The band formed in Adelaide in 1973 as a heavy metal band called Orange around keyboard player Don Walker and original bassist Les Kascmarek and while hard rock remained at the core of their sound Cold Chisel displayed a remarkable versatility. When Kascmarek left in 1975, Walker became the major creative force of the band. Built around Walker's superb songwriting, the group also featured the dazzling guitar and vocal talents of Ian Moss and the enormously powerful lead vocals of Scottish immigrant Jimmy Barnes.
While typically classified as a hard-driving rock and roll band, the Chisel repertoire included such Australian anthems as the landmark Vietnam War song "Khe Sanh", "Bow River", "Flame Trees" and "Saturday Night", but also included thoughtful ballads like "Choir Girl" (written about the subject of abortion), pop-flavoured love songs like "My Baby" and caustic political statements like "Star Hotel", an attack on the late-70s government of Malcolm Fraser and inspired by a riot at a Newcastle pub. The music was not political in context, however Walker's songs were observations of everyday life within the Australian society and culture. One song from this period, "Misfits", which featured on the b-side to "My Baby", was written in the same vein as Chuck Berry, and was about homeless kids in the suburbs surrounding Sydney.
Cold Chisel weren't just a band, they were a lifestyle for many of their followers, who were known as some of the roughest in the land. This gave Chisel their hard living approach to their music and made them a tough live band as well. More than 30 years after they originally played together, they attract generation after generation of new listeners. This is also evidence of Chisel's dominance of the pub rock era. They are the only Australian band to have sold more records after breakup than before and are among other bands that have become transgenerational. "Khe Sanh" consistently ranks highly in lists of Australia's most popular songs and their music remains a staple of rock station playlists. The Ian Moss song "Never Before" (from the East LP) was chosen by FM rock station 2JJJ (Triple Jay) as the first record played on-air when the station made its transition from AM to FM in 1980.
By 1983 the band had reached the zenith of their career in Australia and with overseas markets reluctant to accept them, Cold Chisel began to disintegrate. Their abortive US sojourn was commemorated in Barnes' excoriating rocker "You Got Nothing I Want" from the Circus Animals album, an emotional volume created from the frustration of the band’s experiences overseas.
Increasing internal tensions and the pressures of touring took their toll and Steve Prestwich -- who was often in conflict with Barnes -- left the band, to be replaced by veteran Australian drummer Ray Arnott (ex Spectrum). Shortly afterward, in 1984, Cold Chisel announced their split and a series of farewell concerts, for which Prestwich re-joined. That tour became a legend in itself and was not without incident when Barnes lost his voice before the Sydney shows, which then had to be rescheduled. The band's final performance was filmed for the documentary concert film The Last Stand, which remains to this day the best-selling concert film of any single Australian act.
In mid 2011 the group announced a series of upcoming concerts.
Bow River
Cold Chisel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listen now to the rain
Feel that water lickin' at my feet again
I don't want to see this town no more
Wastin' my days on a factory floor
First thing you know I'll be back in Bow River again
But only six days separates me and the great top end
I been working hard, tweleve hours a day
And the money I saved won't buy my youth again
Goin' for the heat babe, and a tropical rain
In a place where no man's puttin' on the dog for me
Waitin' on the weekend, set o' brand new tyres
And back in Bow River's just where I want to be
Listen now to the wind babe
Listen now to the rain
Feel that water lickin' at my feet again
I don't want to see this town no more
Too many years made up my mind to go or stay
Right to my dying day
I don't want to see another engine line
Too many years and I owe my mind
First set o' wheels headin' back Bow River again
First thing you know I'll be back in Bow River again
Got the motor runnin', got the rest of my days
Sold everything I owned for a song
So anytime you want babe, you can come around
But don't leave it too late you just might find me gone
Listen now to the wind babe . . .
I don't need the score
I'm goin' through the door
Gonna tell the man I don't want no more
Pick up a fast car and burn my name in the road
One week two week maybe even more
Piss all my money up against the damn wall
First thing you know I'll be back in Bow River again
The lyrics to the song Bow River by Cold Chisel detail the struggles of a blue-collar worker who is tired of working long hours in a factory and wants to escape to the Great Top End where he can find warmth and a tropical climate. The song starts by mentioning the sound of rain and the wind and the feeling of water licking at the feet. The worker is tired of the daily grind and wants to leave the town as he sees no future there. He wants to escape to Bow River and start anew but is torn between his desire for escape and his sense to pay his dues.
The lyrics convey a sense of longing for a different life, a life where he can experience something different from his monotonous daily routine. The worker desires to live a fulfilling life doing what he loves to do. He wants to hit the road and leave everything behind for a new and exciting adventure. The song is a testament to the struggles of working-class people who long for something more significant in life.
Overall, the song is a classic ballad of a worker who longs to break free from his tedious job and start life anew. The lyrics are beautifully written, and the music is catchy, making it a popular Cold Chisel song that resonates with many people worldwide.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen now to the wind babe
The singer is asking the listener to pay attention to the sound of the wind.
Listen now to the rain
The singer is asking the listener to pay attention to the sound of the rain.
Feel that water lickin' at my feet again
The singer is physically experiencing the rain and water on his feet.
I don't want to see this town no more
The artist is fed up with the town he is in and does not want to stay there anymore.
Wastin' my days on a factory floor
The artist is wasting his time working in a factory every day.
First thing you know I'll be back in Bow River again
The singer is stating that he will eventually return to Bow River again.
Anytime you want babe, you can come around
The singer is telling someone that they are welcome to visit anytime.
But only six days separates me and the great top end
The artist is saying that he is only six days away from the Great Top End and feels like leaving.
I been working hard, tweleve hours a day
The artist has been working long hours every day.
And the money I saved won't buy my youth again
The artist explains that the money he has saved cannot give him back the time he has lost working.
Goin' for the heat babe, and a tropical rain
The singer is looking forward to experiencing heat and rain in a tropical place.
In a place where no man's puttin' on the dog for me
The artist desires to go to a place where people do not try to impress or deceive him.
Waitin' on the weekend, set o' brand new tyres
The singer is waiting for the weekend to arrive so he can use his new tires.
And back in Bow River's just where I want to be
The singer is revealing that Bow River is ultimately where he wants to end up.
Too many years made up my mind to go or stay
The singer has been indecisive about staying or leaving for too many years.
Right to my dying day
The artist will continue to be indecisive until the day he dies.
I don't want to see another engine line
The artist is fed up with working on engine lines and does not want to see another.
Too many years and I owe my mind
The singer has been working for too long and feels like he has lost his mind.
First set o' wheels headin' back Bow River again
The singer is heading back to Bow River again in his car.
Got the motor runnin', got the rest of my days
The artist has his car running and plans to use it for the rest of his life.
Sold everything I owned for a song
The artist sold all of his possessions for a small amount of money.
But don't leave it too late you just might find me gone
The artist is warning someone not to wait too long to visit or they might miss him.
I don't need the score
The singer does not care about keeping score or counting points.
I'm goin' through the door
The artist is leaving and going through the door.
Gonna tell the man I don't want no more
The singer is going to tell his boss that he does not want to work anymore.
Pick up a fast car and burn my name in the road
The singer is planning to speed away in his car and leave a mark on the road with his driving.
One week two week maybe even more
The singer is unsure of how long he will be gone for.
Piss all my money up against the damn wall
The artist is going to spend all of his money recklessly.
First thing you know I'll be back in Bow River again
The artist will eventually return to Bow River again.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: IAN RICHARD MOSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@timcooper2077
This is the only song my severely autistic, non verbal 7 year old boy dances to. He literally stops in his tracks and goes into a trance. Amazing
@shastynwheeler9290
That’s magic ❤
@underArmourareshit
The best chisel song of all time.
@stevelever83
I dare anybody to play this song while driving at 80 Km/h, on a country road and not be doing 120 by the end of the solo.
@linlasky1894
Easily done 😁
@lethaloutdoors001
Hahah mate the radio does it all the time to me ffs
@jesusislukeskywalker4294
🤣😂😅
@ronbr1000
Only if you're on drugs or a complete f....wit
@amandakaye6040
Liking it Bro
@purebloodheretic4682
Ian Moss Underrated Singer & Guitarists!! My Favourite Cold Chisel Song!!👍😉