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)
Graet southern land
Icehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stranded like a runaway, lost at sea
City on a rainy day down in the harbor
Watching as the grey clouds shadow the bay
Looking everywhere 'cause I had to find you
This is not the way that I remember it here
Anyone will tell you its a prisoner island
Hidden in the summer for a million years
Great Southern Land, burned you black
So you look into the land and it will tell you a story
Story 'bout a journey ended long ago
Listen to the motion of the wind in the mountains
Maybe you can hear them talking like I do
They're gonna betray you, they're gonna forget you
Are you gonna let them take you over that way
Great Southern Land, Great Southern Land
You walk alone, like a primitive man
And they make it work, with sticks and bones
See their hungry eyes, its a hungry home
I hear the sound of the stranger's voices
I see their hungry eyes, their hungry eyes
Great Southern Land, Great Southern Land
They burned you black, black against the ground
Standing at the limit of an endless ocean
Stranded like a runaway, lost at sea
City on a rainy day down in the harbor
Watching as the grey clouds shadow the bay
Looking everywhere 'cause I had to find you
This is not the way that I remember it here
Anyone will tell you its a prisoner island
Hidden in the summer for a million years
Great Southern Land, in the sleeping sun
You walk alone with the ghost of time
Where they burned you black, black against the ground
And they make it work with rocks and sand
I hear the sound of the strangers voices
I see their hungry eyes, their hungry eyes
Great Southern Land, Great Southern Land
You walk alone, like a primitive man
You walk alone with the ghost of time
And they burned you black
Yeah, they burned you black
Great Southern Land
Great Southern Land
Great Southern Land
Great Southern Land
Great Southern Land
The lyrics of Icehouse's Great Southern Land are written in a poetic manner that shows an apparent longing or search for someone or something amidst a backdrop of the Australian landscape. The opening lines paint a picture of being lost at sea and feeling stranded, possibly a metaphorical reference to feeling lost or alone. The song has a sense of searching for meaning and purpose, maybe looking back on the past and how things have changed in modern times.
The lyrics then turn to describe the Great Southern Land, and how it has been "burned black" against the ground. This could be a reference to the often-destructive nature of humans and their impact on the land. However, the journey is not over, and the lyrics implore the listener to "look into the land" to hear its story and the motion of the wind. The imagery of the "primitive man" and their way of life is portrayed in contrast to the more developed and modern way of life.
The song's ending brings the listener back to the present, standing at the limit of an endless ocean, feeling lost and seeking purpose. Overall, the lyrics of the song seem to explore themes of loss, change, and the search for meaning in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing at the limit of an endless ocean
I am stopped at the edge of an expanse of water that seems endless.
Stranded like a runaway, lost at sea
I feel abandoned, as if I have run away and am lost at sea.
City on a rainy day down in the harbor
I can see the city on this damp day from the harbor.
Watching as the grey clouds shadow the bay
As I observe the bay, I see the gray clouds obscuring it.
Looking everywhere 'cause I had to find you
I am searching for someone and am scouring every location to find them.
This is not the way that I remember it here
The area around me has changed from how I remember it previously.
Anyone will tell you its a prisoner island
People will inform you that this is an island where inmates are held.
Hidden in the summer for a million years
For ages, this place has been concealed in the warmth of summer.
Great Southern Land, burned you black
The southern land suffered destruction and damage from burning.
So you look into the land and it will tell you a story
By examining the land, you can learn about the history of this place.
Story 'bout a journey ended long ago
The tale is of a voyage that came to an end long ago.
Listen to the motion of the wind in the mountains
Hear the sound of the wind moving through the mountains.
Maybe you can hear them talking like I do
Perhaps you, like me, can hear the mountains speaking in some way.
They're gonna betray you, they're gonna forget you
They will deceive and abandon you.
Are you gonna let them take you over that way
Will you permit them to gain control over you in this manner?
Great Southern Land, Great Southern Land
The southern land is exceptional, noteworthy, and unique.
You walk alone, like a primitive man
You are walking by yourself, similar to how a primitive human might have done so.
And they make it work, with sticks and bones
They have the ability to construct things, even if they are done with rudimentary materials.
See their hungry eyes, its a hungry home
Observe the desperation and longing in the eyes of the people; it is a place of need.
I hear the sound of the stranger's voices
I am able to detect a varied assortment of unfamiliar voices.
They burned you black, black against the ground
The land was subjected to the flames, leaving it dark and scorched.
Great Southern Land, in the sleeping sun
The southern land lies dormant, inactive, and unresponsive in the sunlight.
You walk alone with the ghost of time
You are alone and surrounded only by memories of the past.
And they make it work with rocks and sand
Despite a lack of resources, they are able to utilize commonplace materials and create things.
Yeah, they burned you black
The southern land was damaged by fire, leaving it dark and charred.
Great Southern Land
The southern land is an awe-inspiring and exceptional location.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ivor Davies
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@punkphil7743
So proud of my country. This song brings a tear to my eye
@billychristie1640
probably the greatest song ever written from the antipodes.absolutely fantastic lyrics. Iva Davis you're a legend
@somegirl558
I feel proud and I am not Australian..
@stephenpenniket9976
@Jane The Ripper I am a sometimes proud and sometimes not NZer.
This is a blessing when pride comes before a fall.
@mariaamorgutierrez9542
In Spain we called TEMAZO!!!! We Love this song!!
@Mazzaaaaman
Love it. Like an unofficial national anthem ❤️
@misterg2269
I'me a very proud Aussie and I love this song, like I love this country, as much as anyone could, I feel it's a part of me.
@richard1173
been a while since you've done this, its very good, great sound quality, love to read the lyrics while its being sung, and although it appears to be is not repetitive, one of australias great iconic and timeless songs, this is one of those ambassador songs for australia. we owe a lot to icehouse....
@1ts_fin
❤❤
❤
@nativeamericanfeather9948
Great song! Definitely subscribing ♡ thank you! It reminds me of the 80's( my favorite music) it takes me back I have never heard this I love it