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.
Breakfast at Sweethearts
Cold Chisel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through the window, curtain rain
Long night gone, yellow day
Speed shivers melt away
Six o'clock I'm goin' down
Coffee's hot and the toast is brown
Hey street sweeper, clear my way
Oh-oh, Breakfast at Sweethearts
Hey, Anne-Maria
It's always good to see her
She don't smile or flirt
She just wears that mini-skirt
Drunks come in
Paper bag, Brandivino
Dreams fly away
As she pulls another cappuccino
Six o'clock I'm goin' down
Coffee's hot and the toast is brown
Hey street sweeper, clear my way
Sweethearts breakfast is the best in town
Oh-oh, Breakfast at Sweethearts
The lyrics to "Breakfast at Sweethearts" by Cold Chisel paint a vivid picture of an early morning scene at the Sweethearts café. The rain is coming down outside, and the main character is heading to the café for breakfast. He makes his way through the streets, which are still wet from the previous night's rain. The cold and shivers he felt from the previous night are melting away as he approaches the café.
Once he arrives at Sweethearts, he sees the familiar face of Anne-Maria, who works there. She doesn't flirt or smile, but she's always wearing a mini-skirt. The café is also frequented by drunks, who come in with paper bags full of Brandivino. They aren't able to hold on to their dreams, but they are able to enjoy a good cup of coffee and a cappuccino thanks to Anne-Maria's diligent work.
Overall, the lyrics of "Breakfast at Sweethearts" capture a sense of familiarity, comfort, and community. The scene at the cafe is one that the main character is familiar with, and he enjoys seeing the familiar faces and enjoying the good food and coffee.
Line by Line Meaning
Campbell lane
Walking down Campbell lane
Through the window, curtain rain
Looking through a window with rain falling down against the curtain
Long night gone, yellow day
The night has passed and it's now morning
Speed shivers melt away
The feeling of being cold goes away as one warms up
Six o'clock I'm goin' down
It's 6am and the person is headed somewhere
Coffee's hot and the toast is brown
Breakfast is ready and waiting
Hey street sweeper, clear my way
Asking the street sweeper to move aside so they can keep walking
Sweethearts breakfast is the best in town
Sweethearts serves the best breakfast in the area
Oh-oh, Breakfast at Sweethearts
Excitedly talking about how great breakfast is at Sweethearts
Hey, Anne-Maria
Addressing someone named Anne-Maria
It's always good to see her
Always happy to see Anne-Maria
She don't smile or flirt
Anne-Maria doesn't seem interested in flirting or being overly friendly
She just wears that mini-skirt
Anne-Maria is wearing a mini-skirt
Drunks come in
People who have been drinking alcohol come into the restaurant
Paper bag, Brandivino
They are carrying a paper bag with a bottle of Brandivino inside
Dreams fly away
Their hopes and aspirations seem to have been left behind
As she pulls another cappuccino
Anne-Maria is making another cappuccino
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DONALD WALKER, DONALD HUGH WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sammy_dog
The Sweethearts they are singing about was a cafe in Campbell lane Sydney as in the opening line
Campbell lane
Through the window, curtain rain
Long night gone, yellow day
Speed shivers melt away
At six o'clock I'm goin' down
Coffee's hot and the toast is brown
Hey streetsweeper, clear my way
Sweethearts breakfast is the best in town
Fun fact Don Walker wrote khe sanh at sweethearts
@spello8191
I feel that Cold Chisel were so on top their game with this release! It’s a complete classic! Thanks Don✌️
@gaylehorne1965
It's my go to song for years. My youth, my chisel......love em, so many memories. It's such an underrated song. Over the years it's had any air play..and yet it's such a classic song.
@maddoman11
If we were the first in the back bar of the Star Hotel in Newcastle on a Friday night, I I played this on the jukebox. Great times great memories. Was 20 then.
@492Snoop
Fantastic, Breakfast at Sweethearts album was great bunch of songs, the production was not as good as it could have been but still a treasure to have in any record collection. I been a huge Chisel fan for over 30 years but never seen this clip before. Thanks for posting :))
@novabigstar1509
How did I miss this band??? They are awesome!! Better late than never. Was it because I'm in USA? These guys are as good if not better than Hall and Oates. Love em...
@MrPizza063
2 totally different styles of music
@novabigstar1509
You think? Both are pop bands with a 70's sound with touches of rock, reggae and R&B mixed in. Just curious how you would classify them. I really like them though.
@raresaturn
Chisel are very Blues based, Hall & Oats are more poppy and disco
@lesgeale4181
You cannot compare a rock band like chisel to a pop duo like hall and oates.
@lesgeale4181
Nova BigStar chisel never were a pop band. Never ever