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.
Temptation
Cold Chisel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Losing a girl who is closing, she's chasing behind
When I get home I lock up the door
Close the window, I don't come out no more
Take away temptation now
From before my eyes
Take away temptation now
From before my eyes
But it won't be too long till I want to be
Locked up again
Driving me wild, being alone
You're outa my sight and I swear
I'll go outa my head
Take away temptation now
From before my eyes
Take away temptation now
From before my eyes
Running so fast, trying so hard
Losing a girl who is closing, she's chasing behind
Running away, all of the time
Most of the day and all of the night
Take away temptation now
From before my eyes
Just pass me by
The lyrics to Cold Chisel's "Temptation" describe a man who is struggling with his desires and temptations, particularly as they pertain to a woman. He begins by describing his efforts to run away from this woman, who is chasing after him as he tries to escape. When he finally makes it home, he locks himself inside and tries to remove all temptation from his sight. However, he quickly realizes that being alone is driving him crazy, and he is afraid that he will lose his mind if he does not have someone to turn to. Despite this fear, he is unable to resist the temptation of this woman, and knows that eventually he will be drawn back into her arms.
The chorus of the song, repeated twice, emphasizes the singer's desire to be rid of temptation, to have it taken away from his sight. However, the verses reveal that this is easier said than done. Throughout the song, the singer is torn between his desire to be free from temptation and his inability to resist it. The lyrics are simple but effective, painting a vivid picture of a man struggling to overcome his own weaknesses.
Line by Line Meaning
Running so fast, trying so hard
Desperately attempting to escape a troubling situation
Losing a girl who is closing, she's chasing behind
Being pursued by someone as a result of previous actions
When I get home I lock up the door
Taking measures to avoid external influence
Close the window, I don't come out no more
Avoiding opportunities for temptation and distraction
Take away temptation now
The desire to eliminate alluring distractions from one's life
From before my eyes
Visible and easily accessible
I've gotta get out, climbing the walls
Feeling trapped and seeking escape
But it won't be too long till I want to be
The inevitability of temptation and its cyclical nature
Locked up again
Returning to a state of self-imposed isolation
Driving me wild, being alone
Feeling uncomfortable and restless without external stimulation
You're outa my sight and I swear
The frustration of not having control over external events
I'll go outa my head
The potential for losing control and sanity
Running away, all of the time
Continued avoidance of confrontation
Most of the day and all of the night
Constant and unrelenting temptation
Just pass me by
A plea to avoid temptation and distraction
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES DIXON BARNES, JANE BARNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind