Since 1980, Icehouse has released seven albums, several compilations, and music from collaborations with other artists including dance companies. Their 1987 album 'Man of Colours' was released at the apex of their fame and international success. It is considered by many to be the band's magnum opus.
As 'Flowers', Icehouse built up a strong following as a live act around Sydney, Australia, noted for their distinctive cover versions of songs by a wide range of acts including T-Rex and Brian Eno. After signing to the independent Regular Festival Records label, they released their debut single, "Can't Help Myself", which hit the Australian Top 10 in June 1980. This was followed by their first album 'Icehouse', which also made the Top 10 and became one of year's biggest selling albums in Australia. The album made use of synthesisers, especially the Sequential Circuits Prophet 5.
Further singles "We Can Get Together" and "Walls" both hit the Top 20. A European single from this album, "Icehouse", created some interest in the U.K., partly because of a memorable music video. Sensing the possibility of international success, the band decided to change their name in early 1981 to avoid confusion with Scottish group The Flowers. As Icehouse, they spent most of 1981 touring the UK, Canada and US, where "We Can Get Together" hit #62. A single release, "Love In Motion", recorded by Davies alone but the first to be credited to the band's new name, duly hit the Australian Top 10 in November 1981.
In January 1982, the band's original line up split, resulting in Davies recording Icehouse's much-anticipated second album, 'Primitive Man', on his own, with assistance from Keith Forsey, who later worked with Simple Minds. Released in August 1982, Primitive Man was another huge Australian hit and became Icehouse's international breakthrough. The hit single "Hey Little Girl" reached the UK Top 20 and has remained their most regularly played song. Another strong track from this album was "Great Southern Land", which made the Australian Top 5 and was later featured in the late 1980s film 'Young Einstein'.
In 1985, Davies' musical standing was further enhanced when he was commissioned to compose and record the score for the acclaimed Sydney Dance Company production of Graeme Murphy's dance work 'Boxes'. Icehouse's third album, 'Sidewalk', was far more sombre and reflective, featuring the tracks "I Don't Believe Anymore" and "Someone Like You". After this album the band made further inroads into the U.S. market with their 1986 release 'Measure for Measure', which featured none other than Brian Eno as a listed band member.
Icehouse's next work, 'Man of Colours', was their best-selling album. It contained the hit singles "Crazy" and "Electric Blue" (a song co-written by John Oates from the band Hall and Oates). Both singles reached the US Top 20, with "Electric Blue" hitting the #7 slot. With this album, the band reached an international zenith, never surpassing this level of popularity and exposure again.
In 1995, Davies was again involved with the Sydney Dance Company's production of Berlin. The musical score is a collection of cover versions of songs by David Bowie, Brian Eno, Simple Minds, The Psychedelic Furs, Frank Sinatra, Lou Reed, Roxy Music, XTC, Talking Heads, The Velvet Underground, PiL, The Cure and Killing Joke, which saw him collaborating with pianist Max Lambert in the development of the music.
As well as recording the score to the ballet, Davies performed these songs live with Icehouse at each show. He was an intrinsic part of the ballet, in a role similar to the one in Boxes. Iva was extremely successful in creating a translation from the dancers to the audience. Berlin was an instant success and ran for two seasons. Both shows were the most commercially successful that The Sydney Dance Company have had to date.
On 16 August 2006, Icehouse were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame along side acts such as Midnight Oil, Divinyls and Rose Tattoo. Also in 2006, Icehouse featured prominently on the Triple M Essential 2006 Countdown with 14 songs selected including:
*"Man Of Colours"
*"Electric Blue"
*"We Can Get Together"
*"Don't Believe Any More"
*"Great Southern Land" (which came in at number 12)
Being Boiled
Icehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Saying stop your sericulture
Little people like your offspring
Boiled alive for some gods stocking
Buddha's watching, Buddha's waiting
Just because the kid's an orphan
Is no excuse for thoughtless slaying
Just because you call her mother
Doesn't mean that she's your better
Once more with the voice of Buddha
He'll say carry on your slaughter
Who cares for the little children
You may slice with no conviction
Blind revenge on a blameless victim
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Saying stop your sericulture
He'll say carry on your slaughter
Who cares for the little children
You may slice with no conviction
Blind revenge on a blameless victim
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Listen to the voice of Buddha
The lyrics of Icehouse's song "Being Boiled" are a commentary on the brutality of sericulture or silk farming. The voice of Buddha is used as a metaphorical representation of an enlightened witness who observes the inhumane treatment of silkworms, who are boiled alive to obtain silk. The Buddha's message is to stop this practice and to acknowledge the suffering of the silkworms, who are similar to little people or children.
The second verse emphasizes the idea that just because the silkworms are orphans, their killing is not justified. Similarly, the meaning of the verse extends to all forms of violence or killing, which must be regarded as wrong regardless of the background or status of the victim. The Buddha's voice repeats the message to stop the practice of sericulture and to spare the blameless victim.
The repeated chorus amplifies the message and directs the listener to pay attention to the voice of Buddha. The song portrays the need for compassion and empathy towards all living beings and the consequences of blind revenge.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Pay attention to the teachings of Buddha
Saying stop your sericulture
Buddha advises to stop the cruel practice of boiling silk worms for fabric production
Little people like your offspring
Innocent creatures are being treated cruelly, just like your own children
Boiled alive for some gods stocking
These creatures are boiled alive just so that a god's stockings can be made
Buddha's watching, Buddha's waiting
Buddha is observing and waiting for people to stop this inhumane practice
Just because the kid's an orphan
Being an orphan doesn't make a child any less worthy of life and protection
Is no excuse for thoughtless slaying
Killing them thoughtlessly is not acceptable
People don't forget this torture
People will not forget the inhumane treatment of these innocent creatures
Just because you call her mother
Even if you consider the creature as a mother, it doesn't justify killing her and her offspring
Doesn't mean that she's your better
Being a mother doesn't make her less of a victim
Once more with the voice of Buddha
Buddha reiterates his message
He'll say carry on your slaughter
In contrast, he then speaks as if encouraging the slaughter to continue
Who cares for the little children
People seem to have stopped caring about the innocent creatures being killed
You may slice with no conviction
People are now killing without remorse or guilt
Blind revenge on a blameless victim
These innocent creatures are being killed out of a misplaced sense of revenge
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN CRAIG MARSH, MARTYN WARE, PHILIP OAKEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sg6000
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Saying stop your sericulture
Little people like your offspring
Boiled alive for some God's stocking
Buddha's watching, Buddha's waiting
Just because the kid's an orphan
Is no excuse for thoughtless slaying
Children don't forget this torture
Just because you call her mother
Doesn't mean that she's your better
Once more with the voice of Buddha
He'll say carry on your slaughter
Who cares for the little children
You may slice with no conviction
Blind revenge on a blameless victim
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Saying stop your sericulture
Who cares for the little children
You may slice with no conviction
Blind revenge on a blameless victim
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Listen to the voice of Buddha
@JP-wt8jg
I am 51 years Old and know this track about 40 years. I never thought that this track is from 1978. For me one of the greatest milestone in the music History.
@billyhill9997
I am 55 years old and this was one of the sounds of my youth. We were never aware how old it was already in198x. Timeless masterpiece.
@Thorsten6811
I'm 55, for me that's good 80's music. Timeless
@Outlander999
I'm 45, this song is 45. So fucking GREAT!!!
@sophiepooks2174
You would have been too young to really remember the 1970's then, I was 17 y.o until December in 1978 when turned 18, so am 62.5 y.o now go figure.
@JP-wt8jg
@@sophiepooks2174 yes I am too young to remember the 70th but I love the music. I am child of the 80s. This time was also magical. Many greets from Germany
@SteiffCollector
Anyone can make a noise on a synth or keyboard, not so many can create a killer track such as this. Creativity, composition & vision. A great band both then & now. I'm old enough to have been a fan from day 1, 2023 I'm still a fan! Great music is simply that, great!
@bandyboo2805
Or Guitar, drums, or trumpet. But yes, talent.
@begannese
As a Sheffield lad, I had this on 45. I used to live on the next road from Mr Oakey. Golden times.
@moedge63
Who's still mesmerised by this in 2020?