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.
Notion for You
Cold Chisel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Especially when I'm on my own and when I'm lonely
It doesn't matter where I be, she follows me
And with my friends words, stuck in conversation
Sitting down I feed the revelation
I can't hear the words
I'm lost in my mind
She was a secretary
I'd love to sit her on my knee
I got this notion
I got this notion for you
You are the one I dream of
And no one else comes nearer
You are the one I dream of
You never met me but I don't care
Anytime or when I think about her
Especially when I'm on my own
It doesn't matter where I be, she follows me
She was a secretary
I'd love to sit her on my knee
I got this notion for you
Anytime, time I think about her
Especially when I'm on my own and feeling lonely
It doesn't where I be, she follows me
With my friends, words stuck in conversation
A sitting down the local feed the revelation
I can't hear the words
I'm lost in mind
I start to say
She was a secretary
I'd love to sit her on my knee
I got this notion
I got this notion for you
She was the secretary
I'd love to sit her on my knee
I've got this notion for you
I've got this notion for you
The lyrics to Cold Chisel's "Notion for You" depict a man who has a strong infatuation with a woman who he has never even met. He finds himself constantly thinking about her, especially when he is alone and feeling lonely. No matter where he is, she seems to follow him, and he gets lost in his thoughts about her even when he is engaged in conversation with friends.
The singer of the song reveals that this woman is a secretary, and he fantasizes about sitting her on his knee. He knows that he has a strong desire for her, and he cannot shake this "notion" that he has for her. He dreams about her and feels that no one else can compare to her, even though they have never even met.
The song captures the intensity of a crush and how it can consume a person's thoughts and emotions. It also touches on the idea that sometimes we can be deeply attracted to someone without really knowing them at all. Overall, the lyrics delve into the complicated and often overwhelming nature of desire and infatuation.
Line by Line Meaning
Anywhere or time I think about her
No matter where or when my thoughts wander, I can't help but think of her
Especially when I'm on my own and when I'm lonely
I feel her absence the most when I'm alone, with no one around me
It doesn't matter where I be, she follows me
She seems to be present, no matter where I go or what I do
And with my friends words, stuck in conversation
Even when I'm engaged in conversations with my friends, I can't stop thinking about her
Sitting down I feed the revelation
When I take some time off to sit and think, I realize what I really feel for her
I can't hear the words
My mind is too preoccupied with thoughts of her to pay attention to anything else
I'm lost in my mind
My thoughts are scattered and I can't focus on anything else
I can't stay
I can't just sit there and do nothing, I need to act on my feelings for her
She was a secretary
She was someone I knew from work, probably a colleague or coworker
I'd love to sit her on my knee
I have a crush on her and I wish I could have her close to me
I got this notion
I have a strong feeling or intuition about her
You are the one I dream of
I can't stop dreaming about her and wishing for her
And no one else comes nearer
I don't feel the same way about anyone else, she stands out in my thoughts
You never met me but I don't care
Even though she doesn't know me or doesn't feel the same way about me, I still can't stop wanting her
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PHIL SMALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ADRIAN G
Cool song.