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.
As Long As He Lies Perfectly Still
Soft Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's found his own way of 'live in Majorca'
Don't walk, don't drink
Don't talk, just think
Heaven on Earth he'll get there soon
Kevin's highly unlikely to get ill
At least as long as he lies perfectly still
Heaven on Earth, he'll get there soon
Good and bad go so well together in his tunes
He wrote a song and called it the weather - or not
He's Lucky or Pozzo, Estragon and Vladimir
Waiting for something that's already there
Heaven on Earth or is it the moon?
Why, why, why is he sleeping?
Why is the trumpeter weeping?
Kevin maybe asking to get back into my dreams
His voice is so weak now and the customers are screaming
Heavens above, we can't hear what you're saying
We've got something to tell you
Hold on we wanted to thrill you
Reckons it's so nice and it will make you feel better
Something in the nature of a Lullabye Letter
Kevin on Earth there'll be one
Kevin on Earth make room for one
Kevin himself he'll be in
Kevin on Earth, be here
Or you could be now
Or is he found, in Herne Bay...
The song "As Long As He Lies Perfectly Still" by Soft Machine is about a man named Kevin Majorca, who has a peculiar way of living. The lyrics describe how Kevin lives in Majorca, Spain, and has a strict routine to stay healthy - he doesn't walk too much or drink too much, speaks only when necessary, and eats a healthy diet of brown rice and fish. The song suggests that Kevin is unlikely to fall ill if he lies perfectly still, which highlights his obsession with staying healthy.
The second stanza of the song reveals that Kevin is a musician and songwriter. He has written a song called "The Weather - or Not" and references several fictional characters such as Lucky, Pozzo, Estragon, and Vladimir from Samuel Beckett's play "Waiting for Godot." The song also mentions how good and bad go together in his tunes, which could represent the duality of his personality or musical style.
The third stanza of the song starts with a series of questions - "Why, why, why is he sleeping?" "Why is the trumpeter weeping?" - which suggests that something bad has happened to Kevin. His voice is weak, and the customers are screaming, which could mean that he is performing in public, but something is not right. The song ends with the lyrics, "Kevin on Earth, be here or you could be now, or is he found, in Herne Bay." This implies that Kevin may have passed away or disappeared and that the singer is unsure of his whereabouts.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's a song for 'clean machine Kevin Majorca'
This song is dedicated to a man named Kevin who lives a clean lifestyle in Majorca.
He's found his own way of 'live in Majorca'
Kevin has developed his own way of living in Majorca.
Don't walk, don't drink
Kevin avoids walking and drinking.
Don't talk, just think
Kevin prefers to think rather than talk.
Heaven on Earth he'll get there soon
Kevin believes he will soon reach his version of heaven on earth.
Kevin's highly unlikely to get ill
Kevin is very unlikely to get sick.
At least as long as he lies perfectly still
Kevin believes that as long as he doesn't move, he won't get sick.
He eats brown rice and fish - how nice
Kevin enjoys eating healthy foods such as brown rice and fish.
Heaven on Earth, he'll get there soon
Kevin still believes he will soon reach his version of heaven on earth.
Good and bad go so well together in his tunes
Kevin's songs often explore the relationship between good and bad.
He wrote a song and called it the weather - or not
One of Kevin's songs is called 'the weather', or maybe not.
He's Lucky or Pozzo, Estragon and Vladimir
Kevin identifies with the characters from Samuel Beckett's play 'Waiting for Godot'.
Waiting for something that's already there
Despite waiting for something, Kevin believes it's already there.
Heaven on Earth or is it the moon?
Kevin wonders if his version of heaven on earth is actually the moon.
Why, why, why is he sleeping?
Kevin is sleeping, but there's uncertainty as to why.
Why is the trumpeter weeping?
The trumpeter is crying, and it's unclear why.
Kevin maybe asking to get back into my dreams
The artist thinks Kevin may want to return to their dreams.
His voice is so weak now and the customers are screaming
Kevin's voice is weak, and customers are complaining.
Heavens above, we can't hear what you're saying
The singer can't hear what Kevin is saying.
We've got something to tell you
The artist has something important to share with Kevin.
Hold on we wanted to thrill you
The artist hopes to excite Kevin with their news.
Reckons it's so nice and it will make you feel better
The artist thinks the news is good and will improve Kevin's mood.
Something in the nature of a Lullabye Letter
The news is like a soothing lullaby.
Kevin on Earth there'll be one
Kevin will exist on earth.
Kevin on Earth make room for one
There will be space for Kevin on earth.
Kevin himself he'll be in
Kevin will be present on earth.
Kevin on Earth, be here
Kevin is asked to be present on earth.
Or you could be now
It's possible that Kevin is here now.
Or is he found, in Herne Bay...
It's questioned whether Kevin is located in Herne Bay.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL ROLAND RATLEDGE, ROBERT WYATT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CARL DIDUR
Lyrics:
Here's a song for 'clean machine Kevin Majorca'
He's found his own way of 'live in Majorca'
Don't walk, don't drink
Don't talk, just think
Heaven on Earth he'll get there soon
Kevin's highly unlikely to get ill
At least as long as he lies perfectly still
He eats brown rice and fish - how nice
Heaven on Earth, he'll get there soon
Good and bad go so well together in his tunes
He wrote a song and called it the weather - or not
He's Lucky or Pozzo, Estragon and Vladimir
Waiting for something that's already there
Heaven on Earth or is it the moon?
Why, why, why is he sleeping?
Why is the trumpeter weeping?
Kevin maybe asking to get back into my dreams
His voice is so weak now and the customers are screaming
Heavens above, we can't hear what you're saying
We've got something to tell you
Hold on we wanted to thrill you
Reckons it's so nice and it will make you feel better
Something in the nature of a Lullabye Letter
Kevin on Earth there'll be one
Kevin on Earth make room for one
Kevin himself he'll be in
Kevin on Earth, be here
Or you could be now
Or is he found, in Herne Bay...
Klaus /
1,2,3,4,6 and Bundles are the best soft machine albums.
1. Fabulous start.
Volume 2 is a really unique almost near masterpiece, really innovative and mindblowing especially for that time.
3 (Third) Masterpiece, the 1st great defying jazzrock fusion album(screw bitches brew, soft machine was playing this kind of stuff before them)
AND 1 OF THE GREATEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME.
Fourth. Amazing free jazz /jazz rock especially Teeth because its one of the best track/songs of all time.
Six. 1 of the best (1st record/half) live albums ever, extremely tight, grooving and innovative for whats to come in fusion. (2nd record/half) Very unique and experimental take on fusion, 1st three song are awesome.
At last Bundles, an Amazing fusion album with early Allan Holdsworth in his prime, really awesome album further tinkering with the feel of Soft Machine Six but whith a soaring lead guitar.
All in all a legendary and solid discography(perhaps extremely underrated) with some not mentioned exceptions. But the albums i named are not really comparable with a narrow perspective and should be viewed with the same open mind that probably got us all to listen to their Legendary music.
CARL DIDUR
Lyrics:
Here's a song for 'clean machine Kevin Majorca'
He's found his own way of 'live in Majorca'
Don't walk, don't drink
Don't talk, just think
Heaven on Earth he'll get there soon
Kevin's highly unlikely to get ill
At least as long as he lies perfectly still
He eats brown rice and fish - how nice
Heaven on Earth, he'll get there soon
Good and bad go so well together in his tunes
He wrote a song and called it the weather - or not
He's Lucky or Pozzo, Estragon and Vladimir
Waiting for something that's already there
Heaven on Earth or is it the moon?
Why, why, why is he sleeping?
Why is the trumpeter weeping?
Kevin maybe asking to get back into my dreams
His voice is so weak now and the customers are screaming
Heavens above, we can't hear what you're saying
We've got something to tell you
Hold on we wanted to thrill you
Reckons it's so nice and it will make you feel better
Something in the nature of a Lullabye Letter
Kevin on Earth there'll be one
Kevin on Earth make room for one
Kevin himself he'll be in
Kevin on Earth, be here
Or you could be now
Or is he found, in Herne Bay...
Will Towle
Kevin Ayers ?
CARL DIDUR
@Will Towle Yep!
M
My number one favourite song of all times! Wish it was longer
rockonthestone
Robert Wyatt was an amazing drummer
Lunathi Kondlo
I love this song. It's so loud and full instrumentally. It boarders on noise but there's warm nuances. It's that guitar riff that stands out. The kind of whiney vocals and then u gain context on the lyrics and it becomes even more beautiful. Aww man. I can never fully express how much this song means to me. I used to hate that this version not on streaming but now it feels super spesh.
james koetting
One of my favorite songs. A playful poem brilliantly set to music in 7/4 time.
Herman Melville
this song is pure heaven!!!!
CARL DIDUR
Pure Kevin....
Livi Livi
Certainly one of the best and most impressive piece by Soft Machine.