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)
Feed the Machine
Icehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It`s growing deep inside me
Just like a disease, yeah
Just like a disease
Swallowed up and slowly stranged
Every second is eternal
And I just don`t need it
And I just don`t need it
Give me all of these good reasons
But I don`t believe, no
Don`t believe, no
I said no more
You put me back on the line
You say we can make a deal
Feed the machine
No more
The machine that wants to love you
The machine that needs to hold you
Holding me down, yeah
Hold me down
Well, it reaches out to touch you
And it wraps it arms around you
It`s me suffocating, yeah
It`s me suffocating
I say no more
You put me back on the line
Say we can make a deal
Feed the machine
I say no more
Feed the machine
No more
It`s living and it`s breathing
It`s growing deep inside me
Swallowed up and slowly stranged
Every second is eternal
And I am sleeping with these demons
I am sleeping with these demons
I said no more
No, no, no, no more, yeah
Feed the machine
You say we can make a deal
You put me back on the line
I say no more
You put me back on the line
You say we can make a deal, yeah
Feed the machine
No more
Feed the machine
No more
The lyrics of "Feed the Machine" by Icehouse describe a feeling of being trapped by an oppressive force, which is likened to a disease or a machine that is suffocating the singer. This force is both living and breathing, growing inside the singer and engulfing them slowly with each passing second. The singer expresses a desire to distance themselves from this force, to sleep without being beset by demons, but every time they try to break free, they are told they can make a deal with the machine. The implication is that this force is something that is hard to escape and can only be temporarily placated, like a deal with the devil.
The chorus of the song, "Feed the machine, no more," is a rallying cry for the singer to resist the temptation to make a deal and continue living under the oppressive force. The machine is described as something that wants to love and hold the singer, but this love is not genuine or human. Instead, it is like being held down and suffocated, reminding the singer of their need to break free.
Overall, "Feed the Machine" is a powerful and evocative song that speaks to the experience of being trapped by oppressive forces that are difficult to escape. The lyrics offer a sense of hopelessness, but also a call to action, encouraging listeners to resist the temptation to give in and to continue fighting to break free.
Line by Line Meaning
It`s living and it`s breathing
The force that controls me is alive within me.
It`s growing deep inside me
The force that controls me is strengthening itself within me.
Just like a disease, yeah
The force that controls me is like an infection slowly taking over me.
Just like a disease
The force that controls me is like a disease that has infected me.
Swallowed up and slowly strangled
The force that controls me has consumed and weakened me.
Every second is eternal
My perception of time is distorted and seems to never end.
And I just don`t need it
I don't want the power that controls me.
I am sleeping with these demons
I am being haunted by evil spirits.
Give me all of these good reasons
Explain to me why I should continue down this harmful path.
But I don`t believe, no
I won't be convinced to stick with this life.
I said no more
I am done.
You put me back on the line
You keep tempting me to continue with this lifestyle.
You say we can make a deal
You are trying to negotiate with me.
Feed the machine
Continue the negative cycle of behavior.
The machine that wants to love you
The addiction/temptation that wants to lure you.
The machine that needs to hold you
The addiction/temptation that wants to keep you in its grasp.
Holding me down, yeah Hold me down
I feel trapped and unable to escape.
Well, it reaches out to touch you
The addiction/temptation tries to get closer to you.
And it wraps it arms around you
The addiction/temptation envelops and ensnares you.
It`s me suffocating, yeah
I feel like I'm being choked out by this lifestyle.
No more
I am done with this.
You say we can make a deal
You think we can negotiate and bargain about my addiction.
I say no more
I am not willing to make a deal or bargain to continue this cycle.
Feed the machine
Continue this cycle of addiction/temptation.
No more
End the cycle of addiction/temptation.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: D. CHAPMAN, IVOR DAVIES, P. WHEELER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind