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)
Hey
Icehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When everything goes wrong
Sometimes it makes no sense
Hey-hey
There once was a time
I should have known better then
Hey-hey
Although you may try
Hey, little girl
Where will you hide?
Who can you run to now?
Hey, little girl
Where will you go?
Who can you turn to now?
Hey, hey
So why should I care
If somebody let you down?
Hey, hey
That's nothing new
I know just what that can mean
Hey, hey
Well, the way that they talk
The talk is all over town
Hey, hey
And it's no surprise
Little girls hurt sometimes
Hey, little girl
Where will you hide?
Who can you run to now?
Hey, little girl
Where will you go?
Who can you turn to now? (who can you turn to now?)
Hey, hey
When everything goes wrong
Sometimes it makes no sense
Hey, hey
Hey, little girl
Should have known better
Better
Hey, hey
Hey, little girl
Where will you hide?
Who can you run to now?
Hey, little girl
Where will you hide?
Who can you run to now?
(Who can you run to now?)
Hey, little girl (little girl)
Where will you go? (will you go?)
The lyrics to Icehouse's song Hey Little Girl explore themes of abandonment and the pain of betrayal, as the singer addresses a young girl who has been let down and must face the world alone. The repetition of the phrase "Hey-hey" at the beginning of each verse creates a sense of urgency and directness, as if the singer is trying to get the girl's attention and offer her comfort. The first verse acknowledges the randomness and unfairness of life, suggesting that sometimes things just don't make sense no matter how hard we try to understand them.
The chorus is the heart of the song, as the singer asks the titular little girl where she can turn for help when the world has let her down. The repetition of the question, "Who can you run to now?" underscores the sense of isolation and helplessness felt by the girl, while the repetition of the phrase "little girl" throughout the song emphasizes her youth and vulnerability.
The second verse addresses the singer's own detachment from the girl's plight, stating that he can't be bothered to care about someone else's problems when he has his own to deal with. However, the final lines of the song suggest a a sense of regret and empathy, as the singer acknowledges that "little girls hurt sometimes" and admits that he "should have known better" than to be so callous.
Overall, the lyrics to Hey Little Girl are a poignant exploration of the pain of growing up and facing the harsh realities of the world. The song acknowledges the difficulties we all face in trying to find our place in the world, while also offering a message of hope and shared empathy.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey-hey
Expressing casual greeting or attracting attention
When everything goes wrong
In times of widespread trouble or disaster
Sometimes it makes no sense
The difficulty or confusion of understanding
There once was a time
Reflecting on a past moment
I should have known better then
Regretting not having made a better choice at the time
Although you may try
Attempting to solve a problem or challenge
It won't come your way again
The realization that opportunities come and go
Hey, little girl
Addressing someone younger and vulnerable
Where will you hide?
Asking where she can escape from danger or pain
Who can you run to now?
Questioning who she can trust or seek help from
So why should I care
Expressing indifference or detachment
If somebody let you down?
Noticing someone else's disappointment or betrayal
That's nothing new
Not surprised or affected by it
I know just what that can mean
Understand the feeling of being let down
Well, the way that they talk
Gossip or rumors going around
The talk is all over town
The news has spread and is widely known
And it's no surprise
Not unexpected or unusual
Little girls hurt sometimes
Acknowledging the pain and vulnerability of young girls
Where will you go?
Asking about her destination or future plans
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ivor Arthur Davies
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@axeman0073
Hey hey, when everything goes wrong
Sometimes it makes no sense
Hey hey, there once was a time
I should have known better then
Hey hey, although you may try
It won't come your way again
Hey little girl, where will you hide
Who can you run to now
Hey little girl, where will you go
Who can you turn to now
Hey hey, so why should I care
If somebody let you down
Hey hey, nnnn, that's nothing new
The talk is all over town
Hey hey, and it's no surprise
Little girls get hurt sometimes
Hey little girl, where will you hide
Who can you run to now
Hey little girl, where will you gooooooo
Who can you turn to now
Who can you turn to now
Hey hey, when everything goes wrong
Sometimes it makes no sense
Hey hey, hey little girl, should of known better
Known better than, hey hey
Hey little girl, where will you hide
Who can you run to now
Nnnn nn nnn
Hey little girl, where will you hide
Who can you run to now
Who can you run to now
Hey little girl, little girl, where will you gooo
Little girl, who can you turn to now
@Thieleklix
So many memories of this song. I have to go back to the 80's. Who´s coming with me ?
@rossedmonds1828
Me!
@petersparks519
Me
@burton48
Fire up the mode of transportation. I am aboard. I would love to escape this dangerously screwed up world of today.
@k.-h.k.1315
Let's go, Fella!
@JEEROFUKU
I’m with you, lad🏍
@littlenige
If like me you're around 60 you too were blessed! We had a great time listening to music like this.
@tracyhoward8228
bro im 61 still istening to this music. these bands are now old like us
@user-pn8xi5yg7p
I am 65 et j'écoute aussi ❤❤
@JamesSolly-sz1hi
I was born in 79, very much a child of the 80s and I'm not afraid to say that was DEFINATELY by era! That's where I belong!