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)
Sam the Man
Icehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who`s your lady friend?
He`s got his finger on the trigger
A bad case of the shakes
A Hollywood apartment
And a car with no brakes
After close investgiation
He`s getting down to business
While we`re killing time
The deals and the alley
His hands in his his jacket
Bow tie and bracers
45 in his pocket
Sam is off the freeway
Heading down the boulevarde
Double shots of burbon
Are lined up in the bar
We`re all waiting for Sam the Man
Get him on the line, yeah
Play it again for Sam the Man
One of a kind, yeah
Sam the Man
Meanwhile back at Jake`s
The blonde is smoking at the bar
She`s got a certain rendez-vous
She`s not going anywhere
Expensive perfume
And six-inch stilletos
Like a killer dynamite
And a box full of matches
The crowd is thinning out now
It`s getting kind of late
She glances at the door
Lights another cigarette
She`s slipping out the back door
And he pulls into the lane
Sam is picking up the pieces
And she`s the one that got away
We`re all waiting for Sam the Man
Get him on the line, yeah
Play it again for Sam the Man
One of a kind, yeah
We`re all waiting for Sam the Man
Get him on the line
Have another drink on Sam the Man
One of a kind, yeah
Sam the Man
Sam the Man
Sam the Man
He`s got a whistle for Sam the Man
Get him on the line, yeah
Play it again for Sam the Man
One of a kind, yeah
We`re all waiting for Sam the Man
Play it again for Sam the Man
Get him on the line
We`re all waiting for Sam the Man
The song "Sam the Man" by Icehouse is a story about a man named Sam who is involved in some shady dealings. The lyrics suggest that Sam has a dangerous reputation, with a "bad case of the shakes" and a 45 in his pocket. He also seems to have some connection to Hollywood, as he has an apartment there and drives a car with no brakes. Meanwhile, there is a blonde woman smoking at a bar, waiting for a rendez-vous that never happens. The lyrics suggest that she is connected to Sam in some way, and that he may have been involved in her disappearance.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "We're all waiting for Sam the Man, get him on the line, yeah" several times, suggesting that Sam is a figure of great interest to the people surrounding him. The lyrics also mention double shots of bourbon lined up at the bar, indicating that the people waiting for Sam are passing the time with drink.
Overall, the lyrics of "Sam the Man" paint a picture of a dangerous world full of shady characters and intrigue. While the details of the story are left unclear, the overall impression is one of tension and anticipation.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello! Hello!
Introducing the song and grabbing the listener's attention.
Who`s your lady friend?
Asking the listener about their companion but it also serves as a possible nickname for a woman Sam knows.
He`s got his finger on the trigger
Sam potentially is a dangerous man.
A bad case of the shakes
Sam may be a nervous individual.
A Hollywood apartment
Sam might be a successful individual who owns property in expensive Hollywood.
And a car with no brakes
Sam's vehicle management may be careless and reckless.
After close investigation
It seems the scene that Sam is possibly involved in is being investigated thoroughly.
At the scene of the crime
It implies that Sam might have been involved in criminal activity.
He`s getting down to business
Sam is possibly dealing with illegal activities and is focused on it.
While we`re killing time
Other people around Sam are probably just waiting and not doing anything meaningful.
The deals and the alley
Sam is potentially involved in making deals with some group in a shady part of town like an alley.
His hands in his jacket
Sam is trying to keep his hands warm or hide something in his pocket.
Bow tie and bracers
Sam might be in for a costume party or formal event that requires such dress codes.
45 in his pocket
Sam is carrying a gun with him.
Sam is off the freeway
Sam is not on the highway anymore and entered a street with potential targets for his deals.
Heading down the boulevard
Sam is currently on his way to his destination.
Double shots of bourbon
Sam needs some drinks to soothe his nerves to pull off his deal smoothly.
Are lined up in the bar
The bar scene is set, and Sam has arrived.
Meanwhile back at Jake`s
The song shifts its focus to another place called Jake's.
The blonde is smoking at the bar
A blonde person is smoking a cigarette while sitting at the bar.
She`s got a certain rendez-vous
The blonde has plans to meet someone soon, likely Sam.
She`s not going anywhere
Blonde has no plans to leave soon.
Expensive perfume
Blonde is evidently wealthy and has expensive tastes.
And six-inch stilettos
The blonde is wearing high heeled shoes that emphasize her height, making her appear taller.
Like a killer dynamite
Similar to a deadly explosive, the blonde could be trouble.
And a box full of matches
The blonde is carrying matches for some reason or it can be interpreted as she has desirable qualities.
The crowd is thinning out now
The bar is now almost empty.
It`s getting kind of late
The time of day is slowly getting later, and people are starting to leave the bar.
She glances at the door
The blonde person looks through the doorway.
Lights another cigarette
The blonde lights up another cigarette to pass the time.
She`s slipping out the back door
The blonde is leaving through the back door, without anyone noticing.
And he pulls into the lane
Sam arrives and possibly sees the blonde exiting the bar.
Sam is picking up the pieces
Sam is moving on from not finding the blonde and getting back to work.
And she`s the one that got away
The blonde slipped out of the bar, and Sam couldn't catch her in time.
He`s got a whistle for Sam the Man
Someone expects Sam to call him through a whistle specifically.
Have another drink on Sam the Man
Sam offers drinks to everyone, and he'll pay for them.
Sam the Man
Sam is the topic of the song and everyone keeps mentioning him.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David Malcolm Chapman, Ivor Arthur Davies, Paul Wheeler, Paul Kenneth Wheeler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind