Ice
Rick Wakeman Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

With your mercury mouth in the missionary times,
And your eyes like smoke and your prayers like rhymes,
And your silver cross, and your voice like chimes,
Oh, who among them do they think could bury you?
With your pockets well protected at last,
And your streetcar visions which you place on the grass,
And your flesh like silk, and your face like glass,
Who among them do they think could carry you?
Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands,
Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes,
My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums,
Should I leave them by your gate,
Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait?

With your sheets like metal and your belt like lace,
And your deck of cards missing the jack and the ace,
And your basement clothes and your hollow face,
Who among them can think he could outguess you?
With your silhouette when the sunlight dims
Into your eyes where the moonlight swims,
And your match-book songs and your gypsy hymns,
Who among them would try to impress you?
Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands,
Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes,
My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums,
Should I leave them by your gate,
Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait?

The kings of Tyrus with their convict list
Are waiting in line for their geranium kiss,
And you wouldn't know it would happen like this,
But who among them really wants just to kiss you?
With your childhood flames on your midnight rug,
And your Spanish manners and your mother's drugs,
And your cowboy mouth and your curfew plugs,
Who among them do you think could resist you?
Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands,
Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes,
My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums,
Should I leave them by your gate,
Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait?

Oh, the farmers and the businessmen, they all did decide
To show you where the dead angels are that they used to hide.
But why did they pick you to sympathize with their side?
Oh, how could they ever mistake you?
They wished you'd accepted the blame for the farm,
But with the sea at your feet and the phony false alarm,
And with the child of a hoodlum wrapped up in your arms,
How could they ever, ever persuade you?
Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands,
Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes,
My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums,
Should I leave them by your gate,
Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait?

With your sheet-metal memory of Cannery Row,
And your magazine-husband who one day just had to go,
And your gentleness now, which you just can't help but show,
Who among them do you think would employ you?
Now you stand with your thief, you're on his parole
With your holy medallion which your fingertips fold,
And your saintlike face and your ghostlike soul,
Oh, who among them do you think could destroy you
Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands,
Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes,
My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums,




Should I leave them by your gate,
Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Rick Wakeman's song "Ice" are poetic and enigmatic, creating vivid imagery of a mysterious woman known as the "sad-eyed lady of the lowlands." The verses describe her in detail, with comparisons to mercury, smoke, rhymes, chimes, and silk, among others. She is portrayed as powerful and enigmatic, with secrets, visions, and an indomitable spirit that cannot be broken by anyone. The chorus asks a question several times, "Who among them do they think could carry you?" implying that this woman is not to be underestimated and cannot be controlled by anyone.


The second verse continues with the theme of the sad-eyed lady's mystique and power, describing her metal sheets, lace belts, and hollow face. It also mentions her music and gypsy hymns, which suggest a free spirit and a nomadic lifestyle. The chorus repeats with minor variations, again emphasizing the idea that no one can truly know or understand the sad-eyed lady.


The third verse introduces a political dimension to the song, with the reference to the kings of Tyrus and their convict list. The sad-eyed lady is contrasted with these powerful men, who want to kiss her geranium and sympathize with her, but ultimately cannot resist her. The verse then turns to a memory of childhood flames, Spanish manners, and curfew plugs, which suggest a tumultuous past. The chorus repeats again, asking if the sad-eyed lady should be waited for or left alone.


The final verse brings the song full circle, with a reference to the farmers and businessmen who tried to persuade the sad-eyed lady to accept the blame for the farm. She refuses, however, and remains steadfast in her independence and strength. The verse ends with a description of her holding a medallion and standing with a thief, implying that she may not be entirely innocent herself. The final chorus repeats again, emphasizing the mystery and power of the sad-eyed lady.


Overall, the lyrics to "Ice" are complex and poetic, painting a vivid picture of a powerful and enigmatic woman who cannot be easily understood or controlled. The repeated question of who could carry or destroy her suggests that she is a force to be reckoned with, and the vivid imagery and references to music and politics give the song additional layers of meaning.


Line by Line Meaning

With your mercury mouth in the missionary times,
In an age of rapid technological advancements, you, with your eloquent way of speaking, seem to have the ability to inspire others.


And your eyes like smoke and your prayers like rhymes,
Your mysterious eyes and your beautiful poetry-like prayers captivate all those who hear you.


And your silver cross, and your voice like chimes,
Your beautiful singing voice and religious iconography add to your already mystical aura.


Oh, who among them do they think could bury you?
You possess qualities that make you seem transcendent, and it is unlikely that anyone could contain or silence you.


With your pockets well protected at last,
Finally, you have amassed enough wealth to feel secure financially.


And your streetcar visions which you place on the grass,
You have high ambitions but are grounded by your humble beginnings, using your own experiences as inspiration.


And your flesh like silk, and your face like glass,
You have the appearance of delicacy and beauty, but with a hint of vulnerability.


Who among them do they think could carry you?
No one seems to match your level of success and resilience, making you seem unstoppable.


Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands,
You are a mysterious and alluring woman, with a tendency to appear downcast.


Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes,
Even a wise and prophetic figure cannot understand or predict your actions and plans.


My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums,
Your captivating gaze and Middle Eastern musical instruments that you keep in your storage space reveal a fascination with exotic cultures.


Should I leave them by your gate,
Should I offer you these items as gifts, since they embody much of your character?


Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait?
But is it too soon, and will I have to wait for a better opportunity to offer them to you?


With your sheets like metal and your belt like lace,
Your physical appearance is a mixture of toughness and soft femininity, creating an intriguing dichotomy.


And your deck of cards missing the jack and the ace,
Perhaps you lack some necessary components to achieve success, but you still have precision and focus.


And your basement clothes and your hollow face,
Your choice of clothing reveals your modest background, and your face appears as if it needs nourishment and vitality.


Who among them can think he could outguess you?
You are a complex and unreadable person, and no one can predict your actions with certainty.


With your silhouette when the sunlight dims
As the day ends, your image is a haunting yet beautiful stencil against the darkening sky.


Into your eyes where the moonlight swims,
The reflection of moonlight in your eyes seems to indicate that you hold a deep and hidden understanding of the world around you.


And your match-book songs and your gypsy hymns,
Your music reveals a fondness for both the urban and the mystical, which seem to represent different aspects of yourself.


Who among them would try to impress you?
Everyone wants to stand out in your eyes and present themselves as appealing.


The kings of Tyrus with their convict list
People in high positions try to use their power and influence to aim your favor.


Are waiting in line for their geranium kiss,
Each person lining up to gain your favor is desperate to be noticed and recognized by you.


And you wouldn't know it would happen like this,
This unexpected adoration came as a surprise to you.


But who among them really wants just to kiss you?
One wonders whether you can trust the motives of those who seek you out, and who crave intimacy with you.


With your childhood flames on your midnight rug,
The vestiges of your youth remain with you and shape your present self.


And your Spanish manners and your mother's drugs,
Your ancestry and your troubled upbringing have left a mark on you, both in behavior and in a tendency toward addiction.


And your cowboy mouth and your curfew plugs,
The nostalgia of a bygone era combines with modern interventions to shape and protect you, but also to restrain you.


Who among them do you think could resist you?
You possess many characteristics that make you attractive and alluring, and very few can resist your charm and magnetism.


Oh, the farmers and the businessmen, they all did decide
Two influential groups seem to have a common goal that would benefit them both.


To show you where the dead angels are that they used to hide.
They take it upon themselves to present you with information that they perceive as highly valuable.


But why did they pick you to sympathize with their side?
You are left wondering why they are directing this effort your way, and what they hope to gain.


Oh, how could they ever mistake you?
Their decision to approach you with this proposal was a miscalculation, due to your sharp sense of discernment.


They wished you'd accepted the blame for the farm,
One implication is that they are hoping you will take responsibility for something that happened on a farm in order to absolve them of blame.


But with the sea at your feet and the phony false alarm,
You enjoy your life very much, living near the beauty of the ocean, but you are vigilant against deception and false alarms.


And with the child of a hoodlum wrapped up in your arms,
You have taken under your care the child of someone who is considered a delinquent or criminal.


How could they ever, ever persuade you?
The request they are making of you will be quite difficult to fulfill, as it may require unreasonable or unethical behavior.


With your sheet-metal memory of Cannery Row,
You remember the challenges and obstacles you faced in the past and the lessons you learned from them.


And your magazine-husband who one day just had to go,
You carry with you the memory of a relationship that ended abruptly, perhaps with a spouse who passed away or left you without warning.


And your gentleness now, which you just can't help but show,
You exhibit kindness and empathy, but it is difficult for you to suppress these traits even when they might not be appropriate.


Who among them do you think would employ you?
Your unique experiences and characteristics make it unlikely that you would find a typical job or employer, as you are one of a kind.


Now you stand with your thief, you're on his parole
You are in a close relationship with someone who is a known criminal and you are taking responsibility for their actions by being their parole officer.


With your holy medallion which your fingertips fold,
Despite your association with a criminal, you maintain a connection to spirituality or religion, perhaps using it as a source of strength and guidance.


And your saintlike face and your ghostlike soul,
Your appearance suggests purity and holiness, but there is a part of you that remains mysterious and unknown.


Oh, who among them do you think could destroy you
Despite any difficulties and hardships you may face, you possess the resilience and strength to weather even the toughest storms.


Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands,
You remain an enigmatic and captivating presence, but there is a sense of melancholy and sadness that accompanies you.


Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes,
It seems that even those who possess great power and wisdom cannot access your deepest emotions or understand the full scope of your character.


My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums,
Your eyes and your drums continue to be symbols of your mystery and allure, keeping you tethered to a different time and place.


Should I leave them by your gate,
The singer is still unsure of how to present these items to you, as a gift or offering.


Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait?
It may be better to bide one's time and wait for a better opportunity to win your favor, rather than risk approaching you at the wrong moment.




Contributed by Isabelle D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions