Initially known as "Seafood Mama", the group gained a strong local following playing bars and nightclubs in Portland, Oregon. In the spring of 1980, Seafood Mama recorded Marv's new composition "Harden My Heart" on a private record label. The single received considerable airplay on Portland radio stations, and the band felt that they were ready for something more
Signed by a then young label, Geffen Records, the group released their first album, 'Quarterflash', in 1981. The label's marketing organization had urged getting rid of the "Seafood Mama" name, so they changed things. The new name supposedly came from an colloquial Australian reference to new immigrants as "one quarter flash and three parts foolish".
A new version of "Harden My Heart" was recorded and released; and rose to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album reached number 8 on Billboard's Top Albums, and sold over a million copies, earning RIAA gold certification on February 5, 1982, and platinum status on June 29, 1982. Their follow-up single from the album, "Find Another Fool", reached #16.
Quarterflash released their second album, Take Another Picture, in 1983. It reached #34 on Billboard, and scored the single "Take Me to Heart", which reached #14. The group released their final album, Back Into Blue, in 1985. It peaked at #150 in Billboard, and group disbanded after getting dropped from their record label.
In 1991, Marv & Rindy Ross were awarded a commision by the state of Oregon to produce a stage musical based on diaries of migrants on the historic Oregon Trail. From that project came a nine disc collection of traditional Americana music, recorded as The Trail Band.
"Harden My Heart" still receives air play on "Classic" rock radio.
Walking on Ice
Quarterflash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I play with fire
For loving you, baby
I dance on wire
Oh I can't sleep at night
Loving you I pay that price
Loving you is like walking on ice
Who's there to blame
Who tore you up inside
And left the pain
Oh, someone burned your life
And everyday I pay that price
Everyday I'm walking on ice
Time after time I wake up and find
I want you, I'm calling
Like always I'm falling on ice
Walking on ice
I can't blink an eye
Loving you I pay that price
Loving you is like walking on ice
The lyrics of Quarterflash's song "Walking On Ice" portray the struggle of being in a tumultuous and unbalanced relationship. Singer Rindy Ross sings about her inability to sleep due to the constant turmoil caused by loving her partner. She compares loving this person to "walking on ice" and "dancing on wire" because she is always on the brink of falling and being hurt. Ross questions the reason behind her partner's brokenness and expresses her own pain as a result of being with this person. She acknowledges that loving someone comes with a price and for her, that price is the emotional turmoil and uncertainty that she feels every day.
The song's lyrics are enhanced by the usage of metaphor and imagery. Ross beautifully and vividly paints the picture of being on thin ice and walking on a tightrope as a representation of loving someone. The lyrics also suggest the idea of addiction and the cycle of wanting and falling for the same person time and again. The chorus's repeated line "Everyday I'm walking on ice" reinforces the idea that this relationship is constant chaos and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
I walk on ice
I'm taking a huge risk by being with you
I play with fire
I'm flirting with disaster by loving you
For loving you, baby
I'm willing to take these risks for the sake of love
I dance on wire
I'm balancing on a thin line between love and danger
Oh I can't sleep at night
I'm too consumed with thoughts of you to rest
Loving you I pay that price
Being with you comes at a cost
Loving you is like walking on ice
Loving you is a treacherous journey
Who broke you down
Someone hurt you badly in the past
Who's there to blame
Whoever hurt you is responsible for the pain you feel
Who tore you up inside
The hurt you experienced left deep emotional scars
And left the pain
The pain you feel is a result of past trauma
Oh, someone burned your life
Someone caused significant damage to your well-being
And everyday I pay that price
The effects of your past trauma affect our relationship
Everyday I'm walking on ice
Everyday with you is a challenge, considering your past experiences
Time after time I wake up and find
I can't stop thinking about you, even in my sleep
I want you, I'm calling
I'm yearning for your presence
Like always I'm falling on ice
As usual, being with you feels risky
I can't blink an eye
I'm constantly focused on our relationship
Loving you I pay that price
Being with you comes with a cost
Loving you is like walking on ice
Being with you is dangerous and uncertain
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Elijah Scott
O-M-F-G!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is the 1st time I've heard this QF song and it kicks ass! This is exactly why I'm grateful for Youtube. I was born in 1980, so its not like I was privileged with enjoying the 80's as a teenager. Thanks to Youtube, I can imagine that I did grow up in this awesome decade. The last true decade of real musicians & bands.
thepuffinboy
you are 100% correct last true decade of great musicians. This song is killer amazing
Candy Apple Blue
Incredible song! She pours her heart into her vocal performance! Should have been a top ten record!
Ace C
This band is so underrated. Love this music
Josiah Camp
PHENOMENAL !!! Such a beautiful and poignant song !!! The entire “Back Into Blue” album is excellent as well !
darkalligator
great underrated song from quarterflash, probably their best.
Gabriel Rearte
Top song. And Rindy's vocal performance is insanely hot. Great chorus and soloing!
1pooltub
This song clearly shows how beautiful Rindy and her voice were at the apex of her career!!👍❤️👍
OkraJoe
Great song. Back when Geffen Records had all the cool bands.
Alan Jay Wescoat
+okrajoe The Geffen label was definitely a reason to listen to a record.