The Soup Dragons formed in Bellshill, Scotland a town very near to Glasgow (which would later spawn another popular band, Teenage Fanclub) in 1985. The line up was Sean Dickson (vocals, lead guitar), Jim McCulloch (guitar, second voice) and Sushil K. Dade (bass). The original drummer, Ross A. Sinclair, left the group after the first proper album, This Is Our Art, to pursue a career in art, and was replaced by Paul Quinn. Most of their songs were written by Dickson, while some were co-written Dickson/McCulloch.
Originally lumped in with the C86 movement, along with fellow members of the Bellshill Sound, such as the BMX Bandits and Teenage Fanclub, they went through a number of stylistic changes in their career.
Their debut was Buzzcocks-inspired pop-punk, and over the course of six singles (collected in 1987 on a US-only compilation, Hang Ten), they gradually developed a more complex rock guitar which culminated in their first album proper This Is Our Art.
In the year following This Is Our Art their sound got heavier and heavier. Suddenly they underwent a major change from an indie rock sound, to the rock-dance crossover baggy sound, popular at the time with the release of the album Lovegod. This change mirrored that of fellow Scottish band Primal Scream, and can be attributed to the rise of the ecstasy-fueled acid house rave scene in the UK. This led to accusations that they were jumping on the "baggy" bandwagon. However, in 1990, it produced their most notable hit single in the UK, "I'm Free", a cover of a Rolling Stones song.
Subsequent albums continued the rock-dance crossover sound, as they concentrated on trying to break America, succeeding in 1992, when "Divine Thing" hit #35 on the American pop chart.
But the band split in 1995. Paul Quinn joined fellow Bellshill band Teenage Fanclub. Sushil K. Dade formed the experimental post rock band Future Pilot AKA, and singer Sean Dickson formed The High Fidelity.
Soft As Your Face
The Soup Dragons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were counting ninety nine
For I go as,
Soft As Your Face
As I count the minute
The hours descends
I just wanna know
Whats in it
Won′t you open up please?
For every words you speak is
Tounge in check is...
Tounge in check
Is tounge out of place
For I go crazy
I go Soft As Your Face
(Interlude)
(Break)
What about your skin?
As I throw myself within
I'm lookin′ from the
Inside to out
I can see the world
As it's turnin' around
And I just wanna know
Whats in it
Won′t you open up please?
For every words you speak is
Tounge in check is...
Tounge in check
Is tounge out of place
For I go crazy
I go Soft As Your Face
And I just wanna know
Whats in it
Won′t you open up please?
For every words you speak is
Tounge in check is...
Tounge in check
Is tounge out of place
And I just wanna know
Whats in it
Won't you open up please?
For every words you speak is
Tounge in check is...
Tounge in check
Is tounge out of place
For I go crazy...
I go Soft As Your Face
I go Soft As Your Face
I go Soft As Your Face
Ohh wooh oh woooh ohh ohh
I go Soft As Your Face
The lyrics of "Soft As Your Face" by The Soup Dragons are open to interpretation, but one possible meaning revolves around the theme of vulnerability and desire for connection.
The first verse begins with the mention of a specific moment in time when the person being addressed was counting to ninety-nine. This could symbolize a period of waiting or anticipation. The singer then expresses how they become as soft as the listener's face, most likely indicating a state of emotional openness and vulnerability.
In the second verse, the singer talks about the passage of time, counting the minutes as the hours descend. This could represent a feeling of impatience or longing. They express a desire to know what is inside the listener, asking them to open up and reveal themselves. The phrase "tongue in check" and "tongue out of place" suggests that communication between the two may sometimes be guarded or uncertain.
The chorus repeats the plea for the listener to open up and expresses a sense of frustration or longing. The singer mentions going crazy and becoming as soft as the listener's face, emphasizing their emotional state.
The repetition of the chorus in the final section intensifies the sense of longing and desire for connection, while the additional line "I go Soft As Your Face" reinforces the vulnerability and emotional state described throughout the song.
Overall, "Soft As Your Face" seems to convey the yearning for emotional intimacy and understanding, and the frustration that can arise when communication is hindered or guarded. The lyrics suggest a deep desire to know and connect with the listener on a deeper level.
Line by Line Meaning
What about the time
You were counting ninety nine
Remember the moment when you were eagerly waiting for something, counting down the seconds
For I go as,
Soft As Your Face
Because of my deep affection, I become as gentle and delicate as your face
As I count the minute
The hours descends
While I focus on each passing minute, time seems to slow down
I just wanna know
Whats in it
Won′t you open up please?
I desire to understand what lies within your thoughts and emotions, can you please share with me?
For every words you speak is
Tounge in check is...
Tounge in check
Is tounge out of place
Each word you utter is carefully considered and controlled, ensuring your tongue doesn't slip or say anything inappropriate
For I go crazy
I go Soft As Your Face
Because of my intense emotions, I become overwhelmed and as delicate as your face
What about your skin?
As I throw myself within
What about the touch and feel of your skin? As I immerse myself in your presence
I'm lookin′ from the
Inside to out
I'm observing you deeply, understanding your inner self and outer persona
I can see the world
As it's turnin' around
Through my connection with you, I gain a new perspective on the world and its constant changes
And I just wanna know
Whats in it
Won′t you open up please?
I still long to discover what lies within you, can you please reveal yourself to me?
And I just wanna know
Whats in it
Won't you open up please?
Once again, I express my desire to comprehend your inner thoughts and feelings, hoping you will allow me in
And I just wanna know
Whats in it
Won′t you open up please?
Continuing to seek understanding, I implore you to be vulnerable and share your true self with me
For every words you speak is
Tounge in check is...
Tounge in check
Is tounge out of place
Each word you utter is carefully weighed and controlled, ensuring your tongue doesn't slip and say something inappropriate
For I go crazy...
Because of my intense emotions, I start losing control...
I go Soft As Your Face
I go Soft As Your Face
I go Soft As Your Face
I become as tender and gentle as your face, my emotions overpowering everything else
Ohh wooh oh woooh ohh ohh
Expressing a sense of longing or yearning
I go Soft As Your Face
Once again emphasizing how I become delicate and vulnerable due to my affection for you
Writer(s): Sean Dickson
Contributed by Julian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@soulcrusher518
This is the Soup Dragons that I love. Not the hippie trip dance stuff they turned into the 90's
@mackymaca
One of my all time fave songs! Love it!
@victoriasantos4725
I totally forgot this song ever existed, but this is a really nice reminder. thank you for posting this.
@JohnPeel3904
A great song !!
@Zhorellski
Their sound reminds me of Lighting seeds and Pixies! very cool!
@bluebellrock
I don't ever remember seeing this vid before so thanks for posting it. Takes me back to 1989. I remember being really pissed off when The Soup Dragons went dance. There's a bit of Go-Betweens in this, especially in the break towards the end.
@AndreVlaamsValle
I'm from Rio de Janeiro and I'm watching this early SD for the first time. For me it sounds like a mix of The La's and Aztec Camera :)
@justMe-rd4sw
Ahhh takes me back, great band.
@prr665
Why can't 50+ year old men make music like this?
@azaleabalon4525
This is a treasure