Ice Cream Man (song)

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## Ice Cream Man.

* Single
* Live

### Writer(s)

Rachel Keen · Michael Tucker · Michael Sabath

## Audio

### Title

Ice Cream Man. (Live at the Royal Albert Hall)

### Writer(s)

Rachel Keen · Michael Sabath · BloodPop®

**"Ice Cream Man"** (stylized with a full stop at the end) is the fourth single and eighth track from RAYE's debut studio album, My 21st Century Blues. The single was released on February 2, 2023, independently and distributed by Human Re Sources.

On October 16, 2023, the live version of this song was released as the eleventh track on RAYE's live album, My 21st Century Symphony., performed with The Heritage Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall on September 26, 2023.

## Background

On the Spotify storyline she explained:

“*The hardest song I have ever written. Still bitterly difficult to listen to at the worst of times. I wanted to be honest, to find some power in all the pain I kept buried down inside for so many years. 1 in 4 men and women will experience sexual violence in their lifetime, and that’s a pain that can’t heal unless it is addressed, which is something this song is still helping me me to do*”
―via Spotify Storyline
She later expanded her thoughts on the track in an instagram story posted February 28, 2023:

“*It is a song about sexual violence and r\*pe, experiences I have been silent about my whole life.
As insecure as I feel about my body, I wanted to sing this song as naked as I feel inside the lyrics.
I sing this song not because it is easy but because I want to feel powerful again 😢
It has not been easy but the truth ain't pretty*”
―via Instagram story/reels
The song was first performed in 2018 as an unreleased song called "Ice Cream" during her headlining tour. it was kept as an unreleased song until she performed the song again in 2022 with a new name and changed lyrics for the promotional tour "The Story So Far... Tour" for her debut album, "My 21st Century Blues".

“*It is completely redone. We’ve taken it to a really special place. And then at the end, you just have this musical space to just process that flipping intense emotion. Ironically, that gap between then and now, I’ve been through a lot of things. And I changed verse two completely. I had new stories to add there. When you’re dealing with things from a young age also, that’s kind of embarrassing to talk about and really affects things in the future. It’s been a lot to process, but thank the lord forgiveness is something that I really believe in. Because, if I wasn’t able to forgive some of these things that have happened to me, I would be a very, very bitter woman.*”
―via *Euphoria*
RAYE first wrote the song when she was around 18 and couldn't rehearse it due to it being too emotional.
She originally wanted to release the song much earlier but didn’t until February 2, 2023, when she released it as the last single off her debut album, My 21st Century Blues.

## Lyrics

* Released Version
* 2018 Version

***Released Version***

So, this producer hit me up on the DM

He told me, "Hey, I really like what you are doing"

He told me, "Come round to the studio, let's cook it"

He told me, "Come to catch a vibe and make some music"

But when I got there, should've heard what he was saying

Tryna touch me, tryna fuck me, I'm not playing

I should've left that place as soon as I walked in it

How God damn dare you do that to me, really?

Coming like the ice cream man

'Til I felt his ice-cold hands

And how I pay the price now, damn

God damn, no what the, God damn

Everything you did, it left me in a ruin

And no, I didn't say a word, I guess that proves it

I'm a woman, oh, yes

'Cause I'm a woman

I'm a very fucking brave strong woman

And I'll be damned if I let a man ruin

How I walk, how I talk, how I do it

Man, I've been broken for a moment, I've been through it no

It's even harder to be brave alone

Was a girl, now I'm grown, I'm a woman

A very fucking strong woman

And I was seven

Was 21, was 17, and was 11

It took a while to understand what my consent means

If I was ruthless, they'd be in the penitentiary

But all the stress of being honest wouldn't help me

I pushed it down, but it was living in me rent free

And then I fell into some things that were unhealthy

A place where no one heard me asking them to help me

Coming like the ice cream man

'Til I felt his ice-cold hands

And how I pay the price now, damn, God damn

Everything you did, it left me in a ruin

And no, I didn't say a word, I guess that proves it

I'm a woman

'Cause I'm a woman

I'm a very fucking brave strong woman

And I'll be damned if I let a man ruin

How I walk, how I talk, how I do it

Man, I've been broken for a moment, I've been through it no

It's even harder to be brave alone

I was a girl, now I'm grown, I'm a woman

A very fucking strong woman, mmh

I wish I could say how I feel, how I felt

And explain why I'm silently blaming myself

'Cause I put on these faces pretending I'm fine

Then I go to the bathroom and I press rewind

In my head, always going round and round in my head

Your fingerprints stuck a stain on my skin

You made me frame myself for your sins

You pathetic, dead excuse of a man

Ooh-ooh

Yeah, a brave strong woman

Oh-oh, yeah

Eh-eh, ay, oh, oh, oh

And I'll be damned if I let a man ruin, oh

I'm a very fucking brave strong woman, yeah

***2018 Version***

So, this producer hit me up on the DM

He told me, "Hey, I really like what you are doing"

He told me, "Come round to the studio, let's cook it"

He told me, "Come to catch a vibe and make some music"

But when I got there, should've heard what he was saying

Tryna touch me, tryna fuck me, I'm not playing

I should've left that place as soon as I walked in it

How God damn dare you do that to me, really?

Coming like the ice cream man

'Til I felt his ice-cold hands

You should’ve been arrested, damn

God damn, God damn

Everything you did, it left me in a ruin

And no, I didn't say a word, I guess that proves it

I'm a woman, hmm, yeah

'Cause I'm a woman

I'm a very fucking brave strong woman

And I'll be damned if I let a man ruin

How I walk, how I talk, how I do it

Man, I've been broken for a moment, I've been through it all

Hope I'm alive to see it change and oh

Pouring out my sad soul, I'm a woman

A very fucking strong woman

Mmh, yeah

Mmm-mm-hmm-mm-mmm

Woah-ahh

Mmh-mmh-mmh

I used to go out when I was 14

In my shorts I used to walk 'round

And all these men be hooting horns and they be whistling

I'm not a motherfucking dog, what am I missin'?

Tell me, please, where is the respect? I am a goddess

It's about time we came out spoke out honest

Fed up of being paranoid, of being cautious

I think it's time we went and do something I'm honest

Hmm

Coming like the ice cream man

'Til I felt his ice-cold hands

You should’ve been arrested, damn, God damn

Mmm-hmm

'Cause I'm a woman

I'm a very fucking brave strong woman

And I'll be damned if I let a man ruin

How I walk, how I talk, how I do it

Man, I've been broken for a moment, I've been through it all

Hope I'm alive to see it change and oh

Pouring out my sad soul, I'm a woman

A very fucking strong woman

I wish I could say how I feel, how I felt

And explain why I'm silently blaming myself

And I put on these faces pretending I'm fine

Then I go to the bathroom and I press rewind

In my head, always going round and round in my head

Your fingerprints stuck a stain on my skin

You made me frame myself for your sins

You pathetic, dead excuse of a man

Ooh-ooh

Very fucking brave strong woman

And I'll be damned if I let a man ruin

How I walk, how I talk, how I do it

Man, I've been broken for a moment, I've been through it all

Hope I'm alive to see it change and oh

I'm pouring out my sad soul, I'm a woman

Very fucking strong woman

Oh-oh-oh-ohh-ohh-ohh-ohh

Wah-wah-ah

I’m a very strong

Oh-oh-oh-ohh-ohh-ohh-ohh

Wah-wah-ah-ah-ah

I'm a

Mmm, mhm

### Live at Royal Albert Hall recording

**[Intro: Spoken]**

Do you know what, when I sing this song, it's deep, yeah?

When I heard the statistic, I actually fucking broke down in tears

Because the stat is that one in four men, men and women

Will experience this in their lifetime

And in a beautiful sold-out Royal Albert Hall

There's a quarter of you here tonight

So I know I'm not alone when I sing this, and yeah

If you can relate to this, I'm so fucking sorry from the bottom of my heart

And I'ma sing for you right now with my whole heart

With my belly out and everything

And I wanted to do it like this bеcause that’s how it fucking feels when I sing it

I feel naked as fuck

Alright, Tom, I'm rеady, mmh

So, this producer hit me up on the DM

He told me, "Hey, I really like what you are doing"

He told me, "Come 'round to the studio, let's cook it"

He told me, "Come to catch a vibe, we'll make some music"

But when I got there, should've heard what he was saying

Tryna touch me, tryna fuck me, I'm not playing

I should have left that place as soon as I walked in it

How Goddamn dare you do that to me, really?

Coming like the ice cream man

Till I felt his ice-cold hands

And how I pay the price now, damn

Goddamn, no, what the? Goddamn

Everything you did, it left me in a ruin

And no, I didn't say a word, I guess that proves it

I'm a woman, mhh, yes

'Cause I'm a woman

A very fucking brave, strong woman

And I'll be damned if I let a man ruin

How I walk, how I talk, how I do it

Man, I've been broken for a moment

I've been through it, no

It's even harder to be brave alone

I was a girl, now I'm grown, I'm a woman

A very fucking strong woman

And I was seven

Was twenty one, was seventeen and was eleven

It took a while to understand what my consent means

If I was ruthless, they'd be in the penitentiary

But all the stress of being honest wouldn't help me

I pushed it down, but it was livin' in me rent-free

And then I fell into some things that were unhealthy

A place where no one heard me asking them to help me

But I needed help, I did

Coming like the ice cream man

Till I felt his ice-cold hands

And how I pay the price now, damn

Goddamn

Everything you did, it left me in a ruin

And no, I didn't say a word, I guess that proves it

I'm a woman

'Cause I'm a woman

A very fucking brave, strong woman

And I'll be damned if I let a man ruin

How I walk, how I talk, how I do it

Man, I've been broken for a moment

I've been through it, no

It's even harder to be brave alone

I was a girl, now I'm grown, I'm a woman

I wish I could say how I feel, how I felt

And explain why I'm silently blaming myself

'Cause I put on these faces, pretending I'm fine

Then I go to the bathroom and I press rewind in my head

Always going round and round in my head

Your fingerprints stuck a stain on my skin

You made me frame myself for your sin

You pathetic, dead excuse of a man

You see, I'm a brave, fucking strong woman

Oh, yeah, yeah, oh, oh, oh

I sometimes need to remind myself, I am

You see

And I'll be damned if I let a men ruin, oh

I'm a very fucking brave, strong woman, thank you

## Music video

A self directed music video was released for the song on March 1, 2023.

RAYE said in an instagram post announcing the video:

“*I am scared to share this tbh and I really pushed myself to my limits to make this video, I spent most of the day in a little dark room with my mum. No make up or styling, just plain old me battling the cold hard truths I’ve been hiding from.🫀😢*”
―via Instagram
The video shows Raye stagger into a women's bathroom and take solace in an empty cubicle, as the video moves on, her inner resilience emerges. She gets on her feet and wipe her face and straighten her clothes. The audience witness her finding her inner strength, tenderly picking herself up and exiting the room.

The video ends with a message from the singer:

> "When I experienced sexual assault and rape, I didn’t tell anyone. 1 in 4 people experience sexual assault in their lifetime. The odds are that is at least 25% of you reading this. This evil has more power over us in the dark than it does the light. If I can encourage anything, let’s not bury it deep down inside us forever."
>
>

## References

1. ↑ https://music.apple.com/us/album/my-21st-century-blues/1647623993
2. ↑ https://music.apple.com/us/album/ice-cream-man-single/1665322638
3. ↑ https://archive.completemusicupdate.com/article/raye-discusses-becoming-an-independent-artist-after-being-released-from-polydor-contract/
4. ↑ https://music.apple.com/us/album/my-21st-century-symphony-with-the-heritage-orchestra/1711656566
5. ↑ https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2023/raye/
6. ↑ https://open.spotify.com/track/60KvZItTS7PpROovaNVQcy
7. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpNpFRVsKWU/?igshid=ZWI2YzEzYmMxYg==
8. ↑ https://youtu.be/zMI3vbszNzA?si=SAeL0dAlhAMMvm2W
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 https://youtu.be/qD0niTMlWGQ?si=NQrIeHOKpsjIWBf1
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 https://www.euphoriazine.com/blog/2022/10/covers-raye/#:~:text=Those%20that%20attended,verse%20two%20completely.”
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywunlu42\_ho
12. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpQWiF7D7Wn/?igshid=ZWI2YzEzYmMxYg==
13. ↑  https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2023/03/03/raye-ice-cream-man-raye/80583