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.
So Boot If at All
Soft Machine Lyrics
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Say I don't deserve
All the things I've had
Sad...
The lyrics to Soft Machine's song "So Boot If at All" can be interpreted as a reflection on social status and the feeling of not deserving one's success. The singer anticipates being laughed at and called undeserving of their possessions or accomplishments. This can be seen as a commentary on the judgmental nature of society and the pressure to constantly prove oneself. The inclusion of the word "sad" at the end adds a layer of melancholy to the song, hinting at the singer's discontent with the state of their life and the world around them.
The lyrics also touch on themes of identity and self-worth. The singer is aware of the judgments that others may make about them, but ultimately they seem to be grappling with their own feelings of insecurity and self-doubt. The lines "All the things I've had" suggest that the singer may be questioning whether they truly deserve their possessions and success, implying that they may feel like a fraud or impostor. Overall, the song seems to convey a sense of unease and introspection.
Line by Line Meaning
You may laugh at me
It's possible that you'll find my situation funny and mock my current state
Say I don't deserve
It's possible that you believe that I haven't earned or am not entitled to what I have
All the things I've had
I've had certain experiences and possessions in my life
Sad...
It's a unfortunate reality that people may judge and criticize me despite my achievements and joys
Contributed by Daniel N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.