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.
Tomorrow
Cold Chisel Lyrics
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Rivers of light, a million souls
I'm three days out of Parramatta jail
City of hearts is out of control
Newspaper men are using my name
They hold the power, I hold the blame
An' I know no love runs deep enough to hide you
I don't wanna know about tomorrow
I don't wanna know about tomorrow
I don't wanna know about tomorrow
Oh no
All last week, I was clutching at straws
Facing the future, forcing the doors
I got death in the hour, life on the run
Or twenty more years under the gun
There's an eighty dollar hooker
She's asleep on the bed
TV weather's on
But the sound is dead
Out in the shadows
They've got us in their sights
But I don't wanna know about tomorrow
She set me free tonight
The lyrics to Cold Chisel's song Tomorrow explore the theme of hopelessness and fear of the future, with the singer being a recently released prisoner who finds himself in an unfamiliar and dangerous city. The song begins with a vivid description of the city's vibrant nightlife and bustling energy, but the singer's thoughts are consumed by his own precarious situation. He is being hunted by the authorities and the media, whose power he blames for his situation. Despite this, he is resigned to his fate and accepts the inevitability of his capture. The chorus is a defiant declaration that he doesn't want to know about tomorrow, a clear indication that he is living in the moment and trying to find temporary ways to escape his troubles.
The second verse continues with his struggles to come to terms with his situation, as he is forced to face the consequences of his past actions. The reference to the "eighty dollar hooker" and the dead TV weather highlight the singer's overwhelming sense of loneliness and separation, as if he is living in a different world from everyone else. The shadows represent his fear and paranoia, as he feels constantly watched and pursued. However, the final line provides a moment of hope, offering a glimmer of escape as he finds solace in the company of another person.
Overall, the lyrics to Tomorrow are a poignant and powerful representation of the struggles and isolation faced by those who feel trapped by their circumstances. The song's message that true freedom can only be found in the present moment remains as relevant today as when it was written.
Line by Line Meaning
Into the nightside, the city rolls
The city comes alive at night, with bright lights and bustling activity.
Rivers of light, a million souls
The city is full of bright lights and countless people.
I'm three days out of Parramatta jail
The singer has recently been released from a local jail.
City of hearts is out of control
The city is full of people without direction or purpose.
Newspaper men are using my name
The media is using the artist's name for their own gain.
They hold the power, I hold the blame
The singer is being blamed for something he didn't necessarily do while the media retains power and influence.
An' I know no love runs deep enough to hide you
The singer believes that even love cannot protect someone when the military is involved.
When military minds are closing in
The military is closing in on the artist and those around him.
I don't wanna know about tomorrow
The artist is anxious and fearful about the future.
I don't wanna know about tomorrow
The artist reiterates his anxiety and fear of the future.
I don't wanna know about tomorrow
The singer reiterates his anxiety and fear of the future.
Oh no
The artist is resigned to his fears and anxieties about the future.
All last week, I was clutching at straws
The singer was desperately searching for solutions to his problems all last week.
Facing the future, forcing the doors
The singer is trying to confront the uncertainty of the future and find a way out of his problems.
I got death in the hour, life on the run
The singer is constantly walking a thin line between life and death as he tries to escape his problems and evade the military.
Or twenty more years under the gun
The artist is considering the possibility of a long, difficult life under constant threat.
There's an eighty dollar hooker
The artist is in a seedy part of town surrounded by sex workers.
She's asleep on the bed
One of the nearby sex workers is sleeping on a bed.
TV weather's on
The television is on and displaying the current weather conditions.
But the sound is dead
The artist can't hear the television because there's no sound.
Out in the shadows
The artist is aware of someone or something lurking just outside the light.
They've got us in their sights
The military or some other dangerous group is tracking the artist and those around him.
But I don't wanna know about tomorrow
The singer is afraid of what will happen in the future and doesn't want to think about it.
She set me free tonight
The artist has found temporary solace with one of the nearby sex workers in a difficult situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: CAMERON JOHN H DEYELL, KATIE ANNE NOONAN, DONALD HUGH WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind