There were three different versions of "Pieces of Ice": a 7" single version (3:57), an LP version (4:54), and the 12" single remix (7:19). The US-released 12" single also includes an instrumental version as its B-side.
Pieces of Ice
Diana Ross Lyrics
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Lookin' through a smoke menagerie
Lookin' at your face inside of me
In the darkness you're Tunisia
Nights are long entropic
I can't seem to cope
It's cold when I look in your eyes
Pieces of ice
Pieces of ice
Pieces of ice
Pieces of ice
Where the zebra lightning strikes the room
Foreign words are strutted through the gloom
Women swooping down like birds of prey
Never close but never far away
Night are long entropic
I can't seem to cope
It's cold when I look in your eyes
Pieces of ice
Pieces of ice
Pieces of ice
Pieces of ice
Night are long entropic
I can't seem to cope
It's cold when I look in your eyes
Pieces of ice
Pieces of ice
Pieces of ice
The lyrics of Diana Ross's "Pieces of Ice" describe the feeling of being lost and disconnected in a strange, surreal environment. The singer describes walking blindly through a silver room, surrounded by smoke and unable to make sense of her surroundings. She sees the face of a loved one, but even that connection feels distant and hollow. The darkness is like Tunisia, suggesting a sense of being lost in a foreign land where nothing is familiar or comforting.
As the song continues, the imagery becomes even more abstract, with references to zebra lightning and foreign words being strutted through the gloom. Women are described as swooping down like birds of prey, suggesting a sense of danger and unease. The singer is unable to cope with the entropic nights, feeling cold and disconnected when she looks into the eyes of her companion.
Line by Line Meaning
Walkin' blind across this silver room
I feel lost and directionless in this unfamiliar place
Lookin' through a smoke menagerie
Through the haze of smoke, I see a bewildering array of people and things
Lookin' at your face inside of me
In my mind's eye, I see your face as if it's a part of me
In the darkness you're Tunisia
You are a distant and exotic place, shrouded in mystery
Nights are long entropic
The nights feel endless and chaotic
I can't seem to cope
I am struggling to deal with my emotions
It's cold when I look in your eyes
When I try to connect with you, I feel a sense of detachment and coldness
Pieces of ice
Our relationship is fragmented and distant, with no warmth or emotion
Where the zebra lightning strikes the room
In the midst of turmoil and confusion, there are moments of unexpected clarity
Foreign words are strutted through the gloom
I hear unfamiliar language and concepts that add to my sense of disorientation
Women swooping down like birds of prey
I feel pursued and overwhelmed by the attention of women
Never close but never far away
Although we may be physically near each other, we remain emotionally distant
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARC JORDAN, JOHN JOSEPH CAPEK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind