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.
So Hard
Cold Chisel Lyrics
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Women, that is
So hard
And all that I ever know
Of you
Is the damage you can do
And it breaks the other way, I know
It's so hard
You were the one
For so long, now
Anyone who denied
Your way
Had to play with the two of us
Now I feel that's begun to change
And it's so hard
I believe
There's a restlessness growin' in you
And I feel the same
I dunno if there's a day comin' soon
That'll find us alone
Or if that wouldn't be such a bad thing
All I know
Of you
Is the damage you can do
And it breaks the other way, I know
It's so hard
The lyrics of "So Hard" by Cold Chisel reflects on the emotional turmoil and complexity of dealing with intimate relationships, particularly with women. The chorus emphasizes the challenging nature of approaching and understanding women, suggesting that they are difficult to comprehend and navigate. The lines, "And all that I ever know of you, is the damage you can do, and it breaks the other way, I know, it's so hard" expresses the singer's disillusionment with women, and being aware of the harm they can cause. The repetition of the phrase, "it's so hard" is a clever play on words that references the difficulty of understanding women as well as the challenges of being emotionally vulnerable.
The verse speaks of a past relationship that had been the singer's anchor for so long, but now the dynamics seem to have changed. The singer realizes that his partner may be feeling restless, and he can relate to this feeling. He also acknowledges that there might come a time when they will be alone, and he wonders if that would be such a bad thing. The lines, "Anyone who denied your way, had to play with the two of us. Now I feel that's begun to change, and it's so hard" suggest a past power dynamic where the partner's way or decisions were the only way forward. The singer acknowledges that this is no longer the case, causing a shift in their relationship.
Overall the song delves into the complexities of relationships and the deeply personal and emotional baggage that individuals bring into them. It highlights the difficulties in understanding and communicating with other people and how relationships with women, in particular, can often be challenging.
Line by Line Meaning
They're so hard
Referring to women being emotionally hard to understand
Women, that is
Clarifying that the previous line was referring specifically to women
So hard
Emphasizing how difficult it is to understand women
And all that I ever know
Expressing the artist's limited knowledge of the woman being referred to
Of you
Referring to the woman in question
Is the damage you can do
Defining the woman by the harm she can cause
And it breaks the other way, I know
Acknowledging the potential for equal harm to both parties in a relationship
It's so hard
Reiterating the difficulty in understanding women
For so long
Referring to a long period of time
You were the one
Implying a past romantic relationship with the woman
For so long, now
Indicating that the relationship has been going on for a while
Anyone who denied
Referring to those who did not approve of the relationship
Your way
Referring to the woman's desires or demands in the relationship
Had to play with the two of us
Suggesting that the opposition had to deal with both the singer and the woman
Now I feel that's begun to change
Noting a shift in the dynamic of the relationship or the opinions of others
I believe
Confessing a belief or hope
There's a restlessness growin' in you
Observing a sense of discontent or unease in the woman
And I feel the same
Relating to the woman's emotional state
I dunno if there's a day comin' soon
Expressing uncertainty about the future of the relationship
That'll find us alone
Contemplating the possibility of ending up alone
Or if that wouldn't be such a bad thing
Considering the potential benefits of being alone
All I know
Stating the limits of the artist's knowledge of the woman
Of you
Referring again to the woman in question
Is the damage you can do
Repeating the idea that the woman is defined by the harm she can cause
And it breaks the other way, I know
Reiterating the acknowledgement of the potential for two-sided harm in a relationship
It's so hard
Concluding with the idea that understanding women is extremely difficult
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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