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.
Standing On The Outside
Cold Chisel Lyrics
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Standing on the outside lookin' in
Oh-oh, I never strayed outside the law
Standing on the outside lookin' in
Room full of money and the born to win
No amount of work's gonna get me through the door
When I go walkin' down Bluewater Bay
Oh-oh, I got a bad case of the benz
Standing on the sidewalk you can see
Somebody everybody wants to be
They got the means to justify every end
I had a friend broke through illegally
Pulled a job on a small-town T.A.B.
Five grand down on her own piece of Eden
And I know . . .
And I know . . .
The first thing I do when I get into town
Is buy a twenty-two and cut the whole thing down
No amount of work's gonna buy my way to Freedom
I'm on the outside lookin' in
Standing on the outside lookin' in
Oh Yeah!
The lyrics to "Standing on the Outside" by Cold Chisel describe the feeling of being an outsider in a world of wealth and opportunity. The singer is looking in at the luxurious lifestyle of the "born to win" and feels excluded from their world of abundance. Despite never having strayed outside the law, the singer can't seem to find their way in and feels stuck on the outside looking in.
The mention of Bluewater Bay and the city suggest a contrast between a peaceful suburban setting and the hustle and bustle of city life. The singer admits to having a "bad case of the benz," suggesting that they may be struggling with drug addiction or a mental health issue that is contributing to their feelings of inadequacy.
The final verses of the song take a darker turn, with the singer admitting to contemplating violence as a means of achieving freedom. The "twenty-two" mentioned in the lyrics is a reference to a small-caliber firearm. Despite the desperation in the lyrics, the song ends on a note of defiance, with the singer declaring that they are proud to be on the outside looking in.
Overall, "Standing on the Outside" is a poignant commentary on the social and economic divides that exist in modern society. The lyrics speak to feelings of frustration, isolation, and a yearning for something that seems just out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing on the outside lookin' in
I feel left out and excluded from the inner circle.
Standing on the outside lookin' in
I feel left out and excluded from the inner circle.
Oh-oh, I never strayed outside the law
I have never broken any rules or laws to get ahead.
Standing on the outside lookin' in
I feel left out and excluded from the inner circle.
Room full of money and the born to win
The privileged few who have money and status seem to have everything handed to them.
No amount of work's gonna get me through the door
No amount of hard work and perseverance is going to get me the same opportunities as those born into wealth and power.
When I go walkin' down Bluewater Bay
When I am out in the world trying to make a living,
Surface in the city at the end of the day
I return home to the city each day.
Oh-oh, I got a bad case of the benz
I feel envious and resentful of those with wealth and status.
Standing on the sidewalk you can see
From my position on the outside, I can see what those on the inside are doing.
Somebody everybody wants to be
The people on the inside are admired and envied by everyone else.
They got the means to justify every end
Those on the inside can rationalize their actions because they have the resources to do so.
I had a friend broke through illegally
I know someone who broke the law to get ahead.
Pulled a job on a small-town T.A.B.
They committed a robbery at a small-town betting establishment.
Five grand down on her own piece of Eden
They used the money to buy their own piece of paradise.
And I know . . .
I am aware of the fact that some people bend the rules to get what they want.
And I know . . .
I am aware of the fact that some people bend the rules to get what they want.
The first thing I do when I get into town
When I return to the city each day,
Is buy a twenty-two and cut the whole thing down
I feel so hopeless, I contemplate taking violent action to destroy the system that excludes me.
No amount of work's gonna buy my way to Freedom
I realize that working hard alone is not going to get me the same level of freedom and success as those born into privilege.
I'm on the outside lookin' in
I feel left out and excluded from the inner circle.
Standing on the outside lookin' in
I feel left out and excluded from the inner circle.
Oh Yeah!
An expression of frustration and resentment.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DON WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind