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.
The Game
Cold Chisel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The fisherman said
"Looks like a writer"
She turned her head
"Could be, we'll see"
Ma ring replied
"There were rumors when he came"
Around the old hotel
The stranger left his dial-tone
His place was gone
In the game
"He's down from the city
And he's here to think.
He pays his money"
She got another drink
"Who knows, his book
Is closed to you and I
We may never know his name"
The music drifted down
The same repeated sound
"If Nat King Cole
Can save his sole
He'll find his peace"
The fisherman eased his frame
"If I was asked
Just who's to blame
To read his past
I'd have to say
She's a woman"
When all your cards are done
Just leave your share
And make your run
They'll burn your contacts down
Plans on fire
You know they've won
Just turn and walk away
And start again, a brand new day
In loneliness their aim will turn
Against themselves
For one more play
In the game
The lyrics to Cold Chisel's song The Game describe a mysterious stranger who arrives in a small town and piques the interest of the locals. The fisherman notices the stranger on the telephone and speculates that he might be a writer. Ma Ring, on the other hand, is more circumspect and recalls rumours that preceded the stranger's arrival. The lyrics are full of ambiguity and imply that there is more than meets the eye. The stranger's motivations and intentions are unclear, and the town's folk are wary of his presence.
As the evening falls around the old hotel, the stranger disappears mysteriously. The music has a soothing effect, and the fisherman wonders what will become of the stranger. The lyrics imply that he may find his peace, but it is uncertain, and the mystery remains unresolved. The final verse of the song seems to suggest that life is a game, and one should be prepared to start again when the cards are done. The lyrics are open to interpretation but seem to convey a message of caution and a reminder that sometimes walking away may be the best strategy.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's that on the telephone
The fisherman inquired about the person on the telephone.
Looks like a writer
The person on the telephone appeared to be a writer to Ma ring.
Could be, we'll see
Ma ring acknowledged that it was possible that the person on the telephone was a writer.
There were rumors when he came
There were rumors surrounding the arrival of the person on the telephone.
And as the evening fell
The events in this story took place in the evening.
Around the old hotel
The events in this story occurred around an old hotel.
The stranger left his dial-tone
The person on the telephone hung up and left.
His place was gone
The person on the telephone was no longer in their previous location after hanging up.
In the game
The person on the telephone was involved in some sort of game or scheme that the other characters were not privy to.
He's down from the city
The person was not from the area and had come from the city.
And he's here to think
The reason for the person's visit was to think or reflect on something.
He pays his money
The person had paid to be where he was.
She got another drink
Ma ring got another drink.
Who knows, his book
Nobody knows what the person on the telephone is up to.
Is closed to you and I
The other characters are not privy to the details of the person's activities.
We may never know his name
It is possible that the other characters will never learn the person's name or true identity.
The music drifted down
Music could be heard in the background of the story.
The same repeated sound
The same melody or tune was being played repeatedly.
If Nat King Cole
The narrative now shifts to a reference to a song by Nat King Cole.
Can save his sole
The song by Nat King Cole may provide some solace or relief to the person on the telephone.
He'll find his peace
The person on the telephone may find peace or resolution through the music.
The fisherman eased his frame
The fisherman relaxed and shifted his position.
If I was asked
The fisherman is now offering his opinion.
Just who's to blame
The fisherman is reflecting on who may be responsible for something.
To read his past
The fisherman would have to study the person's past in order to make an accurate judgement.
I'd have to say
The fisherman's conclusion is that someone - a woman - may be at fault.
She's a woman
The fisherman believes that a woman is likely to be responsible for something unnamed in the story.
When all your cards are done
This line is introducing a metaphor about cards that will be extended in the subsequent lines.
Just leave your share
In this metaphor, the advice to the person on the telephone is to leave what they can and move on once their hand is played.
And make your run
The person on the telephone should leave the current situation and start again elsewhere.
They'll burn your contacts down
If the person on the telephone does not leave quickly, their associates or support network may be destroyed.
Plans on fire
Even the person on the telephone's best-laid plans may go up in smoke if they stay too long.
You know they've won
The game or situation that the person on the telephone is involved in has already been lost, so the best course of action is to extricate oneself as soon as possible.
Just turn and walk away
The person on the telephone should simply leave without looking back.
And start again, a brand new day
The person on the telephone should start fresh, as if it were a new day.
In loneliness their aim will turn
The other people involved in the game will eventually turn on one another once the person on the telephone has left.
Against themselves
Their anger and frustration will eventually be directed at themselves.
For one more play
Despite the fact that the game has already been lost, they will continue playing for a while after the person on the telephone leaves.
In the game
The game or scheme that the person on the telephone is involved in is the subject of the song.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: K. CARTER, PATRICK LEONARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind