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.
Why Am I So Short
Soft Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Say I don't deserve
All the things I've had
Sad...
I've got a drum kit and some sticks
So when I'm drunk or in a fit
I find it easy to express myself
And then I end the day in one of my beds
I'm nearly 5 ft. 7 tall
I like to smoke and drink and ball
I've got a yellow suit that's made by Pam
And every day I like an egg and some tea
But best of all I like to talk about me!
You may laugh at me
Say I don't deserve
All the things I've had
Sad...
Soft Machine's song "Why Am I So Short?" is a self-deprecating piece that touches on different facets of the singer's identity. In the opening lines, the singer acknowledges that people may look down on him for being short, remarking, "You may laugh at me, say I don't deserve all the things I've had, sad." The singer then reveals that he finds solace in music and drums. He owns a drum kit and some sticks, which he uses to express himself when he's feeling down. However, he also mentions that he tends to go overboard when playing the drums, causing him to break his drumheads.
The second stanza delves further into the singer's personality traits and habits. He is nearly 5'7" tall, which may not be considered short by some, but it seems to bother him. He also admits to indulging in smoking, drinking, and sex. However, the most telling line is when he mentions that he "likes to talk about me." This highlights his self-centered tendencies, which may contribute to some of his insecurities. Overall, the song is a melancholic reflection on the singer's struggles with his physical appearance and sense of self-worth.
Line by Line Meaning
You may laugh at me
Others may ridicule me
Say I don't deserve
They may claim I am unworthy
All the things I've had
Of all the possessions I have acquired
Sad...
It is a melancholic thought
I've got a drum kit and some sticks
I have musical instruments to play with
So when I'm drunk or in a fit
When inebriated or agitated
I find it easy to express myself
It becomes effortless for me to communicate my emotions
I hit the drums so hard I break all my heads
I play with great intensity, sometimes causing damage to my drum kit
And then I end the day in one of my beds
I retire to one of my sleeping quarters at day's end
I'm nearly 5 ft. 7 tall
I measure roughly 67 inches in height
I like to smoke and drink and ball
I enjoy indulging in vices and activity
I've got a yellow suit that's made by Pam
I have a brightly coloured suit created by a designer named Pam
And every day I like an egg and some tea
As part of my daily routine, I consume an egg and a cup of tea
But best of all I like to talk about me!
The topic I find most engaging is myself and my exploits
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HUGH COLIN HOPPER, KEVIN CAWLEY AYERS, MICHAEL ROLAND RATLEDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bez23
One of the finest bands of all time.
@flippikat
love it. it has an energy that's not there in the other Soft Machine albums. imo this is the perfect blend of garage-rock, psychedelia, and a little bit of jazzy jamming.
@andythomas706
The first two Soft Machine albums Stand Alone. Even against their other albums. Nothing else I've heard is remotely similar. um I bought the first album as an expensive US Import when it first came out, after seeing them at Christmas On Earth (Cont.) at Kensington Olympia in '67!. They were just extraordinary. Virtually Organic!
@MultiDannyboy89
These guys are gods. First time I listen to them.
@ivaanandress
the bass, the drums, the song! so impressive!
@DruggardlyBros
Simply genius! two of my favorite songs of all time
@patzimmer1052
Oh man, this inspired me so much as teenager - I could write so much but I need to listen - again and again and again
@Uchutanjyo
Love when So Boot If At All Kicks In!
@lowellthomasjr.468
This was one of the really "groovy" bands, anybody remember "Ballin' Jack ?" That was another, there were so MANY !
@0401tristan
Saw them when they opened for Jimi Hendrix in San Antonio. They were booed the whole time they played. Too bad.......