Ice
Gary Numan - Tubeway Army Lyrics

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I'm playing at ice
But I'm finding it hard
She didn't break the wall
She just caught me off guard

Can you see ice in my eyes
Can you see ice in my eyes

I'm just a little bit sorry
But I haven't decided why
Could it be my memory
Or did I ever really cry

Can you see ice in my eyes
Can you see ice in my eyes

Fill my head with your false feelings
I can't trust anything you say
Today I missed a special friend
That never really cared anyway

Can you see ice in my eyes
Can you see ice in my eyes

Can you see ice in my eyes
Can you see ice in my eyes

Overall Meaning

The song "Ice" by Gary Numan - Tubeway Army talks about emotional detachment and the difficulties that come with it. The ice in the lyrics is used as a metaphor for the emotional barriers that the singer has put up. The first verse depicts the singer struggling to connect with someone, feeling as though they've been caught off guard. The second verse reveals the singer's confusion and lack of understanding of their own emotions. They don't know why they feel the way they do or if they've even felt anything at all. The third verse expresses the frustration that the singer feels towards someone who had pretended to care but ultimately didn't.

The repetition of the phrase "Can you see ice in my eyes" in the chorus emphasizes the singer's emotional detachment and the thematic importance of the ice metaphor. The line "Fill my head with your false feelings" describes how the singer can't trust anyone's emotions, making it difficult for them to connect with others or feel secure in their own feelings.

Overall, "Ice" is a poignant and introspective meditation on the complexities of emotional detachment and the difficulty of finding genuine connection with others.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm playing at ice
I'm acting cool and detached

But I'm finding it hard
But I'm struggling to maintain that persona

She didn't break the wall
She didn't break through my emotional barrier

She just caught me off guard
She just surprised me with her actions

Can you see ice in my eyes
Can you see the emotional distance in my gaze?

I'm just a little bit sorry
I feel a small amount of remorse

But I haven't decided why
But I'm not sure of the reason for my regret

Could it be my memory
Is it because of my past experiences?

Or did I ever really cry
Or was I never truly emotional in the first place?

Fill my head with your false feelings
You're lying to me and trying to manipulate my emotions

I can't trust anything you say
I can't rely on your words or promises