Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil are an influential alternative rock band formed in Sydney, Australi… Read Full Bio ↴Midnight Oil are an influential alternative rock band formed in Sydney, Australia in 1976. The band originally formed as "Farm" in 1972. The band is best known for their political activism and environmentalism and their 1987 worldwide hit single "Beds Are Burning". For most of their career, the band consisted of Peter Garrett (vocals), Jim Moginie (guitar, keyboards), Martin Rotsey (guitar), Bones Hillman (bass, vocals) and Rob Hirst (drums).
The band split in 2002 to allow Garrett to focus on his political career. He became a member of the Australian House of Representatives and the was the Australian Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts from 2007-2010. From 2010, he was the Australian Minister for Education. Garrett did not stand for re-election in 2013. The band has reunited since then for two benefit concerts: the 2005 WaveAid concert for Indian Ocean Tsunami victims and in March 2009 the band reformed for two shows in Canberra as a warm up for "Sound Relief" in Melbourne, a benefit concert for the Victorian Bushfire victims.
The Oils, as they are known to their fans, began as a progressive rock band called Farm in the early 1970s, then under the Midnight Oil name developed a reputation as an impressive and hard-working live act associated with the surfing community of Sydney. They became one of Australia's most respected bands, known for their live performances, and also for their activism and support for community groups and causes.
Midnight Oil's first two albums Midnight Oil and Head Injuries were originally released on an independent label, followed by the EP Bird Noises in 1980. Their third album, Place without a Postcard, was recorded in Great Britain with the respected producer Glyn Johns (Led Zeppelin, The Who) on the back of a brief tour of the UK.
Their fourth album, 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 (spoken as "10 to 1"), marked both the Oil's major Australian breakthrough and the beginning of their successful association with producer Nick Launay. This album also saw considerable success in the college radio scene of the US, prompting a tour of North America.
Following on from 10-1, the Oils with Nick Launay recorded the fifth album Red Sails in the Sunset during a three month stint in Tokyo in 1984, becoming the first known western band to record an entire album in Japan. Red Sails was reasonably successful in Australia, featuring songs like Best of Both Worlds and Kosciuszko, but the album's quirky, experimental sound failed to make major inroads overseas. Also during 1984, frontman Peter Garrett was narrowly defeated in an election for the New South Wales, representing the Nuclear Disarmament Party (NDP).
In 1985, following the release of the EP Species Deceases the Oils embarked on a career-changing tour of remote Aboriginal communities of outback Australia with legendary Aboriginal group, the Warumpi Band. The tour led to the recording of Midnight Oil's major international breakthrough success Diesel and Dust, released in 1987 which featured their biggest international hit Beds Are Burning. The following album Blue Sky Mining, released in 1990 had two songs that topped the US Modern Rock charts, Blue Sky Mine and Forgotten Years. Both Diesel and Dust and Blue Sky Mining were produced with Warne Livesey.
Between 1988 and 1992, the band's Diesel and Dust and Blue Sky Mining discs became known worldwide, as did their political activism for causes ranging from nuclear disarmament to aboriginal rights and environmental issues. Their subsequent albums sold less well outside Australia, but the Oils maintained a following throughout the 1990s and into the new century.
The Midnight Oil lineup remained quite stable over the band's long career: Garrett as lead singer and harmonica, Jim Moginie on guitar and keyboards, Martin Rotsey on guitar, and Rob Hirst on drums. Andrew (Bear) James, the first bass player, left in 1980 due to ill health. Peter Gifford replaced him and in turn quit the band in 1987 citing the pressures of touring. New Zealander Bones Hillman, (ex Swingers) replaced him, and remained with the group until its dissolution in 2002. Gary Morris was the band's manager and effective sixth member (often credited with the simple title "Business, no singing" on albums) throughout.
In 2004 Peter Garrett was elected to Federal Parliament as the Labor member for Kingsford-Smith in Sydney. In November 2007 he became Minister for Arts in the Australian government as a member of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's front bench. He retired from Parliament in 2013. Jim Moginie continues his involvement with music through his own band, The Family Dog and as a producer for artists such as Sarah Blasko. Rob Hirst is also involved with several musical projects such as Hirst and Greene, Ghostwriters, The Angry Tradesmen and The Backsliders. Moginie, Hirst and Martin Rotsey continue to play and record together in instrumental band The Break.
The band reformed in 2016, launched a world tour in 2017 and released the live album Armistice Day: Live at the Domain, Sydney with an accompanying film. 2020 saw the release of the mini-album called The Makarrata Project. Bass guitarist Bones Hillman died on 7 November 2020 of cancer. On 18 May 2021, the band announced their upcoming thirteenth album, Show of Hands, the last recordings to feature Hillman. The first single, released on 28 October, was Rising Seas.
The band split in 2002 to allow Garrett to focus on his political career. He became a member of the Australian House of Representatives and the was the Australian Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts from 2007-2010. From 2010, he was the Australian Minister for Education. Garrett did not stand for re-election in 2013. The band has reunited since then for two benefit concerts: the 2005 WaveAid concert for Indian Ocean Tsunami victims and in March 2009 the band reformed for two shows in Canberra as a warm up for "Sound Relief" in Melbourne, a benefit concert for the Victorian Bushfire victims.
The Oils, as they are known to their fans, began as a progressive rock band called Farm in the early 1970s, then under the Midnight Oil name developed a reputation as an impressive and hard-working live act associated with the surfing community of Sydney. They became one of Australia's most respected bands, known for their live performances, and also for their activism and support for community groups and causes.
Midnight Oil's first two albums Midnight Oil and Head Injuries were originally released on an independent label, followed by the EP Bird Noises in 1980. Their third album, Place without a Postcard, was recorded in Great Britain with the respected producer Glyn Johns (Led Zeppelin, The Who) on the back of a brief tour of the UK.
Their fourth album, 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 (spoken as "10 to 1"), marked both the Oil's major Australian breakthrough and the beginning of their successful association with producer Nick Launay. This album also saw considerable success in the college radio scene of the US, prompting a tour of North America.
Following on from 10-1, the Oils with Nick Launay recorded the fifth album Red Sails in the Sunset during a three month stint in Tokyo in 1984, becoming the first known western band to record an entire album in Japan. Red Sails was reasonably successful in Australia, featuring songs like Best of Both Worlds and Kosciuszko, but the album's quirky, experimental sound failed to make major inroads overseas. Also during 1984, frontman Peter Garrett was narrowly defeated in an election for the New South Wales, representing the Nuclear Disarmament Party (NDP).
In 1985, following the release of the EP Species Deceases the Oils embarked on a career-changing tour of remote Aboriginal communities of outback Australia with legendary Aboriginal group, the Warumpi Band. The tour led to the recording of Midnight Oil's major international breakthrough success Diesel and Dust, released in 1987 which featured their biggest international hit Beds Are Burning. The following album Blue Sky Mining, released in 1990 had two songs that topped the US Modern Rock charts, Blue Sky Mine and Forgotten Years. Both Diesel and Dust and Blue Sky Mining were produced with Warne Livesey.
Between 1988 and 1992, the band's Diesel and Dust and Blue Sky Mining discs became known worldwide, as did their political activism for causes ranging from nuclear disarmament to aboriginal rights and environmental issues. Their subsequent albums sold less well outside Australia, but the Oils maintained a following throughout the 1990s and into the new century.
The Midnight Oil lineup remained quite stable over the band's long career: Garrett as lead singer and harmonica, Jim Moginie on guitar and keyboards, Martin Rotsey on guitar, and Rob Hirst on drums. Andrew (Bear) James, the first bass player, left in 1980 due to ill health. Peter Gifford replaced him and in turn quit the band in 1987 citing the pressures of touring. New Zealander Bones Hillman, (ex Swingers) replaced him, and remained with the group until its dissolution in 2002. Gary Morris was the band's manager and effective sixth member (often credited with the simple title "Business, no singing" on albums) throughout.
In 2004 Peter Garrett was elected to Federal Parliament as the Labor member for Kingsford-Smith in Sydney. In November 2007 he became Minister for Arts in the Australian government as a member of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's front bench. He retired from Parliament in 2013. Jim Moginie continues his involvement with music through his own band, The Family Dog and as a producer for artists such as Sarah Blasko. Rob Hirst is also involved with several musical projects such as Hirst and Greene, Ghostwriters, The Angry Tradesmen and The Backsliders. Moginie, Hirst and Martin Rotsey continue to play and record together in instrumental band The Break.
The band reformed in 2016, launched a world tour in 2017 and released the live album Armistice Day: Live at the Domain, Sydney with an accompanying film. 2020 saw the release of the mini-album called The Makarrata Project. Bass guitarist Bones Hillman died on 7 November 2020 of cancer. On 18 May 2021, the band announced their upcoming thirteenth album, Show of Hands, the last recordings to feature Hillman. The first single, released on 28 October, was Rising Seas.
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Midnight Oil Lyrics
A Crocodile Cries This is an instrumental…
Antarctica I'm a snow plough I must now plough on I'm a snow…
Arctic World I don't want to grow anything in my heart And I…
Armistice Day You're watching people fighting, you're watching people losi…
Artic World I don't wanna grow anything in my heart I don't want…
Back On The Borderline From the bar to the bedroom I'm swimming in the…
Barest Degree I am gone, can't waste more time I said, not quite…
Basement Flat Must be time for a second chance I can't escape this…
Bedlam Bridge In this city with no footpath there's a building with…
Beds Are Burning Out where the river broke The bloodwood and the desert oak H…
Been Away Too Long Fresh air soft landing So good to be home This bruised world…
Bells and Horns in the Back of Beyond The Southern Aurora was late again As I waited at central…
Best Of Both Worlds You say times are tough We've got the best of both…
Best Of Both Worlds ) You say times are tough We've got the best of both…
Blossom and Blood You, the mothers who sent your sons Wipe away your tears For…
Blot Welcome stranger listen in The presumption of innocence was …
Blue Sky Mine Hey, hey-hey, hey There'll be food on the table tonight Hey,…
Blue Sky Mine (Remastered) Hey, hey, hey, hey (There'll be food on the table tonight) H…
Brave Faces I've seen faces in the window I've seen faces in the…
Bring On The Change Here comes the angel of death You may not remember her…
Bullroarer In the desert in the dry Before the breaking of the…
Burnie Brought up in a world of changes Part time cleaner in…
Bushfire In my shoes, in my shoes There is so much to…
Capricornia Capricornia don't walk away Show me to the back of your…
Cemetery In My Mind Locked in the mall in a state of fright Looking for…
Cold Cold Change Cold cold change, we were so excited But you came and…
Comfortable Place on the Couch Comfortable suburban home Too afraid to go out on your own …
Common Ground These are not dispassionate words of the cool The headline s…
Concrete In the city the heart still whispers Flaking metal a silent…
Dead Heart We don't serve your country Don't serve your king Know you…
Don I'm an innocent victim, I'm just like you We end up…
Don't Wanna Be The One I'm an innocent victim, I'm just like you We end up…
Don't Wanna Be The One ) I'm an innocent victim, I'm just like you We end up…
Dream World The Breakfast Creek Hotel is up for sale The last square…
Dreamworld The Breakfast Creek hotel is up for sale, The last…
Dreamworld - Remastered The Breakfast Creek Hotel is up for sale The last square…
Drop in the Ocean Here comes the olive branch man He'll press it any way…
Drums Of Heaven By the time the luminous descent of the bright star…
Dust It's 2 a.m. in Town Hall Station Black walls and sleeping…
E-Beat There is a place we're coming to It is not green…
Earth And Sun And Moon In the morning we will wake up and take to…
E‐Beat There is a place we're coming to It is not green…
Feeding Frenzy Well I'm as old as the hills And young as the…
Forgotten Years Few of the sins of the father, are visited upon…
Golden Age All the screens are filled with heroes and losers But the…
Gravelrash Skating down the street just beware; People dropping dirt bo…
Gunbarrel Highway I'll give you something to write home about And I'll take…
Gunbarrell Highway I'll give you something to write home about And I'll take…
Harrisburg The empire rings The umpire's not laughing The President's r…
Head Over Heels I'm head over heels You know how it feels to be…
Helps Me Helps You Look at all the toys I got Look at all the…
Hercules My life is a valuable thing I want to keep it…
Hércules My life is a valuable thing I wan't to keep it…
Home There is a place I was born It is a place…
I See You In a country that we call home In a land that's…
I'm The Cure Tell all your friends I'm the cure Tell them again and…
If Ned Kelly Was King Hollow threats and a great adventure So much business, towns…
In The Rain Sorry I am for the hurt I caused Grieving I still…
In The Valley My grandfather went down with the MonteVideo The rising sun …
Is It Now? There's a man who walks the lonely field at midnight He…
Jimmy Sharman From the red dust north of Dalmore Downs Sharman's tents ro…
Jimmy Sharman's Boxers From the red dust north of Dalmore Downs Sharman's tents rol…
King Of The Mountain Walking through the high dry grass, pushing my way through…
Knife On a knife edge razor day If you listen long enough…
Knife's Edge On a knife edge razor day If you listen long enough…
Koala Sprint And out from the echoes of the night Concrete caverns catch…
Kosciusko Older than Kosciusko Darwin down to Alice Springs Dealers in…
Kosciuszko Older than Kosciuszko Darwin down to Alice Springs Dealers i…
Love The world is crashing down on me tonight The walls are…
Love's On Sale Haul me up I'm waiting Oh yeah yes I'm waiting Waiting now…
Lucky Country Speed, and this There's a feeling I get when I look…
Luritja Way There's no highway to luritja way I listen I listen for…
Maralinga I come from a land of wide open spaces Where the…
Minutes To Midnight Everybody say god is a good man Ah, clock on the…
Mosquito March When they march When they march over fields of green When th…
Mountains Of Burma The tucker box is empty now, the heart of Kelly's…
My Country Was it just a dream, were you so confused Was it…
Naked Flame "This is a mad house," she goes straight for the…
No Man's Land No love, no dreams, oh my lady The bells were ringing…
No Reaction What do we want, we are going to be the…
No Time for Games The raising of children, the rearing of young Used to be…
No Time For Games ) The raising of children, the rearing of young Used to be…
Nothing Lost In my world there are sorrows I'd rather drown in happiness…
Now or Never Land I grew tall in this lucky land And I thank God…
Now Or Neverland I grew tall in this lucky land And I thank God…
One Country Who'd like to change the world, who wants to shoot…
One Too Many Times She was the golden summer wine And now she's black and…
Only The Strong When I'm locked in my room I just want to scream And…
Only The Strong ) When I'm locked in my room I just want to scream And…
Outbreak Of Love The world is crashing down on me tonight The walls are…
Outside World There's a wind on the eastern side Ghost gums dance in…
Pictures I just want to see that clear clear light Don't want…
Poets & Slaves Here comes the mechanical sun Working on the bones in the…
Powderworks There's a shit storm a'coming I feel it coming soon There's …
power & the passion People wasting away In paradise Going backwards, once in a…
Power and the Passion People, wasting away in paradise Going backward, once in a w…
Profiteers Look up on the ledge, there's a bomber diving on…
Progress Say yes to a real life ambition, say yes to…
Pub With No Beer It's a lonesome away from your kindred and all By the…
Put Down That Weapon Under the waterline No place to retire To another time The e…
Quinella Holiday The bar was crowded in the arvo din And the voices…
Read About It The rich get richer, the poor get the picture The bombs…
Read About It ) The rich get richer, the poor get the picture The bombs…
Redneck Wonderland I don't want to run I don't want to stay 'Cause…
Renaissance Man Well I told you about the forest and trees and…
Return to Sender Well I want to return to my sender Well I want…
Rising Seas Every child put down your toys And come inside to sleep We…
River Runs Red So you cut all the tall trees down, you poisoned…
Run By Night I'm on the whiskey flying, and I'll run by night I'm…
Safety Chain Blues Hanging on like hell to the safety chain Lifebuoy crash lan…
Say Your Prayers Don't want to live in a prison cell Don't want…
Schwampy Moose I′m on the whiskey flying, and I'll run by night I′m…
Scream in Blue (Instrumental to second part) Come to me now, be careful of…
Section 5 Push start that car tomorrow I'll take it to the tip…
Seeing is Believing I was asleep with both eyes open Dream freeze sprinklers in…
Sell My Soul White light Let's begin, I am ready, let's begin, ay Sell m…
Shakers And Movers Won't you come on down the line, away from barren…
Shipyards of New Zealand Thought one day I'd make my fortune Like the ancient cavalca…
Short Memory Conquistador of Mexico, the Zulu and the Navaho The Belgians…
Sins Of Omission On the fringes of torso and lips Straining to hear the…
Sleep So you've got the blues The evening wore out your shoes To…
Somebody Breaking me down, lunatic noises Breaking me down, desperat…
Somebody's Trying To Tell Me Something Breaking me down, lunatic noises Breaking me down, desperate…
Someone Else to Blame Tell for yourself, watch me sweat, watch me crawl Stretch m…
Sometimes I know That the sunset empire shudders and shakes And I…
Spirit Of The Age Spirit of the Age There is an SOS of real distress,…
Stand In Line Oh get down, getting down, so much money in the…
Star Of Hope Hope you're a God, your turn to pray Hope you've a…
Stars Of Warburton I, I was, I was shaken down in a toy…
Surf Wherever the wind blows When it blows over the sea…
Surf's Up Tonight Wherever the wind blows When it blows over the sea…
Surfing With A Spoon Well you knew from the start That a one way loving…
Tell Me The Truth I believe we're crossing the great ravine Still yearning hal…
Tell Me The Truth ) I believe we're crossing the great ravine Still yearning ha…
The Dead Heart We don't serve your country Don't serve your king Know your …
The Great Gibber Plain From the great gibber plain To the Indian ocean From the s…
The Last Of The Diggers Who will march for peace Now that the last of the…
The Real Thing Come and see the real thing Come and see the real…
Time To Heal In the cities and the towns The word is coming down No…
Tin Legs And Tin Mines I'm gonna wait for the moment to come I'm gonna wait…
Tin-Legs And Tin Mines I'm gonna wait for the moment to come I'm gonna wait…
Tone Poem Like a heat wave breaking as you smell warm rain We…
Too Much Sunshine Haven't had so much fun since my daddy Took the V8…
Truganini There's a road train going nowhere Roads are cut, lines are…
U.S. Forces US Forces give the nod, it's a setback for your…
Under The Overpass Oh the news will travel slowly Over broken glass And I'll be…
Underwater Scanning at the blue bended headlands White flurry scudded, …
US Forces US Forces give the nod, it's a setback for your…
Used And Abused I was taken downtown for my part in the demonstration I…
Warakurna There is enough for everyone In Redfern as there is in…
Wharf Rat Old man down, way down, down by the docks of…
What Goes On One thing's for sure That it's still the same That young fol…
What Goes On (Remastered) One things for sure that it's still the same That young…
When The Generals Talk Up there on the platform He is speaking to the people The…
White Skin Black Heart Yeah, whatcha gonna do now, now that you started? Whatcha go…
Who Can Stand In The Way Well oh well I feel I'm in decay John Laws is…
Whoah The lord is my temple God is by my side You pay…
World That I See In a country that we call home In a land that's…
Written In The Heart The God forsaken rifleman stands rigid at the bar The kids…
You May Not Be Released I understand things aren't often planned Under the bridge …