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.
My Turn To Cry
Cold Chisel Lyrics
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She was young and pretty
I was so naive
It was such a pity
I said now baby don't you waste your time
Just cryin' for me
I gotta go away for a while
And you can be free
And baby, baby, it's my turn to cry
Baby, baby, it's my turn to cry
I found a job
And you found a lover
He'd been married before
But you needed the shelter
When I told you to have a good time
I think you took me all wrong
Next thing I know you're engaged
And a kid is coming along
And baby, baby, it's my turn to cry
Baby, baby, it's my turn to cry
(I'm sittin' at home, watchin' the walls
My mouth is parched, my stomach's tight
You said goodbye, you turned you back
I guess you know what's right
I'm sittin' at home, watchin' the walls
Birdcage mouth, I lost the fight
You said goodbye, you turned you back
I guess you know what's right)
I found a job
And you found a lover
He'd been married before
But you needed the shelter
And baby, baby, it's my turn to cry
Baby, baby, it's my turn to cry
Cold Chisel's song "My Turn to Cry" tells the story of a young man who leaves his young and pretty girlfriend behind while he goes off to find work. He encourages her to move on and find someone new while he is away, but upon his return, he finds out that she has not only found a new lover but is also engaged with his child. The chorus repeats the lyrics "Baby, baby, it's my turn to cry" as he laments his loss and heartbreak.
The song contains themes of loss, regret, and the consequences of taking someone for granted. The first verse reveals the singer's innocence and naivety as he leaves his girlfriend behind, thinking that she will wait for him. He urges her not to waste her time crying for him and gives her permission to move on if she finds someone new while he is away. However, when he returns to find her with another man and their child, he realizes that he made a mistake and that it's now his turn to cry.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I was pretty young
I was young and inexperienced
She was young and pretty
The woman was young and attractive
I was so naive
I was innocent and gullible
It was such a pity
It was a regrettable situation
I said now baby don't you waste your time
I told her not to cry for me
Just cryin' for me
Showing emotion for me
I gotta go away for a while
I have to leave for some time
And you can be free
And you can move on
And baby, baby, it's my turn to cry
Now it's my turn to be emotional
I found a job
I got a job
And you found a lover
And you found someone else
He'd been married before
He had been in a previous marriage
But you needed the shelter
But you needed someone to protect you
When I told you to have a good time
When I told you to enjoy yourself
I think you took me all wrong
I think you misunderstood me
Next thing I know you're engaged
Suddenly, you were engaged to him
And a kid is coming along
And you were pregnant
I'm sittin' at home, watchin' the walls
I'm at home, feeling trapped
My mouth is parched, my stomach's tight
I'm anxious and nervous
You said goodbye, you turned you back
You said goodbye and left
I guess you know what's right
I suppose you made the right choice for you
Birdcage mouth, I lost the fight
My mouth is dry with defeat
And baby, baby, it's my turn to cry
It's my chance to cry my heart out
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES DIXON BARNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind