She received much critical acclaim for her 2005 release, Paradise Hotel, which contains songs that strike a chord with listeners in light of recent events. "Requiem" honors Hurricane Katrina and tsunami victims with hopeful pleas to the Virgin Mary, while "Man of God" is a bitter, unapologetic denouncement of President George W. Bush and his administration.
"The actions of this regime do not follow the teachings of Christ, what I call real Christianity," Gilkyson said in August 2005. "I just don't appreciate the religious right acting like I don't love God and my country just because I'm not in their corner. I'm mad and I want other people to be mad about this too."
In 2008, her album Beautiful World came out, again on Red House Records. The songs vary from pop to folk and points in-between, with songs ranging from intimate ballads to rallying cries against the imperialist machine. She recently collaborated on a new album entitled Red Horse with two of her Red House Records label-mates John Gorka and Lucy Kaplansky.
In 2011, she came out with Roses at the End of Time. Recorded at her home with the help of her son and co-producer Cisco Ryder, Gilkyson took a longer time in the studio and came out with a more eclectic and personal album. She continues to tour about 150 dates per year in the United States and overseas.
www.elizagilkyson.com
Midnight Oil
Eliza Gilkyson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sky is midnight blue
I'm thinking ‘bout the hard times
Moonrise over the mountain
The sky is midnight blue
I'm thinking ‘bout the hard times
That lie ahead of you
You'll never know just what was lost
In your spiral down from grace
We'll never know the final cost
For the worthless dreams we chased
But save your sorrow for another morn
Though your heart lies on the ground
Come tomorrow maybe a new world's born
When we ride the old one down
It never will be paradise
It never will be bliss
But love will make it worth the price
Even in times like this
So save your sorrow for another morn
Though your heart lies on the ground
Come tomorrow maybe a new world's born
When we ride the old one down
Moonlight over the mountain
The midnight oil burns low
There'll never be enough time
Till it's your time to go
So save your sorrow for another morn
Though your heart lies on the ground
Come tomorrow maybe a new world's born
When we ride the old one down
"Midnight Oil" by Eliza Gilkyson is a melancholic yet uplifting song that reflects on the hardships of life and the power of love to overcome them. The song starts with a beautiful image of the moon rising over the mountain, the sky turning midnight blue, and the singer contemplating the difficult times that lie ahead. The song seems to be addressed to someone going through a tough time as the singer advises them to save their sorrow for another morning and remember that things will get better. The lyrics also hint at the idea that life is not always easy or perfect, but love can make it all worthwhile.
The second verse reflects on the losses and regrets that people face in life. The lyrics suggest that some things might be lost forever, and we may never know the cost of the dreams that are just not meant to be. Despite this, the singer still offers hope for a better tomorrow when we can ride the old world down and start anew.
The chorus is a powerful reminder to save our sorrow for another morning, let our pain go, and look forward to a new world that is coming. The repetition of the lines "When we ride the old one down" gives the song a sense of momentum, as if we are moving towards something better. Finally, the song ends with the image of moonlight over the mountain, the midnight oil burning low, and the reminder that our time here is limited.
Overall, "Midnight Oil" is a beautifully composed song that mixes melancholy with hope. It reminds us of the importance of holding onto love in difficult times, and that despite the hardships and losses we may face in life, there is always the hope of a new world emerging on the horizon.
Line by Line Meaning
Moonrise over the mountain
The moon is rising over the mountain, marking the beginning of a new night
The sky is midnight blue
The sky is dark, a deep blue color, indicating that it's late at night
I'm thinking ‘bout the hard times
I'm reflecting on past struggles and anticipating future hardships
That lie ahead of you
Those hardships are yet to come and will be faced by others as well
You'll never know just what was lost
The true cost of our mistakes and failures may never be fully understood
In your spiral down from grace
As we fall from our previous state of happiness or success, we lose sight of what is important
We'll never know the final cost
The ultimate consequences of our actions will likely remain unknown
For the worthless dreams we chased
The dreams or goals we pursued may have been misguided or unimportant in the grand scheme of things
But save your sorrow for another morn
Don't dwell on your current sadness, because another day will bring new opportunities
Though your heart lies on the ground
Even though you may feel defeated or heartbroken
Come tomorrow maybe a new world's born
New experiences or changes may bring a more positive outlook on life
When we ride the old one down
As we move forward and let go of the past
It never will be paradise
Life will never be perfect or ideal
It never will be bliss
Complete happiness or contentment is unattainable
But love will make it worth the price
Despite hardships, love and connection with others can make life meaningful and valuable
Even in times like this
Even during difficult times
Moonlight over the mountain
The moon is still visible, illuminating the landscape
The midnight oil burns low
Time is running out, as symbolized by the dwindling oil supply
There'll never be enough time
We will always feel like time is short
Till it's your time to go
Until our own time to depart comes
So save your sorrow for another morn
Again, don't dwell on sadness
Though your heart lies on the ground
Even when you feel low
Come tomorrow maybe a new world's born
Tomorrow still holds potential for positive change
When we ride the old one down
As we continue to let go of and move past previous experiences
Contributed by Sebastian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.