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.
Build This Love
Cold Chisel Lyrics
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Build this love
Build this love
Build this love
Build this love
I'm gonna build this love
I'm gonna build this fire higher and higher
Oh yeah
I get my days
When a voice seems to whisper in my ear
"Baby you don't need this company"
Such cheap emotion
Is gonna break nobody's heart but mine
If you hold me now you can feel it beat
We can start it rockin' with a new sensation
Layin' on hands till you feel the heat
We can build this fire on a new foundation
Build this love
I'm gonna build this love
Build this fire
Outside it's colder now
It's not the time for young and stupid now
If you don't mind beating it heart to heart
We can start it rockin' with a new sensation
Layin' on hands till you feel the heat
We can take control of the situation
What's it gonna be, not another defeat
We can build this fire on a new foundation
Build this love
"Build This Love" is a song by Cold Chisel about a couple who are trying to build their love into something stronger and more substantial. The song is a call to action, with the chorus repeating the phrase "Build this love" four times in a row.
The first verse describes the process of building the love, with the singer promising to take small steps to make the fire burn higher and hotter. However, the next section of the song takes a darker turn, with the singer hearing a voice telling them that they don't need their partner. The singer calls this emotion "cheap" and something that only hurts themselves.
Despite this moment of doubt, the second chorus repeats the message of building the love higher and higher, with the singer urging the listener to lay their hands on them and feel the heat. The bridge of the song mentions that it's colder outside, and that it's not the time for young and stupid decisions. But by taking control of the situation, they can build their love on a new foundation and conquer any defeats that come their way.
Overall, "Build This Love" is a song about the power of love and the work that goes into building a strong and passionate relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Build this love
We need to work on building our love.
Build this love
We still need to work on building our love.
Build this love
We should put continuous effort into building our love.
Build this love
We need to build and maintain our love.
I'm gonna build this love
I am determined to work on building our love.
I'm gonna build this fire higher and higher
I want our love to grow stronger and stronger.
Little by step by little by step
We should take small steps to build our love.
Oh yeah
I am definitely sure of what we need to do.
I get my days
There are times when I feel uncertain.
When a voice seems to whisper in my ear
Sometimes I hear doubts in my thoughts.
"Baby you don't need this company"
It might seem like we don't need each other, but we do.
Such cheap emotion
Superficial feelings won't do us any good.
Is gonna break nobody's heart but mine
If we don't work on our love, it will only hurt me in the end.
If you hold me now you can feel it beat
If you hold me closely, you can feel my love for you.
We can start it rockin' with a new sensation
We can begin building our love with a fresh approach.
Layin' on hands till you feel the heat
We can focus on physical touch to bring us closer together.
We can build this fire on a new foundation
We can strengthen our love with a solid basis.
Outside it's colder now
Life is getting more difficult right now.
It's not the time for young and stupid now
We can't afford to be foolish anymore.
If you don't mind beating it heart to heart
Let's communicate honestly and directly to each other.
What's it gonna be, not another defeat
We can't afford to fail again; we need to succeed in our love.
We can take control of the situation
We have the power to make our love work.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Don Walker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind