Yazoo were formed in early 1982 by former Depeche Mode songwriter Vince Clarke (synthesizers) and English singer Alison Moyet (vocals) and signed to Mute Records in the United Kingdom.
Their debut single "Only You" was released on 15 March 1982 and rose to number 2 on the UK charts. They also released two studio albums: Upstairs at Eric's in 1982 and You and Me Both in 1983.
Shortly after the release of the second album, Moyet and Clarke decided to break up. Moyet pursued a solo career while Clarke first founded (the short lived) The Assembly followed by the successful Erasure.
Vince Clarke and Alison Moyet briefly reunited in 2008 and toured Europe and the United States as Yazoo for the first time in twenty-five years. Also in 2008, their record company issued a 4-disc box set called In Your Room; containing remastered editions of both of their original albums, a disc of b-sides and remixes (imaginitively titled B-Sides and Remixes) and a DVD containing promotional videos, interviews etc.
Official website is at: www.yazooinfo.com
Softly Over
Yazoo Lyrics
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Silent comes the night time, end another summers day
I can just remember, or is this the dream that never goes away.
[Chorus:]
Understand me, I'm calling,
Understand me, can you hear me call.
Night time, surely it's a lie,
No-one ever told me, I just let the chance go by
Wishing there was time enough, you tell me there's no time, but I can try.
[Chorus]
Speak now, without the summer light
All the words I should have spoken, when you held me tight
Still I'll keep in calling, till the morning ends another lonely night.
[Chorus]
I'll be waiting for you hoping, that someday you'll hear me calling
But there's never any answer, just the echo of the call
The lyrics of Yazoo's Softly Over detail the heartbreak of a lost love and the regret and longing that comes with it. The opening lines acknowledge that the relationship is over and that there is nothing left to say about it. The silence of the night signifies the end of another summer's day, emphasizing the passing of time and the finality of the relationship.
The lyric "I can just remember, or is this the dream that never goes away" shows the confusion and uncertainty that often comes after a breakup. Memories can be distorted, and it can be hard to distinguish reality from what we wish was true. The chorus then becomes a plea for the other person to understand the pain and loneliness the singer is feeling, and to hear their call for reconciliation.
In the second verse, the singer laments that they let the opportunity for love slip away, and now it feels like there's no time left. Despite this realization, they still hold onto hope that they can make things right. The final verse is a desperate call to their lost love, hoping that somehow they will hear the cries for reconciliation. However, the sad reality is that there is never an answer, just the empty echo of their own voice.
Overall, Softly Over is a melancholic and reflective song that captures the heartache of losing a love and the regret that comes with it. The lyrics are brought to life by the melancholic yet upbeat synth-pop sound of Yazoo and the rich vocals of lead singer Alison Moyet.
Line by Line Meaning
It's over, there's nothing more to say
The relationship has come to an end and there is nothing left to discuss.
Silent comes the night time, end another summer's day
As the night falls and the day ends, there is no noise, only silence, illustrating the end of something.
I can just remember, or is this the dream that never goes away.
The memories of the relationship still linger in the mind and it's hard to differentiate between reality and a dream.
Understand me, I'm calling, Understand me, can you hear me call.
The artist is pleading for the listener to understand their emotions, and can they hear their call.
Night time, surely it's a lie, No-one ever told me, I just let the chance go by, Wishing there was time enough, you tell me there's no time, but I can try.
The night time feels like a falsehood, and the artist is feeling regret over not taking action for the relationship before it ended. They wish there was more time, and despite being told there isn't, they will try.
Speak now, without the summer light, All the words I should have spoken, when you held me tight, Still I'll keep calling, till the morning ends another lonely night.
Without the summer's light, the singer can't keep hiding their true feelings, and wishes they had spoken up sooner. They will keep calling out, even in their loneliness.
I'll be waiting for you hoping, that someday you'll hear me calling, But there's never any answer, just the echo of the call.
The singer is holding onto hope that the listener may one day hear them out, but as time passes, they are faced with silence and only the echo of their own voice.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VINCE CLARKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind