In 2014, Steve… Read Full Bio ↴The band consists of Steve Clarke and Rachel Goswell.
In 2014, Steve was stuck. Divorced since 2011, the intervening three years had been, “a haze,” he admits. Since the late nineties he’d played bass and sung backing vocals in bands (both studio and live) and sessions, while also working as a tour-manager. His new assignees were reformed Home Counties faves Slowdive.
“I was hungover in the back of my van trying to work out how I was going to fit all the band’s gear into this confined space whilst I still had all of mine from the show that I’d played in London the night before,” he recalls. “The second of two sold-out shows at Hammersmith Apollo with David Brent!”
On that industrial site in Reading, Steve was introduced to Rachel. A year later, they were living together in Devon, before marrying in 2018. Rachel not only, “turned my world upside-down,” but unwittingly provided, “the catalyst,” for The Soft Cavalry. “I’d always had ideas but never felt that anything I had to say was worthy of anyone’s attention, let alone my own,” he says. “I wish that I could have done this fifteen years ago but, in reality, I simply couldn’t have. But I’m not one to overly wallow. I’d rather plough the various levels of confusion into songs.”
The Soft Cavalry became something of a conversation, even couple’s therapy. Steve, says Rachel, “is always writing, his head always full of lyrics.” Rachel, says Steve, “reins me in when I get obsessed. She’s a good editor. She says my songs can still work without sections of words, that leaving spaces is OK.”
Dive
The Soft Cavalry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's not safe
To dive
Water's deep
It's not safe
To dive
The fishing lines
Get all untangled
Pelicans that pass by the coast
Silently glide by
Without a care
Water's clear
No one's askin' why
Water's clear
No one's askin' why
Silver linings
And cloud formations
An act of God by the great tornado
Quietly away from us
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh
Revelations of rain and shadows
Mysteries of the great unknown
We head to the shore
Coral blue sweep
That line the oceans
Enchanted worlds hidden from the surface
If only we did take
The time to look
Water's deep
Dive
Water's deep
Dive
Dive
Dive
Dive
In "Dive," The Soft Cavalry sings about the beauty and danger of the depths of the ocean. The singer repeats the phrase "Water's deep, it's not safe to dive" twice, emphasizing the risk of diving into the unknown. Although the water is clear and attractive, danger lurks beneath the surface, as the fishing lines become tangled, and the pelicans soar past with a nonchalant attitude. It almost seems like the ocean is daring people to test its power, to take it on headfirst, to see if they can emerge unscathed. But the singer reminds the listeners that the risks are too high, and diving into the depths is a perilous game. The song seems to have a message for people who show too much bravado or underestimate the power of nature.
The lyrics also hint at the mysteries and beauty of the great unknown beneath the ocean's surface. The silver linings and cloud formations create an act of God, and the great tornado adds to the silent beauty with revelations of rain and shadow. However, these revelations happen quietly away from humankind, and it's a reminder that nature's grandeur is always present, even when we don't pay attention. The coral blue sweep that line the oceans creates enchanted worlds hidden from the surface, and the singer laments that people don't take the time to look. Perhaps the message of the song is to appreciate the beauty and wonder of nature while respecting its boundaries.
Line by Line Meaning
Water's deep
The water in this area is very deep.
It's not safe
Diving in this area is not safe.
To dive
It is advised not to dive in this area.
The fishing lines
The fishing lines in the water.
Get all untangled
Sometimes, the fishing lines get tangled up.
Pelicans that pass by the coast
Pelicans often fly by the coast.
Silently glide by
They usually fly by quietly without making a fuss.
Without a care
Pelicans seem to fly carefree and without worry.
Water's clear
The water in this area is very clear.
No one's askin' why
It's unknown why the water in this area is so clear.
Silver linings
Being able to find the good in every situation.
And cloud formations
How beautiful formations of clouds in the sky could be.
An act of God by the great tornado
The destructive force of tornadoes and how they are an act of God.
Quietly away from us
Tornadoes happen in a away that is not visible to us.
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
A vocalization that doesn't have a clear meaning in this context.
Revelations of rain and shadows
The beauty and mystery of rain and shadows.
Mysteries of the great unknown
The great unknown is mysterious and awe-inspiring.
We head to the shore
We are going to the shore.
Coral blue sweep
The blue color of the coral as it sweeps by.
That line the oceans
Coral is often found in the oceans.
Enchanted worlds hidden from the surface
There are beautiful and amazing worlds hidden beneath the surface of the water.
If only we did take
If only we would take more time to appreciate nature.
The time to look
Take more time to look and appreciate nature.
Dive
Take the plunge and dive into the water.
Dive
Take the plunge and dive into the water.
Dive
Take the plunge and dive into the water.
Dive
Take the plunge and dive into the water.
Dive
Take the plunge and dive into the water.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Steven Clarke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Mmxxaamm
Love that Rachel is still writing music
@MarioStelar
Everything Rachel touches turns into gold
@Uly_Sandoval_303
Exactly..!!
@nigelyoung9575
I saw them last night supporting Ride and they were excellent. Would strongly recommend seeing them live.
@joaoignacio1978
I still listen very much to "Waves are Universal". It's not a masterpiece, but it is a very sunny record and did a very special effort to catch up from the profundities of pain (emotional AND physical), when I have to deal with the darkest time of my life. So, I have a lot of love and kindness for this record. I love the artwork. A childhood friend of mine gave me as gift, as he knows of my love about everything related to Slowdive. So, it's very special.
For me, some of the most brilliant things made by Mojave 3 were those with the main vocals made by Rachel (first album is a fav, unfortunately an ex-boyfriend stole it from me. But it's ok, he has good taste 😉.)
I always have hoped for a new Rachel's work, but I know things became very hard for her, coz she had to deal with the pleasure and pain of being a mother of a very special child, living in the countryside. I suppose the situation is much more light now for her. It's a blessing to listen her music.
@lanadantas2338
😍😍 Congrats Rachel and Steve 👏👏
@miketh57
Just lovely !!!
@Uly_Sandoval_303
Beautiful Rachel.. ❤
@jeremyakaslowdive2208
Beautiful!
@Darth_Revan25
Such a lovely, embracing song. I really like this!