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)
Where The River Meets The Sea
Icehouse Lyrics
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Faith has been broken
And if I have to wait I will
I will be waiting
`cos I watched as the rain come down
And I held it in the palm of my hand
Some things will never change
Oh I, I believe
I will find you there
Someday
And I will follow
Wherever you lead
Where the river meest the sea
There`s got to be a way, ah yeah
Faith is still breathing
In another place, another time
I will be waiting
`cos I watched as the rain come down
And it`s just a matter of time
Oh, I believe
I will find you there
Someday
Castaway...just out of reach
Driven by the storm
Somewhere, I believe
You`ll always find me here
And I, I will follow
Wherever you lead
Where the river meets the sea
If you catch yourself some morning
Staring at some distant land
With the wind along the shoreline
Disappearing into sand
Fighting back against the tide and
Slowing, sinking, losing ground,
`cos you`ve found yourself some answers
But you still don`t understand
Oh I, I believe
I will find you there
Someday
Castaway...just out of reach
Driven by the storm
Somewhere, I believe
You`ll always find me here
And I, I will follow
Wherever you lead
Where the river meets the sea
The lyrics of Icehouse's song "Where The River Meets The Sea" reflect the themes of faith, hope, and perseverance in the face of adversity. From the very beginning, the singer acknowledges the wrongs committed in the past, but rather than giving up, he chooses to "wait" and "watch as the rain come down" because he knows that "some things will never change" and it's "just a matter of time". Despite the difficulties and the feeling of being a "castaway...just out of reach", the singer believes that there is still "faith breathing" and a "way" to find his destination. He imagines a place far away where he will "find" someone he has been seeking for a long time, and he will "follow wherever you lead/Where the river meets the sea". The song ends with a poignant metaphor of the wind along the shoreline disappearing into sand, symbolizing life's uncertainties and the struggle to find answers amid the forces of nature.
Overall, the song can be interpreted as a song about love, loss, and redemption. The idea of waiting and watching as the rain falls can be seen as a metaphor for the passage of time and the hope that something good will come from it. The river meeting the sea can be interpreted as a symbol of two opposing forces finding a way to merge and harmonize, which can also represent a relationship that has been fractured and needs healing. The lyrics also suggest that finding someone and following them is not always an easy task, as it requires faith, trust, and determination, but it's a journey worth taking.
Line by Line Meaning
I know it isn`t right, ah yeah
The singer acknowledges that they are currently in a situation that is not ideal.
Faith has been broken
The singer has lost faith in something or someone that was previously important to them.
And if I have to wait I will
The singer is willing to wait for something, even if it takes a long time.
I will be waiting
The artist is committed to waiting for something, no matter how long it takes.
`cos I watched as the rain come down
The artist reflects on a moment when they watched rain fall from the sky.
And I held it in the palm of my hand
The singer visualizes themselves holding rain in their hand, possibly as a metaphor for feeling in control of their life.
Some things will never change
The singer accepts that some things are unlikely to change, no matter what happens.
It`s just a matter of time
The artist recognizes that certain changes will take time to happen.
Oh I, I believe
The artist has a strong sense of conviction or faith in something.
I will find you there
The artist is determined to find someone or something, even if it means searching for a long time.
Someday
The singer does not know when they will find what they are looking for, but they have faith that it will happen eventually.
And I will follow
The artist is willing to follow someone or something that they believe in.
Wherever you lead
The singer is willing to go wherever the object of their faith takes them.
Where the river meets the sea
The singer imagines a specific location where they will find what they are looking for.
There`s got to be a way, ah yeah
The singer is optimistic that there is a solution to their problem.
Faith is still breathing
Despite their loss of faith, the artist still has hope that things will work out.
In another place, another time
The artist believes that things might be different in a different time or place.
Castaway...just out of reach
The singer feels alone or abandoned, and what they are looking for seems just out of their grasp.
Driven by the storm
The singer is facing adversity or difficulty in their pursuit of what they are looking for.
Somewhere, I believe
The artist has faith that what they are looking for exists.
You`ll always find me here
The artist is committed to their quest, and they will always be waiting in the same place.
If you catch yourself some morning
The artist is addressing the listener directly, and giving them advice for how to handle a specific situation.
Staring at some distant land
The listener may find themselves feeling lost or uncertain about where to go next.
With the wind along the shoreline
The setting is near a body of water, and the environment is windy and tumultuous.
Disappearing into sand
The environment around the listener is constantly changing and shifting.
Fighting back against the tide and
The listener may feel like they are struggling to keep up with the changes happening around them.
Slowing, sinking, losing ground,
The listener may feel like they are falling behind or losing progress.
`cos you`ve found yourself some answers
The listener may have learned something new that has changed their perspective on their situation.
But you still don`t understand
Despite learning new things, the listener may still be confused or uncertain about what to do next.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: IVOR ARTHUR DAVIES, ROBERT GRANT KRETSCHMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind