It's a beautiful rendition of this original... His organ solo is beautiful. Like rays of sun light coming down from the heavens...
Andy Thomas
I saw them several times during 1967-69. They were very very special!
Elizabeth Hann
[13 July 2021] It's rather amazing, seeing footage of Robert Wyatt when he was young. I wish I could have been there, back in the day, and seen the Mark-1 Soft Machine, with the young pre-accident Robert Wyatt, singing and playing drums.
machinemolle1968
He was in his absolute prime here. Jimi Hendrix even said he was nervous to perform after Soft Machine because their set was so explosive.
hiljab
Unfortunately not total in tune all the time, but.....early Soft Machine is so fantastic, I think.