The Icicle Works is an alternative rock band which formed in Liverpool, Eng… Read Full Bio ↴The Icicle Works is an alternative rock band which formed in Liverpool, England in 1980. The band's original lineup consisted of Ian McNabb (vocals, guitar), Chris Layhe (bass, percussion) and Chris Sharrock (drums). Layhe and Sharrock left the band in 1988, but McNabb continued the band with replacement members until 1990. McNabb reformed the band with different replacement members in 2006, but this incarnation lasted only until 2008. In 2011, McNabb reformed the band once more for a tour celebrating the band's 30th anniversary. Since leaving the band, Chris Sharrock became the drummer for numerous bands, including The La's, World Party, Oasis and Beady Eye.

Named after the 1960 short story "The Day The Icicle Works Closed" by science fiction author Frederik Pohl, The Icicle Works joined Liverpool's early 1980s 'neo-psychedelia' wave, which also propelled Echo & the Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes to stardom.

The band was founded in Liverpool by 18-year-old singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist and frontman Ian McNabb. In 1980, McNabb joined up with drummer Chris Sharrock (who had been playing with McNabb on and off since he was nine) and bassist Chris Layhe (who had been recruited though a classified ad), and they began playing as The Icicle Works. By the end of 1981, the trio had recorded a six-song independently released cassette, and in 1982 they released the independent single "Nirvana". The following year, The Icicle Works were signed to the Beggars Banquet label, who issued the single Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream) on their subsidiary label Situation Two.

Later that year, The Icicle Works' would release their biggest UK hit, 1983's Love Is a Wonderful Colour. Their debut eponymous album (1984) would follow shortly thereafter, reaching number 24 on the UK charts, and also hitting the U.S. top 40. Also appearing on the U.S. top 40 singles charts at around the same time (and hitting the Canadian top twenty) was Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly), a retitled and very slightly remixed version of The Icicle Works' Situation Two release of 1983.

However, commercial success for The Icicle Works after this point was minimal. Their second album, The Small Price of a Bicycle (1985) spun off no hit singles, and wasn't even released outside the UK. Later albums If You Want to Defeat Your Enemy Sing His Song (1987), and Blind (1988) were both issued in the UK and North America, and even spun off minor hits. Nevertheless, no post-1984 Icicle Works single would chart higher than 52 in the UK, and after "Whisper To A Scream", the band never again made the US Hot 100.

Some have attributed this unfortunate commercial decline to The Icicle Works' change in sound over the years, from an initial 'new wave' feel to a more straight-ahead rock sound inspired by Neil Young, The Doors, and the Ramones, amongst others. But whatever the cause, despite critical acclaim the band was unable to consistently record hit singles. As well, by the late 1980s, tensions within the group were increasing allegedly due to McNabb's controlling ways. By 1988, in addition to writing virtually all of The Icicle Works' material, as well as singing and playing guitar, McNabb was also producing the group's records.

Accordingly, shortly after Blind was issued, drummer Chris Sharrock departed to The La's. Sharrock would later be a member of The Lightning Seeds and World Party, and would also drum for Robbie Williams, Del Amitri and Eurythmics. Around this same time, Layhe also departed, and Beggars Banquet dropped the group from their roster.

Undaunted, McNabb soldiered on under The Icicle Works banner for a while. Zak Starkey, son of Ringo Starr, briefly occupied the drumstool, while various keyboardists, bassists, and guitarists passed through before the band released Permanent Damage (1990), recorded for Epic/Sony. By that time, the band's lineup was McNabb, bassist Roy Corkill, former 10cc and Jethro Tull drummer Paul Burgess, keyboardist Dave Baldwin, and backing vocalist Mark Revell.

This 'second-generation' version of The Icicle Works quietly broke up after Permanent Damage failed to chart, and Epic dropped the band. Ian McNabb's solo career officially began in 1991 with the release of the single Great Dreams of Heaven; for further details on McNabb's solo career, please see the entry for Ian McNabb.

In 1992, a compilation called The Best of The Icicle Works was released, containing the best of their work from the Beggars Banquet years. Two years later, a live recording of a 1987 concert was issued.

On December 31, 2005, after having been a solo act for 15 years, McNabb announced he was reviving "The Icicle Works" name in 2006 for a series of concerts and an album. However, this version of the band would contain no original members other than McNabb.

High time
The Icicle Works Lyrics

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Is there someone holding on to you?
Is there something I should know?
When I ask you what you're gonna do
You just smile like come and go

What's the use of wasting time?
I want to give you love today

It's high time
Baby, it's high time
High time
Baby, it's high time

If I call you, will you come to me?
If you need me, I'll be there
I'm so tired of your apologies
Can't you see how much I care?

What's the use in waiting, girl?
I want to give you love today

It's high time
Baby, it's high time
High time
Baby, it's high time

What's the use of wasting time?
I want to give you love today

It's high time
Baby, it's high time
High time
Baby, it's high time

It's high time
Baby, it's high time
High time
Baby, it's high time
It's high time
Baby, it's high time

High time
Baby, it's high time

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "High Time" by The Icicle Works revolve around the theme of waiting and holding on to something or someone. The first verse begins with questioning the addressee whether they are being held on by someone or something that the singer should know about. However, the addressee simply shrugs the question off with a casual smile, making the situation more ambiguous. The singer then questions the worth of waiting or wasting time, as they express their desire to give love today.

The second verse reveals the urgency in the singer's request. If the addressee is called upon, will they come running? If they need the singer, will the singer be there? The singer is exhausted with the apologies being offered, and urges the addressee to see just how much they care. The singer then questions the worth of waiting any further as they want to give love today.

The chorus of the song, "It's high time, baby, it's high time. High time, baby, it's high time," is a constant refrain that emphasizes the urgency of the situation. The singer is tired of waiting and wants to move things ahead, wanting to give their love today.

Overall, the lyrics of "High Time" convey a sense of frustration, impatience, and a desperation for the addressee to reciprocate the singer's feelings. The song is about taking action and not waiting any longer to express love.

Line by Line Meaning

Is there someone holding on to you?
Are you in a relationship with someone else?

Is there something I should know?
Is there anything you're not telling me about your situation?

When I ask you what you're gonna do You just smile like come and go
Whenever I ask you about your plans, you avoid giving a straight answer.

What's the use of wasting time? I want to give you love today
Why wait any longer for us to be together when we can start our relationship now?

If I call you, will you come to me?
If I reach out to you, will you be responsive and come see me?

If you need me, I'll be there
I'm always available for you if you need me.

I'm so tired of your apologies Can't you see how much I care?
I'm getting fed up with you saying sorry and not making any changes. Don't you realize how much I love you?

What's the use in waiting, girl? I want to give you love today
Why wait any longer for us to be together when we can start our relationship now?

It's high time Baby, it's high time High time Baby, it's high time
It's about time we started our relationship.

It's high time Baby, it's high time High time Baby, it's high time It's high time Baby, it's high time High time Baby, it's high time
It's been long enough, let's stop wasting time and start our relationship.

Contributed by Isabella N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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