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.
Water Into Wine
Cold Chisel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As the mornin' hits the sky
On the ocean ships are waitin' high
So am I
City sweeper goes around me
He don't need no reason why
If I don't seem in a hurry now
Come on baby won't you save me
Turn this water into wine
Love, emotion, like an ocean
How can I hold back the tide
Baby meet me on the corner
When you hear that whistle blow
If I don't seem like I oughta
The one you used to know
Come on baby won't you save me
Turn this water into wine
Love, emotion, like an ocean
How can I hold back the tide
I'm on high ground
Put this weight down
Of one thing you can be sure
On the ocean ships are sailin'
But I don't need them anymore
Come on baby won't you save me
Turn this water into wine
Love, emotion, like an ocean
How can I hold back the tide
Come on baby won't you save me
Turn this water into wine
Love, emotion, like an ocean
Turn this water into wine
The lyrics of Cold Chisel's song Water Into Wine depict a sense of longing to not only change one's circumstances but to also change oneself. The opening lines describe the singer as being surrounded by the chaos of city life, symbolized by papers blowing around them. They also recognize the ships out at sea, potentially representing an opportunity for escape or change. The second verse then introduces a city sweeper, whose presence seems to imply a commentary on the routine and monotony of everyday life. Meanwhile, the singer seems to have a newfound sense of contentment, as they note they have "arrived" and no longer feel a need to rush.
The chorus of the song then introduces the idea of transformation, with the singer asking for their partner to "turn this water into wine". This is a reference to the biblical story of Jesus turning water into wine (John 2:1-11), with the implication being that the singer wants their partner to work a similar miracle and change their lives through love and emotion. They are specifically drawn to the intensity of emotions, comparing it to an ocean, and recognizing their inability to hold back the tide. The second half of the chorus then presents a meeting point, effectively linking the change that the singer desires with the presence of their lover.
The bridge of the song introduces a brief moment of reflection, with the singer recognizing their current position on high ground, but also acknowledging that they have let go of an emotional weight. The final repetition of the chorus then emphasizes the desire for change and transformation, with the title phrase "Water Into Wine" acting as a mantra for the transformative power of love and emotion.
Line by Line Meaning
City papers blow around me
I am in the city and I see papers flying everywhere around me due to the wind.
As the mornin' hits the sky
The morning has just arrived and the sun is visible.
On the ocean ships are waitin' high
Ships are waiting on high tides in the ocean.
So am I
I am also waiting for something, like the ships in the ocean.
City sweeper goes around me
The city sweeper is cleaning the streets around me.
He don't need no reason why
The city sweeper doesn't need a reason to clean the streets.
If I don't seem in a hurry now
I am not in a hurry at the moment.
I've arrived
I have reached my destination.
Come on baby won't you save me
I am requesting my partner to help me.
Turn this water into wine
I want her to convert this ordinary situation into a great one, just like turning water into wine.
Love, emotion, like an ocean
The intensity of love and emotions is like the vastness of an ocean.
How can I hold back the tide
I cannot suppress or control my emotions for her.
Baby meet me on the corner
I am asking my partner to meet me at a particular intersection.
When you hear that whistle blow
I want her to come to the corner when she hears the sound of a whistle.
If I don't seem like I oughta
When she meets me, I might not be my usual self.
The one you used to know
I am not the same person I used to be before meeting her.
I'm on high ground
I am currently in a better position/positive state of mind.
Put this weight down
I want to let go of my emotional baggage.
Of one thing you can be sure
My partner can trust me on one thing for sure.
On the ocean ships are sailin'
Ships are sailing across the ocean.
But I don't need them anymore
I no longer need those ships or anything else as she makes my life complete.
Turn this water into wine
Repeating my request to my partner to convert an ordinary situation to an extraordinary one.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STEVEN PRESTWICH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kerengila509
City papers blow around me
As the mornin' hits the sky
On the ocean ships are waitin' high
So am I
City sweeper goes around me
He don't need no reason why
If I don't seem in a hurry now
I've arrived
Come on baby won't you save me
Turn this water into wine
Love, emotion, like an ocean
How can I hold back the tide
Baby meet me on the corner
When you hear that whistle blow
If I don't seem like I oughta
The one you used to know
Come on baby wont you save me
Turn this water into wine
Love, emotion, like an ocean
How can I hold back the tide
I'm on high ground
Put this weight down
Of one thing you can be sure
On the ocean ships are sailin'
But I don't need them anymore
Come on baby won't you save me
Turn this water into wine
Love, emotion, like an ocean
How can I hold back the tide
Come on baby won't you save me
Turn this water into wine
Love, emotion like an ocean
Turn this water into wine
@RobertJohnM
Farewell Steve.Thankyou for your beautiful songs. R.I.P.
@jdawglengman3556
Farewell Steve.Thankyou for your beautiful songs. R.I.P.
I absolutely love this song it's the shit deep heart touching feels beautiful. 👈👠👗💓👑🆕👆
@judycopelin9283
Cold Chisel Simply The BEST 🇭🇲
@BeAGoodDoga
This is my favourite track from ‘The Last Wave Of Summer’ album.
Long live the memory of Steve Prestwich.
@janewellard5812
Cold Chisel have had a shit load of classic songs but this is the one that I love...and given the classics they have produced that's giving this song some kudos.....
@suzyssavage
My all time favorite Chisel song...well all of them are , love you barnsey!!!
@choozed
beautiful song thanks for the music steve xox
@nevillejenks9496
I feel your pain .I lost mum dad and brother .The pain never goes away it just gets easier over time .
@sylvester1687
how could this song only got thousands viewers
@user-uw2ek7wh7i
My all time favorite Chisel song...well all of them are , love you barnsey!!!
Dedication to Danny james McCann