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.
Rising Sun
Cold Chisel Lyrics
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Paid no attention to me
Gave me no notice
But her goodbyes sure were sweet
Said she's gonna write
Maybe call me up
She checked her bags
She kissed my cheek
And told me not to keep in touch
I said the Rising Sun just stole my girl away
The Rising Sun just stole my girl away
The Rising Sun just stole my girl
I'm gonna catch a plane and steal her back again
The Rising Sun just stole my girl away
Now we're apart
I think about her everyday
Well the scuffle of little feet
All round the bed
I'm gettin' no cards, gettin' no mail
Tokyo Rose is on the radio
If she don't come home
I know that's where I'm gonna go
They're buying our beaches
Sellin' transistors
Them little folk look real big
If they think that they can take her away
I'm gonna steal her back again . . . Shake!
I said the Rising Sun just stole my girl away
The Rising Sun just stole my girl away
The Rising Sun just stole my girl
Gonna catch a plane and steal her back again
The Rising Sun just stole my girl away
The lyrics of Cold Chisel's song "Rising Sun" tell the story of a man whose girlfriend leaves him without any warning to catch a plane to Japan. Despite her leaving him heartbroken, she gives him a sweet goodbye kiss and promises to keep in touch. She even says that she might call or write to him. Unfortunately, the singer of the story does not receive any news from her, which makes him feel alone and abandoned. He is haunted by thoughts of his girlfriend, and the sound of the scuffle of little feet all around the bed makes their absence even more poignant.
The song reflects the cultural significance of Japan in the 1980s with the country's economic rise and increased global influence. The chorus of the song highlights the metaphorical power of the Rising Sun, which symbolizes the superiority of Japan's economic power. The singer initially blames the Rising Sun for stealing his girlfriend away from him, but as he realizes the cultural differences between him and his girlfriend, he sees the appeal of Japan's bright future. The lyrics also reveal the singer's determination to win his girlfriend back and take her away from Japan.
Line by Line Meaning
She just jumped on a plane
She left without a second thought
Paid no attention to me
She was not interested in me
Gave me no notice
She didn't even tell me she was leaving
But her goodbyes sure were sweet
Her farewell was kind and affectionate
Said she's gonna write
She promised to keep in touch through letters
Maybe call me up
She may also call me on the phone
She checked her bags
She prepared to leave
And then she broke my heart
Her departure deeply hurt me
She kissed my cheek
She gave me a goodnight kiss
And told me not to keep in touch
She asked me not to contact her
I said the Rising Sun just stole my girl away
I blamed Japan for taking her away
The Rising Sun just stole my girl away
I repeated my frustration with Japan's role in our separation
Now we're apart
We're far away from each other
I think about her everyday
She's always on my mind
Well the scuffle of little feet
The sound of children playing
All round the bed
Reminds me of her presence
I'm gettin' no cards, gettin' no mail
She hasn't sent me any letters or postcards
Tokyo Rose is on the radio
I hear propaganda from Japan on the radio
If she don't come home
If she doesn't return to me
I know that's where I'm gonna go
I'll go to Japan to find her
They're buying our beaches
Japan is taking control of our resources
Sellin' transistors
Japan is selling new technology to us
Them little folk look real big
The Japanese seem intimidating to me
If they think that they can take her away
If Japan thinks it can separate us
I'm gonna steal her back again . . . Shake!
I'm determined to get her back no matter what
The Rising Sun just stole my girl away
I still blame Japan for my heartbreak
Gonna catch a plane and steal her back again
I'll travel to Japan to rescue her
The Rising Sun just stole my girl away
I continue to highlight Japan's role in our separation
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES DIXON BARNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind