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)
Paradise
Icehouse Lyrics
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One road that stretches out ahead
One word that drives you to the point of decision
One wave that closes on a drowning man
One man who never knew the meaning of resistance
So now the turning tide will take another prayer to paradise
Tonight, a mist is rolling with the river
Tonight, you reach out to the point of decision
One wave that closes on a drowning man
A man who never knew the meaning of resistance
And now the turning tide will take another prayer
And where it falls, nobody knows
Oh, paradise, oh paradise, oh paradise, oh paradise
One step that takes you closer to heaven
This wave that closes on a drowning man
A man who never knew the meaning of forever
So now the turning tide will take another prayer
And where it falls, nobody goes
To paradise, oh paradise, oh paradise, one prayer
To paradise, one prayer to paradise, oh paradise, oh paradise
The lyrics of Icehouse's song Paradise appear to be a contemplation of life's journey and the inevitability of death. The lyrics speak of one step taking you closer to heaven, and one road stretching ahead, which suggests the idea of a life journey towards a final destination. The lyrics also mention one word driving one to the point of decision, which could perhaps refer to the final choice one must make at the end of their life. The line "one wave that closes on a drowning man" is a metaphor that seems to describe how death could looming on the horizon for all of us, no matter how much we try and resist it.
The song also appears to be about the power of prayer and the hope for eternal life in paradise. The lyrics talk of a turning tide that will take another prayer to paradise, and the idea that no one knows where the prayer will fall. Ultimately, the song could be interpreted as a contemplation on the meaning of life, what happens after we die, and the hope for eternal life in paradise.
Line by Line Meaning
One step that takes you closer to heaven
There is a small, significant action that can bring us closer to our heavenly destination.
One road that stretches out ahead
We have a long journey ahead of us with many paths to choose from.
One word that drives you to the point of decision
A single word can push us to a crucial moment of choice that will affect our entire path.
One wave that closes on a drowning man
Like a wave, life can be unpredictable and dangerous, leaving us struggling to stay afloat in desperate situations.
One man who never knew the meaning of resistance
There are those who have never known how to fight back or stand up for themselves.
So now the turning tide will take another prayer to paradise
As things change and we face difficult times, we must keep praying and hoping for a better future.
Tonight, a mist is rolling with the river
There is an eerie, mysterious feeling in the air as the mist rolls with the current, creating an ominous atmosphere.
Tonight, the rain is coming down
The rain symbolizes a cleansing, purifying force that can wash away our troubles and start anew.
Tonight, you reach out to the point of decision
In this moment, an important decision must be made, and all options must be considered.
And where it falls, nobody knows
The outcome of our decisions is impossible to predict, and the consequences are uncertain.
Oh, paradise, oh paradise, oh paradise, oh paradise
The repeated use of the word 'paradise' emphasizes our desire for a perfect, ideal world.
A man who never knew the meaning of forever
Some people can never commit to anything long-term or understand the concept of forever.
And now the turning tide will take another prayer
As things change and we face difficult times, we must keep praying and hoping for a better future.
To paradise, oh paradise, oh paradise, one prayer
Our ultimate goal is to reach paradise, and we must continuously pray and work towards it.
To paradise, one prayer to paradise, oh paradise, oh paradise
Each prayer we make and each step we take brings us closer to the paradise we dream of.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ROD DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind