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)
On My Mind
Icehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where does it go?
Don't think I really care now
And I just know
I don't need you now
Does it matter
I'm going nowhere
I got to leave her
Far behind but
But now I wonder,
It's all very wrong
You're always on my mind, yeah
Night and day
Mile after mile
With only the time between us.
'Cause it was something
I had to do
You've got to take some chances
You know me girl, know me too well
You know it's so easy to run, but
Something reminds me wherever I go
I could never hide here, but
[Chorus]
Oh no, once again
I cannot forget when you're
On my mind
Got to keep on
No turning back
Already know the answers
I was a loser
Right from the start
Got to take the chance, yeah
Makes no difference
No difference at all
Every time it's just the same
Follow me here, in a
Matter of time
Before we meet again but
[chorus]
Oh no, on my mind, my mind, yeah
I could never hide here, but
[Chorus: x 2]
My mind, ohh...
The song "On My Mind" by Icehouse conveys a sense of uncertainty and restlessness. The first verse sets the scene on a highway where the destination is unknown and the singer doesn't seem to care. There's a feeling of detachment as the singer declares not needing someone anymore. Despite the indifferent tone, it's unclear if the separation was mutual or if there is a sense of regret. In the second verse, the singer realizes that leaving the person they were speaking about may have been a mistake. They admit that they can't forget the person and that they are always on their mind. The separation seems to be painful, with the distance between them being just time and miles.
The chorus of the song intensifies this emotion of longing for a lost lover. It conveys the message that no matter how much the singer tries to run or hide their feelings, they can't forget the person. The lyrics suggest that the separation was a mistake and that it's too late to turn back the clock. The song ends with the singer admitting that they can't hide from their emotions anymore.
Line by Line Meaning
Out on the high-way
Driving on the road, wondering where it leads
Where does it go?
Questioning the destination of the road
Don't think I really care now
Not concerned anymore about where the road goes
And I just know
Certain about not needing someone anymore
I don't need you now
No longer needing a certain someone's presence
Does it matter
Reflecting on whether the person was even worth being around
I'm going nowhere
Not moving forward in life
Well I said to myself
Talking to oneself
I got to leave her
Knowing it's necessary to leave someone behind
Far behind but
Falling behind in leaving that person behind
But now I wonder
Questioning the decision to leave
It's all very wrong
Feeling like things went awry
You're always on my mind, yeah
Thinking about that person all the time
Night and day
Constantly thinking of that someone
Mile after mile
Going through a journey without that person
With only the time between us
Distance being the only thing keeping people apart
'Cause it was something
There was a certain reason a decision was made
I had to do
It was something that needed to be done
You've got to take some chances
Taking risks is important
You know me girl, know me too well
That person knows the artist very well
You know it's so easy to run, but
It's easy to leave that person
Something reminds me wherever I go
The thoughts of that person always linger
I could never hide here, but
Impossible to disappear from thoughts
[Chorus]
Repeating the main idea of the song
Oh no, once again
Regretting thinking of that person again
I cannot forget when you're
Unable to forget when that person is thought of
Got to keep on
Continuing to move on with life
No turning back
Cannot return to the past
Already know the answers
Knowing what needs to be done
I was a loser
Feeling like a failure
Right from the start
Feeling like a failure from the beginning
Makes no difference
Not having any effect
No difference at all
Completely pointless
Every time it's just the same
Always thinking of that same person
Follow me here, in a
Following the journey described in the song
Matter of time
Just a small amount of time
Before we meet again but
Thinking of the eventual meeting of those two people
[Chorus: x 2]
Repeating the chorus twice to emphasize the point
My mind, ohh...
The final emphasis on the idea that person is always in their mind
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BRIAN J. CULBERTSON, STEVEN R. FINCKLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind