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.
By My Side
Cold Chisel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seems the more I get, the less I got
It won’t be long is all they can say
While all I know is slippin away
But I believe in something strong
And I will be faithful
I can’t go wrong
There will be nothing denied
As long as you’re by my side
Somewhere back in my memory
There’s a dream I thought
One day would be
Just like the time slippin through my hands
Things don’t always work out
They way that you planned
But I believe in something strong
And I will be faithful
I can’t go wrong
I can see that the road is long
There will be nothing denied
As long as you’re by my side
Hear me now while I say a prayer
For the time is sure to come
Whether I know the way or not
I’ve just got to run
But I believe in something strong
And I will be faithful
I can’t go wrong
I can see that the road is long
There will be nothing denied
But I believe in something strong
And I will be faithful
I can’t go wrong
I can see that the road is long
There will be nothing denied
As long as you’re by my side
The lyrics to Cold Chisel's "By My Side" explore the theme of perseverance and endurance in the face of hardship. The first stanza acknowledges the struggle to stay afloat in a world where success seems difficult to attain, despite one's efforts. This is followed by a statement of faith in something bigger and more powerful than oneself, which provides the strength to keep fighting. The second stanza looks back at a dream that once existed, but now seems out of reach. It acknowledges the reality that things don't always go as planned, but also reaffirms the belief that there is still something worth pursuing. Finally, the song concludes with a prayer for guidance and the acknowledgement that, in the end, the most important thing is having someone by one's side through it all.
The lyrics of "By My Side" are both optimistic and realistic, acknowledging the challenges of life while also expressing hope and the determination to keep fighting. The song has become a classic, and is often played at weddings and other ceremonies as an anthem of enduring love and support. The chord progression is simple and emotive, adding to the emotional impact of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Trying hard just to stay on top
I am putting in a lot of effort to maintain my current position in life.
Seems the more I get, the less I got
Despite my efforts, I feel like I am losing ground and not making progress.
It won’t be long is all they can say
Others around me are telling me that change is coming soon.
While all I know is slippin away
Despite the warnings, I feel like things are slipping out of my control and becoming worse.
But I believe in something strong
Despite my doubts and fears, I have faith in something that is important to me.
And I will be faithful
I am committed to staying true to my beliefs and values.
I can’t go wrong
As long as I stay true to myself, I know that I am making the right choices.
I can see that the road is long
I recognize that the path ahead of me will be difficult and challenging.
There will be nothing denied
If I stay true to my beliefs and values, I will achieve my goals and dreams.
As long as you’re by my side
I am confident that I can succeed with the support of someone I care about.
Somewhere back in my memory
I have a distant memory of something I once dreamed of or hoped for.
There’s a dream I thought
I had something that I once imagined would be my future.
One day would be
I had faith that my dream would come true someday.
Just like the time slippin through my hands
But like everything else in life, time is fleeting and my dream is slipping away from me.
Things don’t always work out
Life doesn't always unfold the way we expect it to.
They way that you planned
Sometimes our plans and expectations don't align with reality.
Hear me now while I say a prayer
I am asking for divine guidance and help as I face the uncertainties of the future.
For the time is sure to come
I know that change is inevitable and the future is unpredictable.
Whether I know the way or not
I am not sure what the future holds or what I need to do to prepare for it.
I’ve just got to run
Despite my uncertainty, I know that I need to take action and keep moving forward.
Contributed by Bailey H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
UnleashedTraining101
Emotions ran high,
And the words were strong
Heard the screen door slam,
And you were gone
You can't win a fight
You don't understand
And I wake up alone
Reachin' for your hand
Like a cold wind in December
When we don't see eye to eye
I want you to remember
I'm still on your side
When you need me girl
Still on your side
As sure as a river
Runs to the sea
There'll have to be times,
We both disagree
Sometimes I feel like shoutin'
It's like a freight train in my heart
Make you see there'll be no doubtin'
I'm still on your side
When you need me girl
Still on your side
And I look up
To see you standin' there
But you just look right thru me
Somebody tell me I'm dreamin'
Pretend you don't care
As you turn round and walk out that door
Sometimes I feel like shoutin'
It's like a freight train in my heart
Make you see there'll be no doubtin'
I'm still on your side
Like a cold wind in December
When we don't see eye to eye
I want you to remember
I'm still on your side
Na-na-na-na-na-na
I'm still on your side
Dr Amit Dahiya
Emotions ran high and the word were strong
Heard the screen door slam and you were gone
You can’t win a fight, you don’t understand
And I wake up alone reachin’ for your hand
Like a cold wind in December
When we don’t see eye to eye
I want you to remember
I’m still on your side
When you need me girl
Still on your side
As sure as a river runs to the sea
There’ll have to be times, we both disagree
Sometimes I feel like shoutin’
It’s like a freight train in my heart
Make you see they’ll be no doubtin’
I’m still on your side
When you need me girl
Still on your side
And I look up to see you standin’ there
But you just look right thru me
Somebody tell me I’m dreamin’
Pretend you don’t care
As you turn round and walk out that door
Sometimes I feel like shoutin’
It’s like a freight train in my heart
Make you see they’ll be no doubtin’
I’m still on your side
Like a cold wind in December
When we don’t see eye to eye
I want you to remember
I’m still on your side
I’m still on your side
Aus80sRockRadio
I get so sick of people saying that JB can't sing - all he does is scream. It makes me mad, he is a brilliant singer. He puts his full heart and soul into his vocals & is an absolute LEGEND - that's why we love him! PLUS your first 5 solo albums don't all go straight to No.1 on the charts in their first week of release unless you've got talent.
Hellraiser Gordon
He can definitely sing. Nowadays, he does tend to lean on his scream as a crutch though. He used to be a lot more tasteful in the way he sings.
Aus80sRockRadio
+Hellraiser Gordon Agreed yes.
shane cullen
agree, he is a rock singer, not a member of a boy band. Regardless, he can sing. Far more than Brian Johnson, Mick Jagger... and so on.
Mark W
I have only realised in recent years that Barnes is my favourite singer out of them all. So much passion and power. I know these days he is pretty much limited to a yell, but as a singer I know it is remarkable that he can still even hit a note 50 years of balls out rock singing takes its toll on the throat
lilia elsaadi
Aus80sRockRadio omg wow
Shane Jarvis
Jimmy Barnes, dead set "LEGEND". Thanks for all the great memories. I salute ya!
Georgia Parker
Shane Jarvis I
GTRman
Love this song.... Love the album "Freight Train Heart" which it is on. Remember seeing this video a lot on TV when I was In Australia back in 1988. Brings back a lot of memories. Jimmy Barnes has one of the best Rock/Soul voices of all time, 'nuff said!
Małgorzata Woroch
swietny videoclip oraz super piosenka oraz wspanialy jimmy barnes