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)
Charlie's Sky
Icehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Laid back in an open field and
Followed those distant wings
Around in lazy circles
"When are they gonna come down?" he said,
"Or are they watching over
Me here on the ground instead?"
"Or maybe they just fly forever?"
You dont forget about heroes
You simply shake their hands
Then you watch them fly away
One night there`s a new star
Up in Charlie`s sky
First raid on the jungle night
Flying low in the radio silence
One eye on the gunners sight
One eye on the waiting target
It`s not a matter of wrong or right
You asked no questions, `cause you found no answers
God knows when you have to fight
You say a prayer and you take your chances
You don`t forget about heroes
You simply shake their hands
Then you watch them wave goodbye
One night there`s a new star
Up in Charlie`s sky
You don`t forget about heroes
Like any big wild bird
You have to let them fly away
[Pray that] no one can reach them
Up in Charlie`s sky
Somewhere deep in the mountains
Somewhere wide of the landing lights
missing in action
But I know he made it home
Home alright
The song "Charlie's Sky" by Icehouse tells the story of a man named Charlie who is a former soldier turned pilot. It begins with Charlie reminiscing about his youth, lying in an open field and watching the birds fly above him. He wonders if they are watching over him or if they will ever come down, prompting the theme of the song – the freedom and beauty of flight. The chorus highlights the idea that heroes, like Charlie, should be remembered and respected for their bravery and sacrifice.
The second verse takes us to Charlie's time in the military where he flew a plane in combat. He flew low, avoiding the enemy's radar and aiming for his target. The song conveys the urgency and uncertainty of war, emphasizing how it's neither right nor wrong, black nor white. Charlie didn't ask questions, he only said a prayer and took his chances. The chorus repeats, reminding us of the respect and admiration due to Charlie and others like him.
The final verse expresses the hope that Charlie returned home safe and sound. The lyrics mention the faith in Charlie's survival despite being declared missing in action. The repetition of a "new star up in Charlie's sky" could mean two things- either Charlie is dead and has a place shining among the stars, or that he has gone on to make a name for himself as a successful pilot, his star shining in the sky as a testament to his achievements.
Line by Line Meaning
Charlie was just a boy
Charlie was a young, carefree boy
Laid back in an open field and
Charlie was relaxing in a wide open field
Followed those distant wings
Charlie watched some faraway wings in the sky
Around in lazy circles
The wings were flying in relaxed circular patterns
"When are they gonna come down?" he said,
Charlie was wondering when the wings will land
"Or are they watching over
Me here on the ground instead?"
Charlie also thought that the wings might be keeping an eye on him from above
"Or maybe they just fly forever?"
Charlie reckoned that the wings might be flying indefinitely
You dont forget about heroes
Heroes are hard to forget
You simply shake their hands
Meeting a hero often involves a hand-shake
Then you watch them fly away
After meeting a hero, you see them leaving
One night there`s a new star
Charlie saw a new bright object in the sky one night
Up in Charlie`s sky
The object was up in the sky that Charlie viewed
First raid on the jungle night
The first mission to attack the jungle was at night
Flying low in the radio silence
The attackers were flying low and without any radio communication
One eye on the gunners sight
The attackers had one eye on their machine guns to aim
One eye on the waiting target
While aiming, they also kept an eye on their target
It`s not a matter of wrong or right
Their actions weren't based on right or wrong
You asked no questions, `cause you found no answers
They didn't ask any questions as there were no satisfactory answers
God knows when you have to fight
When you have to fight, only God knows the outcome
You say a prayer and you take your chances
One prays and risks their lives during combat
Like any big wild bird
Heroes are like massive untamed birds
You have to let them fly away
Just like birds, they need to spread their wings and fly away
[Pray that] no one can reach them
One hopes no one can harm them once they leave
Somewhere deep in the mountains
The character was probably hiding in remote, mountainous regions
Somewhere wide of the landing lights
He was also avoiding conventional means of transportation
missing in action
He was unaccounted for during combat operations
But I know he made it home
Despite being missing, he ultimately returned home
Home alright
Finally, he made it home and was safe once more
Contributed by Jayden I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.