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.
F-111
Cold Chisel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Desert storm as the sun goes down
Park the bike on holy ground
Temple by the store
Temple priests are pretty shot
Jimson weed and thanks a lot
Crazy abbot, gotta stop
F-111, F-111
Lay your benediction on us all
Virgin in the window
Pynchon in the rectory
Lotta chanting round the room
Of things in history
People sellin' stocks and shares
Looting what was never theirs
Chokin' on the subway stairs
To cheat their destiny
F-111, F-111
Lay your benediction on us all
The storeman asked me once
To leave my barter on the table
Another methane cylinder
Another roll of cable
I'm in two minds to stay the night
Or leave this town behind
Far behind
F-111, F-111
Lay your benediction on us all
Lotta systems in the ground
Used to be connected
Lotta fragments floating round
Yet to be collected
F-111, F-111
Lay your benediction on us all
The lyrics of Cold Chisel's F-111 evoke a sense of chaos and confusion in a small desert town. From the first verse, the imagery of birds flying up and a desert storm brewing creates a sense of unease. As the singer parks their bike on "holy ground" by a temple, they are greeted by a "crazy abbot" and "pretty shot" temple priests. The mention of Jimson weed, a poisonous plant, adds to the disarray.
The chorus brings in the titular F-111, an American fighter jet from the 1960s that was known for its speed and agility. The singer asks for the F-111 to lay its "benediction" on everyone in the chaotic scene, including a virgin in a window and a reference to author Thomas Pynchon. The second verse mentions people selling stocks and looting, further adding to the sense of disorder. The singer contemplates leaving the town behind but is torn between staying and leaving.
Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of a town in turmoil, with religious and secular influences both contributing to the chaos. The F-111 seems to represent a sort of salvation in this turmoil, with the singer asking for its blessing.
Line by Line Meaning
Birds fly up as I pull into town
As I arrive in town, birds take flight and flee.
Desert storm as the sun goes down
As the sun sets, a sandstorm engulfs the desert.
Park the bike on holy ground
I leave my bike in a sacred area of land where I believe it will be protected.
Temple by the store
There is a temple located near the store.
Temple priests are pretty shot
The temple's religious leaders appear to be exhausted or depleted.
Jimson weed and thanks a lot
The priests may be under the influence of the hallucinogenic plant known as jimson weed, and there is a strong sense of appreciation or gratitude.
Crazy abbot, gotta stop
There is a disruptive and potentially dangerous abbot that needs to be restrained or controlled.
Put my guns down, by the door
I disarm myself and leave my weapons near the entrance.
F-111, F-111
The artist addresses the F-111 fighter-bomber plane.
Lay your benediction on us all
The artist requests a blessing or approval from the plane.
Virgin in the window
A statue of the Virgin Mary is visible in a nearby window.
Pynchon in the rectory
There may be a copy of Thomas Pynchon's novel 'Bleeding Edge' or some other book in the rectory, which is the residence of the priest in charge of a parish.
Lotta chanting round the room
There is a lot of repetitive singing or recitation taking place indoors.
Of things in history
The chanting may involve reciting historical events or religious rites.
People sellin' stocks and shares
Some individuals are buying and selling financial assets for profit.
Looting what was never theirs
Some of these investors may be exploiting or stealing from others without justification.
Chokin' on the subway stairs
Some commuters are having trouble breathing or feeling suffocated while using the subway system.
To cheat their destiny
These commuters may be trying to evade or change their predetermined fate or future plans.
The storeman asked me once
The singer recalls a past interaction with a shopkeeper.
To leave my barter on the table
The shopkeeper asked the artist to leave their trading goods on the counter until they return.
Another methane cylinder
The artist has another container of fuel in their possession.
Another roll of cable
The artist has another length of wire or cord in their possession.
I'm in two minds to stay the night
The singer is conflicted about whether they should stay in town overnight.
Or leave this town behind
The artist may be considering leaving town entirely and moving on.
Lotta systems in the ground
There are many complex and interconnected networks beneath the surface of the earth.
Used to be connected
These systems may have previously been linked or attached to one another.
Lotta fragments floating round
There are many remnants or pieces of these broken systems still present, but no longer functioning.
Yet to be collected
These fragments have not yet been gathered or reassembled into something usable.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Don Walker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind