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.
Hollow Horse
The Icicle Works Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
it may come up and surprise you
I can't confess my life's a mess
I've come to idolise you
You liken it to walking on hot coals
I'll keep my boots on
Wisen up and fly straight
There's a shape on the horizon
In a hollow horse I'll steal my way
inside your guarded heart
So selfishly the needs I harbour
when we are apart
My past strung out behind me,
contradiction and disaster
I'm in search of charity,
a union I could master
We'll be as we are
When all the fools
who doubt us fade away
Fortune deep and wide
Intimidated, restless in the wait
Things I chose to value
I no longer have a use for
I ridicule myself for all the things
those symbols stood for
When vanity has played a part
in every leader's downfall
Wait to storm the gates, what's left
undone to hang around for
We'll be as we are
When all the fools
who doubt us fade away
Fortune deep and wide
Intimidated, restless in the wait
The lyrics of The Icicle Works's song Hollow Horse are rich with meaning and imagery. The song starts off warning the listener to be careful what they dream of because those dreams can come true and surprise you. The chorus follows with the singer declaring their admiration for the person they are singing to and expressing their desire to be with them. Even though the individual feels as though their life is a mess, they see the person they are singing to as a positive force in their life. The persona likens their situation to walking on hot coals, and yet they persist, determined to find a way to be with the person they desire.
The next verse implies that the persona has a troubled past that is full of contradictions, disaster, and a lack of charity. Despite this, they are still searching for a way to connect with the person they admire. The chorus comes back, with a sense of determination and confidence that the two of them will be together once the doubters have faded away. The ending verse reveals that the persona has rejected things they once valued and ridicules themselves for the symbols they held. However, despite it all, they persist in their desire to find a union that they could master.
Line by Line Meaning
Be careful what you dream of
People should be cautious about their dreams and aspirations, as they may not always turn out the way they hope.
it may come up and surprise you
Dreams and aspirations can sometimes take unexpected or even unpleasant turns, catching people off guard.
I can't confess my life's a mess
The singer is unable to admit to their own struggles and failings in life.
I've come to idolise you
The artist has developed an obsessive admiration or fixation on someone else.
You liken it to walking on hot coals
The other person compares the situation to an extremely uncomfortable or dangerous experience.
I'll keep my boots on
The singer will take precautions to protect themselves from harm or discomfort.
Wisen up and fly straight
Get smarter and start doing things right.
There's a shape on the horizon
Something is appearing in the distance that may have an impact on the situation.
In a hollow horse I'll steal my way
The artist will use a sneaky or deceptive tactic to gain access to the other person's heart or emotions.
inside your guarded heart
The other person is emotionally closed off or hard to reach.
So selfishly the needs I harbour
The singer is motivated by their own self-interest and desires.
when we are apart
The distance between the artist and the other person exacerbates their feelings of need and longing.
My past strung out behind me,
The singer has a long history of issues and problems that still affect them.
contradiction and disaster
Their past is characterized by confusion, inconsistency, and failure.
I'm in search of charity,
The singer is hoping for generosity or compassion from others in order to improve their situation.
a union I could master
The artist wants to form a successful and productive partnership with someone else.
Things I chose to value
The artist previously saw certain things as important or worthwhile.
I no longer have a use for
The singer no longer sees the same value or significance in those things.
I ridicule myself for all the things
The singer regrets their past beliefs or choices and feels foolish for having held them.
those symbols stood for
The things the artist previously valued were representative of certain ideals or beliefs.
When vanity has played a part
Self-importance or excessive pride has contributed to the downfall of many leaders.
in every leader's downfall
The artist is acknowledging the negative impact that vanity can have on people in positions of power or influence.
Wait to storm the gates, what's left
The singer is urging caution and patience before taking action.
undone to hang around for
There is still more to be done or resolved before taking any major steps.
We'll be as we are
The singer and the other person will remain true to themselves.
When all the fools
Once anyone who doubts or questions them has gone away or been proven wrong.
who doubt us fade away
Those who were skeptical or disbelieving of the singer and the other person will eventually lose their influence or relevance.
Fortune deep and wide
The potential for success, wealth, or happiness is vast and significant.
Intimidated, restless in the wait
The artist and the other person feel anxious or unsure while waiting for something important to happen.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pern
Be careful what you dream of
It may come up and surprise you
I can't confess my life's a mess
I've come to idolise you
You liken it to walking on hot coals
I'll keep my boots on
Wisen up and fly straight
There's a shape on the horizon
In a hollow horse I'll steal my way
Onside your guarded heart
So selfishly the needs I harbour
When we are apart
My past strung out behind me
Contradiction and disaster
I'm in search of charity
A union I could master
We'll be as we are
When all the fools
Who doubt us fade away
Fortune deep and wide
Intimidated, restless in the wait
Things I chose to value
I no longer have a use for
I ridicule myself for all the things
Those symbols stood for
When vanity has played a part
In every leader's downfall
Wait to storm the gates, what's left
Undone to hang around for
Alan Ramirez
Be careful what you dream of
it may come up and surprise you
I can't confess my life's a mess
I've come to idolise you
You liken it to walking on hot coals
I'll keep my boots on
Wisen up and fly straight
There's a shape on the horizon
In a hollow horse I'll steal my way
inside your guarded heart
So selfishly the needs I harbour
when we are apart
My past strung out behind me,
contradiction and disaster
I'm in search of charity,
a union I could master
We'll be as we are
When all the fools
who doubt us fade away
Fortune deep and wide
Intimidated, restless in the wait
Things I chose to value
I no longer have a use for
I ridicule myself for all the things
those symbols stood for
When vanity has played a part
in every leader's downfall
Wait to storm the gates, what's left
undone to hang around for
We'll be as we are
When all the fools
who doubt us fade away
Fortune deep and wide
Intimidated, restless in the wait
Roy T Bone
Somebody please explain to me why this piece of scouse pop magic never made it beyond number 91 on the UK chart. It's absolutely criminal the lack of success these guys had.
eyemoeba
goes to show it takes more than a good song.
kingoftadpoles
Let's not forget, back in the day, chart sales rigging was rife.
patxi apraiz
Well...that maybe explains the level of some chárts.Depens of other good bands and fashion also. Anyway, is a great song in 2021, the rest 90....maybe most of them are forgotten.
KEEP CALM and PLAY SOCCER IN YOUR PAJAMAS
@Roy T Bone I'll work on that.
Roy T Bone
@KEEP CALM and PLAY SOCCER IN YOUR PAJAMAS Need to learn how to spell PYJAMAS.
spankysmagicpiano
I bloody love singing along to this. McNabb is seriously underestimated.
Bruce McBain
Underestimated by whom? Dumb people? Great vocals!
spankysmagicpiano
@BBCmindcontrol He's a top man. I've seen him loads of times live. I always loved the Xmas gigs. He's the one artist I have always bought since the 80s. You're a lucky guy.
BBCmindcontrol
and still is, he's a good friend of mine