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)
Lucky Me
Icehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She raves and
She's talking
She's a dirty girl
And she's disgusted
Some people are
Not so lucky
Ooh ooh
A red light
On Notre Dame
I don't drink a
Osh osh champagne
Some people are
Not so lucky
Ooh ooh
Lucky me
Well they stare from the windows
And they lean on the buttons
As the cars die crashing in the street
I feel like
Attila the Hun
I feel like
Nagasaki
Some people are
Not so lucky
Ooh ooh
Lucky me
I feel like a
A president
I've given up (given up)
Given up on you
Some people are
Not so lucky
Ooh ooh
Lucky me
Well they stare from the windows
And they lean on the buttons
As the cars die crashing in the street
Need to talk to somebody
Need to talk to someone
I could fall in love with
That girl
I feel like a
Slow dive
Mm
Ooh ooh
Lucky me
I feel like
Dirty girl
Lucky me
Mm
Ooh ooh
Lucky me
Heading my way, a real kick
A few drops on the windows
A tear in your dress
And seeing the scars as
A matter of fact
How to walk
In the house of flowers
And the dance goes on, it's the
Last thing
I wear these scenes, talk to someone
Talk to somebody
Someone
Somebody
Someone (talk to somebody, someone)
Hey
Well, they stare from the windows
And they lean on the buttons
As the cars die crashing in the street
Need to talk to somebody
Need to talk to someone
I could fall in love with
That girl
Well they stare from the windows
And they lean on the buttons
As the cars die crashing in the street
Need to talk to somebody
Need to talk to someone
I could fall in love without
That girl
I feel like a
Slow dive
Lucky me
Oh
Ooh ooh
Lucky me
I feel like a
Dirty girl
Ooh ooh
Oh, I'm dying
The lyrics of Icehouse's "Lucky Me" are loaded with abstract and cryptic sentences. It is believed that the song addresses the complex and layered emotions that come with finding oneself caught in the tangle of love and heartbreak. The first verse speaks about a "dirty girl" who appears disgusted and raves as she talks. The singer acknowledges that not everyone is lucky to find love or be in a fulfilling relationship. The reference to the red light on Notre Dame and the mention of not drinking champagne suggests that the singer is trying to come to terms with reality and trying to find meaning in everyday things.
The second verse expresses a feeling of being watched or scrutinized while at the same time, being sorry for giving up on someone. The lines 'Well, they stare from the windows, and they lean on the buttons, as the cars die crashing in the street" evoke a sense of helplessness and desperation. The singer's need to talk to somebody and maybe fall in love with someone is an expression of a longing heart. The reference to falling in love with 'that' girl also suggests a possible yearning for a relationship with a specific person.
In the chorus, the repetition of "lucky me" and the fragmented lines could indicate several things, including a facetious way of describing or perhaps a genuine expression of gratefulness for life despite its challenges. The song ends with the lines "I feel like a slow dive, lucky me, I feel like a dirty girl, lucky me." One possible interpretation of the lyrics is that the singer feels like they are slowly sinking, but they still consider themselves lucky, despite it all.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey
The start of the song
She raves and
The girl is enthusiastic about something
She's talking
She is discussing something
She's a dirty girl
She is into naughty things
And she's disgusted
She is grossed out by something
Some people are
Not everyone is fortunate enough
Not so lucky
To not have bad luck or misfortune like others
Ooh ooh
A vocal interlude
Lucky me
Thankful to have good fortune
A red light
The light on the Notre Dame cathedral
On Notre Dame
The famous French cathedral
I don't drink a
I do not consume
Osh osh champagne
Osh osh is a made-up brand and champagne is a type of alcoholic drink
Well they stare from the windows
People are watching from the windows of buildings nearby
And they lean on the buttons
Refers to people pushing buttons, possibly in elevators or interactive exhibits
As the cars die crashing in the street
Cars are colliding and making noise outside
I feel like
I have the same feeling as
Attila the Hun
A reference to a brutal leader of the Huns tribe
Nagasaki
A city in Japan that was destroyed by a nuclear bomb
Well they stare from the windows
People are watching from the windows of buildings nearby
And they lean on the buttons
Refers to people pushing buttons, possibly in elevators or interactive exhibits
As the cars die crashing in the street
Cars are colliding and making noise outside
Need to talk to somebody
I want to communicate with someone
Need to talk to someone
I need to express myself to someone
I could fall in love with
I am attracted to
That girl
A specific girl
I feel like a
I have the same sensation as
Slow dive
A reference to the band Slowdive or a metaphorical slow fall
Mm
A vocal interlude
Lucky me
Thankful to have good fortune
I feel like
I have the same feeling as
Dirty girl
A reference to a promiscuous woman
Heading my way, a real kick
Something exciting is about to happen
A few drops on the windows
Raindrops on the windowpane
A tear in your dress
A rip or tear in a piece of clothing
And seeing the scars as
Noticing the wounds
A matter of fact
In a straightforward manner
How to walk
How to conduct oneself
In the house of flowers
Refers to a story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, likely a metaphor for feeling out of place or taking risks
And the dance goes on, it's the
Metaphor for how life continues despite struggles
Last thing
The final thing
I wear these scenes, talk to someone
I remember these moments and want someone to share them with
Someone
Another person
Somebody
Another person
Hey
The start of the song
Well they stare from the windows
People are watching from the windows of buildings nearby
And they lean on the buttons
Refers to people pushing buttons, possibly in elevators or interactive exhibits
As the cars die crashing in the street
Cars are colliding and making noise outside
Need to talk to somebody
I want to communicate with someone
Need to talk to someone
I need to express myself to someone
I could fall in love without
I might be able to fall in love even without
That girl
A specific girl
I feel like a
I have the same sensation as
Slow dive
A reference to the band Slowdive or a metaphorical slow fall
Lucky me
Thankful to have good fortune
Oh
An expression of surprise or disappointment
Ooh ooh
A vocal interlude
I feel like a
I have the same sensation as
Dirty girl
A reference to a promiscuous woman
Ooh ooh
A vocal interlude
Oh, I'm dying
Expressions of pain or figuratively dying due to some reason
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: IVOR ARTHUR DAVIES, ROBERT GRANT KRETSCHMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind