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.
Nothing But You
Cold Chisel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Always on my mind
I don't think that she really knows
How much I've tried
Met her one time so long ago
I was so untrue
I was lost had no place to go
And I was asking you
Come the weekend, out with a friend
Who do I see
There's the girl I've been waiting to know
Looking so carefree
I was not gonna spoil it for myself
Like the time before
Ask her kindly, girl won't you dance
Lead her to the floor
Ask her just once more
Baby listen, won't you listen
You don't know just what we've been missing
I just think of you all the time
C'mon baby just say you're mine
I ain't living for nothing but you
Oh this woman, I tell you so
She's the loving kind
I will get her one day, I hope
It's a matter of time
Left my number, she said she'd call
Call me anytime
I'll be waiting, ready to go
We could be doing fine
Just you give me a sign
Baby listen, won't you listen
You don't know just what we've been missing
I just think of you all the time
C'mon baby just say you're mine
I ain't living for nothing but you
Nothin' but you
The lyrics of Cold Chisel's song "Nothing but You" express the feelings of a man who has been longing for a woman for a long time. He met her once long ago and was unfaithful to her, but now he sees her again and wants to make up for his past behavior. He tells her that he thinks of her all the time and that he is not living for anything but her.
The opening lines reveal the woman's importance in his life, as she is always on his mind. He admits to not knowing whether the woman knows the extent of his feelings for her. The lyrics convey the man's determination to win her back and do better by her this time. He finally leaves his number with hopes of someday getting together with her.
The song is an upbeat rock and roll song that features strong and characteristic lead vocal performances from Jimmy Barnes, backed by a bluesy piano and a lively drum beat. The lyrics are an interesting study in how human emotions can change over time, and how second chances are always worth pursuing.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a woman, oh don't you know
There's a special woman in my life
Always on my mind
I constantly think about her
I don't think that she really knows
I don't believe she understands
How much I've tried
How hard I've worked to win her over
Met her one time so long ago
We only met once, and it was a while ago
I was so untrue
I was not honest or faithful
I was lost had no place to go
I was confused and didn't know what to do
And I was asking you
I needed help and guidance
Baby pull me through
Please help me get through this difficult time
Come the weekend, out with a friend
On the weekend, I went out with a friend
Who do I see
Guess who I saw
There's the girl I've been waiting to know
It's the woman I've been eager to get to know
Looking so carefree
She appeared relaxed and unconcerned
I was not gonna spoil it for myself
I wasn't about to ruin my chance
Like the time before
Like what happened in the past
Ask her kindly, girl won't you dance
I politely invited her to dance
Lead her to the floor
I escorted her to the dance floor
Ask her just once more
I asked her to dance again
Baby listen, won't you listen
Please listen to what I have to say
You don't know just what we've been missing
You have no idea what we could have together
I just think of you all the time
I can't stop thinking about you
C'mon baby just say you're mine
Please agree to be with me
I ain't living for nothing but you
My reason for living is you
Oh this woman, I tell you so
This woman is amazing, let me tell you
She's the loving kind
She's a caring and affectionate person
I will get her one day, I hope
I hope to win her over someday
It's a matter of time
It will happen eventually
Left my number, she said she'd call
I gave her my phone number and she said she'd contact me
Call me anytime
I'm available to talk whenever she wants
I'll be waiting, ready to go
I'll be patiently waiting for her to choose me
We could be doing fine
We could be happy together
Just you give me a sign
Just let me know if you're interested
Nothin' but you
I want nothing else but you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: STEVE PRESTWICH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
kpcollex
Awesome song. Should be played on radio
Sean Barry
Masterpiece. Can believe it didn't make it on to an album. Steve Prestwich, what a song writer 😎
JC
It’s underrated
pelican810
best album ever
ADRIAN G
Great video. Super cool song.
ADRIAN G
This album is the greatest discovery since the dead sea scrolls. (I might have already said that)
steve lewis
Written by Steve P. That makes it even better to listen to. Thank you, and thank you Steve P
steve lewis
This song was written for the 20th century album... But was deemed not good enough. One of the best songs Mossy wrote , I think anyway
Melody Prestwich
Steve wrote this song x
Damien
Only 43k views I must have watched this a few hundred times such a smooth track