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.
Cheap Wine
Cold Chisel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I drove a foreign car
But baby, that was years ago
I left it all behind
I had a friend, I heard she died
Well, on a needle she was crucified
Baby, that was years ago
I left it all behind for my
Cheap wine and a three day growth
Cheap wine and a three day growth
Come on, come on, well come on
I don't mind takin' charity
From those that I despise
Baby, I don't need your love, I don't need your love
Baby, you can shout at me
But you can't meet my eyes
I don't need your love, I don't need your love, I got my
Cheap wine and a three day growth
Cheap wine and a three day growth
Come on, come on, well come on, come on
I'm sitting on the beach, drinkin' rocket fuels, oh, yeah!
I spent the whole night, breakin' all the rules, oh, yeah!
I'm mending every minute of the day before
Watching the ocean, watching the shore
Watching the sunrise, and thinkin' there could never be more
Will never be more, yeah
Well, anytime you want to find me
I don't have a telephone
I'm another world away
But I always feel at home, with my
Cheap wine and a three day growth
A cheap wine and a three day growth
Oh, come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on
Cheap wine and a three day growth
Cheap wine and a three day growth
Oh come on, oh come on, come on
Come on, come on
A cheap wine and a three day growth
A cheap wine and a three day growth
(Come on, oh come on, oh come on)
(I left it for my, my, my)
(A cheap wine and a three day growth)
(A cheap wine and a three day growth)
The lyrics of "Cheap Wine" by Cold Chisel speak of a person who has let go of everything but their cheap wine and unkempt beard. The first verse mentions a past of luxury, but the person has since abandoned their fancy car and expensive cigar. The second verse acknowledges taking charity from people they despise and rejecting love from someone who shouts but can't meet their eyes. They declare that they have everything they need with their cheap wine and three-day growth, suggesting that they have found contentment in simplicity.
The bridge describes the person enjoying their time on the beach, drinking "rocket fuels" and breaking rules all night long. They reflect on their past while watching the sunrise and conclude that they've found a place where they feel at home, away from civilization with only their cheap wine and beard to keep them company.
The song uses powerful imagery and emotive language to paint a vivid picture of a person living their life on their own terms, eschewing conventional notions of success or happiness. They have found their own sense of satisfaction, however unconventional it may seem to others. The song has become an anthem for the working class in Australia, and its chorus is often sung at sporting events and other gatherings.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I smoked a Dannemann cigar
I used to be fancy and indulge in expensive pleasures.
I drove a foreign car
I used to have a luxurious lifestyle.
But baby, that was years ago
I left my old life behind me.
I had a friend, I heard she died
I lost a friend to drug addiction.
Well, on a needle she was crucified
She overdosed on drugs.
Baby, that was years ago
I've moved on from that part of my life.
I left it all behind for my
I gave up my old lifestyle for my new one.
Cheap wine and a three day growth
I now settle for simple pleasures like cheap wine and a beard.
I don't mind takin' charity
I don't have a problem with taking help from people I dislike.
From those that I despise
I don't like these people but I still accept their help.
Baby, I don't need your love, I don't need your love
I don't need anyone's love or affection.
Baby, you can shout at me
You can yell at me all you want.
But you can't meet my eyes
You can't confront me or make me feel guilty.
I got my cheap wine and a three day growth
All I need is my simple lifestyle.
I'm sitting on the beach, drinkin' rocket fuels, oh, yeah!
I now enjoy sitting on the beach and drinking cheap alcohol.
I spent the whole night, breakin' all the rules, oh, yeah!
I've let go of societal norms and don't care about consequences.
Will never be more, yeah
I don't need anything else in life.
Well, anytime you want to find me
I'm hard to reach and you won't find me through a phone.
I don't have a telephone
I don't own a phone.
But I always feel at home, with my
No matter where I am, I feel content with my simple lifestyle.
A cheap wine and a three day growth
All I need for contentment is my cheap wine and my beard.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Donald Walker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@eddyb4622
Just discovered these guys as they never got any airplay in Canada. What a premium band! Man, I got some catching up to do!
@gibnerirmigstad4499
Have fun! I'm sure there's many an old Chisel fan out there who'll be happy to give you pointers on what to listen to. Jimmy Barnes the lead singer emigrated with his family from Scotland as a wee nipper hence the accent on the "o" vowells. The lead guitar, Ian Moss, was our answer to Queen's Brian May, a truly great rock musician who had a solo career after the band split up. My fave song, for what it's worth, is "Ita" which is off their "East" album and is a tongue in cheek song about an 80s female celeb who (it has to be said) went on to do good work for fundraising for AIDS relief in the 80s. Enjoy my friend and when you're tired of Chisel move on to the incomparable Deborah Conway x
@colincolenso
It was considered bogan style rock, but highly melodic, almost classical construction. Both Jimmy Barnes and Ian Moss were world class rock singers. Look up Ian Moss's songs, also had no.1 hits after leaving the Chisels. Amazing guitarist also.
@colincolenso
As an interesting aside, Jimmy discovered his abandoned / orphaned son who had become a Broadway singer. His name is David Campbell, a legend in his own right. More of a classical voice, but very talented.
@barragu7189
Get onto another more modern band called Powder finger and listen to albums such as "internationalist" and "odyssey number 5" you can thank me later
@johnball3634
There're stacks more where this came from, matey - "because I come from a land of plenty"...
@australianmade2659
It's a shame the world didn't understand Chisel. They are one of the great rock bands. Their music sends me back to a sun drenched land of old holdens and zinc cream.
@dangelnut
+Rationalist Society mate that zinc cream me mum would put on so much my mates called me whitie still do haha
@dangelnut
Luca Dabluca comon mate none of that
@miloraca
they tried the yanks out,the fake wankers didn't get it! Hence the brilliant song,you got nothing I want! Just written for the septic tanks,but in reality I think the yanks were too wrapped up in KISS, their loss!