I remember Mick very well in 69/70 me and my friends would meet up with him in the Old Kings Arms pub, old town Hemel Hempstead. He knew we were all apprentices so he made a point of singing a song about someone’s working life. I can remember some of the words “He went off for his interview on the first day of July” and the chorus went something like “Here’s a gold watch and the shackles from your chains and a piece of paper to say you left here sane and if you’re gonna die do it during tea break”
I discovered Mick in 2000 ad and began to know myself with Mick vas a friend and pilot. He passed almost unknown but i managed to pass on my thanks and love. Yes love for all the freedom he sang to me. May his memory be eternal.
Read a tabloid level newspaper from the 1800s and you'll see how far we've sunk - even the 'working classes' were extremely erudite and educated compared to us.
@Osmond the Wicked, If someone still treasures Zager & Evans' "In The Year 2525", (a big hit in 1969), throw it in the garbage bin. This Is It. Softley should have been in the Top Ten, not them. Very well produced, and Mick had in 1970 the best session musicians you could wish for. His songs are melancholic and introvert. Don't complain that Mick didn't have a voice like Scott Walker, but it's grating quality has its own beauty. At the time I bought his three first albums, and never forgot I had them. Years later I was very happy to find on RUclips some bonus recordings.
A musical genius and sadly misunderstood in his own time. For all of us who grew up in Enniskillen in the 80's and 90's we all remember "Mr Softley". An eccentric English man who had inexplicably settled in a small town in a far flung corner of Northern Ireland and wandered or cycled around town in his bare feet in all four seasons. Shouting out random thoughts, political philosophies and greetings, he was part of all of our childhoods. Widely regarded at the time by locals as good natured but a bit crazy, if only we'd known then that we were actually in the presence of a musical legend. RIP Mick.X
Thank you for posting this - it's a strangely haunting song, and moving to hear what Mick was like. We need such people - just for being different and being what they are.
Just found this. Played it endlessly when I was 17, in autumn of 1970. Sitting round with Dave being young and all that. They said I'd grow out of it. I never did. I started the Cleaners from Venus instead. Still brilliant.
Yes! The scene from that show when this played was quite incredible. Gaspard was excellent in his performance, as he always was. A true devastation his loss. 🖤
It's with a heavy heart I write that unfortunately Mick died yesterday (September 1st 2017) peacefully at Millcroft Nursing Home, Enniskillen. A gathering of friends and neighbours will meet Millcroft Nursing Home, Enniskillen on Monday to remember him, which shall be followed by a private cremation. For those of you that enjoy his work as much as I do, Please share Mick's music he really had a talent that wasn't appreciated half as much as he should have been.
I first heard this song at MOTHERS CLUB at Erdington Birmingham around 69/70 I was stoned on Purple Haze i had scored from a pub in Birmingham City Centre. From that day to this, i have always loved this song, and never once have i heard Mick Softley played on the radio.
I went to see Mick Softly in Poole Dorest. A really big venue. He was upset about something. Stood on the stage for an hour, didn't sing one song and spat on the stage 19 times. I was really impressed.
Heard this incredible song in a French mini-series that starred Gaspard Ulliel...Twice Upon a Time is the English title. This song played during a sex scene and all I could think was how I had to find this song 🎵 because it was so captivating and engrossing.
Came across this song by accident in autoplay - it has amazing energy & incandescent sound! It's continually moving, rising, winding up and then down, like horses galloping, planes rising at hundreds of miles per hour, jets breaking the sound barrier, clouds breaking violently across the sky. Just sudden and constant and impeccable movement. Then a bit past halfway through it plays a ruse on you that it's going to finally end, but then it gives those final punctuating kicks. I absolutely love it!
Mick has been in hospital since 20/03/11. He was treated at the Erne and has been transferred to the RVH in Belfast where he is receiving the best of care. I'm sorry but I can't comment on his status but at nearly 70 yrs old he is an ill man. Please lend your support to our friend Mick and spread the word of his illness s...o that we may find some of his family - we owe him that at least!
It's sad that peope are so different now to how they were then. Great times indeed. Am glad to have seen it and it still colours my perceptions today, much for the good.
Come on and take a trip on my time machine, time machine You know what I mean Where were you When we were all out Laughing and playing Just being ourselves Where were you When we roamed down the plains Dancing in the wind And laughing in the rain Who were you in 2000 BC, 2000 BC While you could have been me? Who'll you be in 5000 AD, 5000 AD A star tripper, maybe?
I wish I had found this years ago. I cannot imagine what differences intellectually, psychologically, emotionally were between the young people of the 60's & 70" and today. I could not imagine groups on young people listening to this like then. Is it that psych/emotional maturity is happening much much later today than back then?
It's a question I often think about; but there are these momentary blips in society, when radical change and an openness to ideas seems to happen. The 60s and 70s were such a time, with a lot of interesting experimentation in music and much else, reaching a peak in 66-74 probably. In fact, Frank Zappa once said that during this time, the old music industry executives were so baffled as to where music would go next that they left the door wide open - wonderfully. Then they were ousted by younger money-oriented exec's who slowly began to control everything, and things slowly went downhill from there. The mood of the 80's was a reactionary, wet blanket in comparison. Perhaps now there's a chance things might open up again.
![Twenty One Pilots - “The Line” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E2Rj2gQAyPA/mqdefault.jpg)
I remember Mick very well in 69/70 me and my friends would meet up with him in the Old Kings Arms pub, old town Hemel Hempstead. He knew we were all apprentices so he made a point of singing a song about someone’s working life. I can remember some of the words “He went off for his interview on the first day of July” and the chorus went something like “Here’s a gold watch and the shackles from your chains and a piece of paper to say you left here sane and if you’re gonna die do it during tea break”
Christopher Whittle
It’s called Goldwatch Blues on his Street Singer LP
Thank God for RUclips...... You found me another masterpiece.....
Randomly scrolling through RUclips brought me here.
Tune.
I discovered Mick in 2000 ad and began to know myself with Mick vas a friend and pilot. He passed almost unknown but i managed to pass on my thanks and love. Yes love for all the freedom he sang to me. May his memory be eternal.
I am addicted to this so and now I can play it on my guitar. Mick Softly, it you're up there somewhwre listen and watching me, thank you...
Is it just me, or does music from this era (1970s and before) seem like it has a lot more depth than most music today?
Certainly does..
Read a tabloid level newspaper from the 1800s and you'll see how far we've sunk - even the 'working classes' were extremely erudite and educated compared to us.
60s, 70s music the best
Today's "music" is just manufactured banal junk!
@Osmond the Wicked,
If someone still treasures Zager & Evans' "In The Year 2525", (a big hit in 1969), throw it in the garbage bin. This Is It. Softley should have been in the Top Ten, not them. Very well produced, and Mick had in 1970 the best session musicians you could wish for.
His songs are melancholic and introvert. Don't complain that Mick didn't have a voice like Scott Walker, but it's grating quality has its own beauty.
At the time I bought his three first albums, and never forgot I had them. Years later I was very happy to find on RUclips some bonus recordings.
A musical genius and sadly misunderstood in his own time. For all of us who grew up in Enniskillen in the 80's and 90's we all remember "Mr Softley". An eccentric English man who had inexplicably settled in a small town in a far flung corner of Northern Ireland and wandered or cycled around town in his bare feet in all four seasons. Shouting out random thoughts, political philosophies and greetings, he was part of all of our childhoods. Widely regarded at the time by locals as good natured but a bit crazy, if only we'd known then that we were actually in the presence of a musical legend. RIP Mick.X
I discovered this artist and this song in a French CBS compilation called Pop Session #2 which was a double LP
Thank you for posting this - it's a strangely haunting song, and moving to hear what Mick was like. We need such people - just for being different and being what they are.
Joe satriani Time machine
Time machine Joe satriani
Joe satriani
Great song overlooked for far too long. A talented but under appreciated dude. Grest composer.
Amazing music yet to be discovered again. Just loved Mick Softleys music.
Just found this. Played it endlessly when I was 17, in autumn of 1970.
Sitting round with Dave being young and all that. They said I'd grow out of it.
I never did. I started the Cleaners from Venus instead.
Still brilliant.
+Martin Newell i love the cleaners from venus
One of the best!
who doesn't?
love the cleaners
Awesome :)
Oh, how I love this song.
Momories of my youth - I was so in love - come back. 💓😢
"Il était une seconde fois" brought me here....this amazing song will always remind me of Gaspard Ulliel from now on...💔😥
Yes! The scene from that show when this played was quite incredible. Gaspard was excellent in his performance, as he always was. A true devastation his loss. 🖤
Moi aussi je n’oublierai jamais Gaspard et cette scène de passion incandescente 🙏💙
@@idealfan1 "passion incandescente"...bien dit! Oui, c'est vrai 🖤
@@AvecPoesie merci !
Vous êtes Français ? Ou vous parlez très bien Anglais ?
The scene was super
It's with a heavy heart I write that unfortunately Mick died yesterday (September 1st 2017) peacefully at Millcroft Nursing Home, Enniskillen.
A gathering of friends and neighbours will meet Millcroft Nursing Home, Enniskillen on Monday to remember him, which shall be followed by a private cremation.
For those of you that enjoy his work as much as I do, Please share Mick's music he really had a talent that wasn't appreciated half as much as he should have been.
JohnEM Just heard that myself. I'm in Ekn myself and it's being spoken about like wildfire. RIP Mick.
7/10/24 Just found this vid, hope you played 'Time Machine' on the day, brilliant track!
I first heard this song at MOTHERS CLUB at Erdington Birmingham around 69/70
I was stoned on Purple Haze i had scored from a pub in Birmingham City Centre. From that day to this, i have always loved this song, and never once have i heard Mick Softley played on the radio.
I love this song way too much its one of the top10songs in the world it just hits different
I went to see Mick Softly in Poole Dorest. A really big venue. He was upset about something. Stood on the stage for an hour, didn't sing one song and spat on the stage 19 times. I was really impressed.
Heard this incredible song in a French mini-series that starred Gaspard Ulliel...Twice Upon a Time is the English title. This song played during a sex scene and all I could think was how I had to find this song 🎵 because it was so captivating and engrossing.
me too!! I "knew" through this netflix serie! it's an awesome song!
Simply Great !
First time that I hear this song. Wicked, isn't it?
The more I listen to this now the more haunting it becomes.
kind of magic
שיר נהדר .. לצלילי הגיטרה שאני אוהב .. כל הכבוד לך, הזמר ...!
מא
Music this beautiful doesn't deserve to be so obscure
Wow a beautiful song, he has a amazing voice!
Came across this song by accident in autoplay - it has amazing energy & incandescent sound! It's continually moving, rising, winding up and then down, like horses galloping, planes rising at hundreds of miles per hour, jets breaking the sound barrier, clouds breaking violently across the sky. Just sudden and constant and impeccable movement. Then a bit past halfway through it plays a ruse on you that it's going to finally end, but then it gives those final punctuating kicks. I absolutely love it!
thats what GOOD music can do
I was always drawn to UK
psych folk troubadours,
and he was excellent.
This song just hits the depths of my soul.
Wonderful track, we've all got a time machine deep in the soul if we can just dig it...out..
Maravilloso tema Dios mio , de los 70 como no podia ser de otra época.
love the bass and early synth.
This man, Mick, is bloody brilliant!
If it wasn't for the Rob Young book I would never have heard of Mick and this is a superb piece of music.
Bromsgrove says Superb. Where The 'grove goes You will follow. More kudos for Mick.
A true piece of art in every sense. Beautiful.
Where has this been all my life?
Very nice voice
A very unique guy and still good and different today. Sad to hear of his passing.
Got stoned to this too many times!
Music that satisfies and nurtures my soul...... Exquisite
Some songs manage to hit the bulls eye. This is one of them.
RIP Mick Softley thanks for the Music
Uno dei più grandi artisti che io abbia il piacere di aver ascoltato, "Ucroniotopia", utopia cronica. Da brividi.
Found it at last!! Haven't heard this since the early seventies. Always wondered who had written it.
Tellement éloigné des créations actuelles et tellement plus vivante
So wonderful. Makes my little hippie heart shine like glitter bug with flowers...
Rip Michael Francis Softley 77years young I hope your up in the stars looking at our poor planet and the state its in
Mick just passed away RIP Mick... magic in the wind
FANTASTIC BAND ❤
amazing
very nice
Beautiful! thanks
Beautiful
Un gran tema... excelente!!!
Masterpiece
amazing tune- wow!!!!
Simply amazing!
super track
Wow, what a tune!
Mick has been in hospital since 20/03/11. He was treated at the Erne and has been transferred to the RVH in Belfast where he is receiving the best of care. I'm sorry but I can't comment on his status but at nearly 70 yrs old he is an ill man. Please lend your support to our friend Mick and spread the word of his illness s...o that we may find some of his family - we owe him that at least!
loved the 70s great friends were around then
It's sad that peope are so different now to how they were then. Great times indeed. Am glad to have seen it and it still colours my perceptions today, much for the good.
Love this song (since 2001)
SO GOOD
Come on and take a trip
on my time machine, time machine
You know what I mean
Where were you
When we were all out
Laughing and playing
Just being ourselves
Where were you
When we roamed down the plains
Dancing in the wind
And laughing in the rain
Who were you in 2000 BC, 2000 BC
While you could have been me?
Who'll you be in 5000 AD, 5000 AD
A star tripper, maybe?
just discovered this awesome buying cd asap thanks
I could use one of those machines right about now....
We need it right about now
But are you willing to give up EVERYTHING you know and love for it....🤔
I fully support him and hope he won't pass away like Calvin Russell did last Sunday :-(
Música lindaaa.
THC MUSIC
beautiful...thanks for sharing!!!!love love:)
🎧🎷🎸 Sensacional rock progressivo que talento desse Mick Softley 🎼
Everybody needs a time machine
Amazing genius immortal
I wish I had found this years ago. I cannot imagine what differences intellectually, psychologically, emotionally were between the young people of the 60's & 70" and today. I could not imagine groups on young people listening to this like then. Is it that psych/emotional maturity is happening much much later today than back then?
Data Two Today the young people are not listening to music but are costumers of generic and electronic sounds from overhyped and crap pop stars.
It's a question I often think about; but there are these momentary blips in society, when radical change and an openness to ideas seems to happen. The 60s and 70s were such a time, with a lot of interesting experimentation in music and much else, reaching a peak in 66-74 probably. In fact, Frank Zappa once said that during this time, the old music industry executives were so baffled as to where music would go next that they left the door wide open - wonderfully. Then they were ousted by younger money-oriented exec's who slowly began to control everything, and things slowly went downhill from there. The mood of the 80's was a reactionary, wet blanket in comparison. Perhaps now there's a chance things might open up again.
A true Masterpiece!!!
Timeless classic❤
Sorry to hear this, many years ago I got the War Memorial cassette and a booklet of poetry-songs from his Enniskillen address
Makes me feel great!
Brilliant
BEAUTIFUL SEVENTIES!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR POSTING*****
love this played 20 times so far fuckin awesome it is
RIP Mick Softly.
great album Sunrise 1971
RIP Mick Softley
A lost art of relatable consciousness
je prenais des monstres verts à l'époque que de bon voyage!
Additionally got this album at Beanos in Croydon. Then quality vinyl Place
He'd get on his bike an show me where thereushrooms.woth boss.what a absolutely lovely person.miss ya old man.xxxxxx
Mick the Genius passed away on 1st Sept 2017 in Enniskillen
so good
3 days early, but, we miss you mick
it was on a cbs sampler album in the seventies could have been together cant remember
MUY BUENO .... RECUERDO
Laughing at this man without realising his genius
trop bon!
The big song.
time machine.... man we would fuck shit up with 1 of those... but man i love this song...
just bought 3 of his albums
RIP Mick
BRUTALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
This is my anthem
a star tripper, may be...
Got this on a sampler when you really got a return for your money.