When the percussive song writing soul of Midnight Oil, Rob Hirst meets ex O… Read Full Bio ↴When the percussive song writing soul of Midnight Oil, Rob Hirst meets ex Olympian singer/songwriter troubadour Paul Greene the vocal chemistry is electric. Hirst & Greene perform beautifully crafted songs that invoke thoughts of surf, sun, politics and passion.

Rob Hirst is a founding member of Midnight Oil. He was the drummer, songwriter, and backing singer for 25 years. He is also currently a member of both the Ghostwriters where he has written, played on & produced 3 albums, and the legendary blues band The Backsliders. In 2003 he published his first work of prose on Pan McMillan – ‘Willies Bar & Grill’ which is the story of Midnight Oil’s USA & Canadian tour just after September 11.

Paul Greene on the other hand may be familiar to some as a track and field star at the Olympic and Commonwealth games. He won a sports scholarship to the University of Southern California and played with bands in Los Angeles. "We played the Whisky A Go Go, packed the place out," he says. "I was ready to dive in with the music, but I qualified for the Commonwealth Games. I had the opportunity to get to the Olympics and I'd hate it if I didn't give it every chance." After deciding to end his sporting career, Paul developed as a singer, songwriter and performer.

In 2000 he met Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst and ex-Hoodoo Gurus bassist Rick Grossman through the Olympic Record CD project that brought athletes and musicians together He ended up joining their band the Ghostwriters, exchanging the world of a struggling athlete for the world of a struggling muso. He likes to do it tough. "Rick and I, being the opportunists that we are, purloined Paul to the Ghosties, knowing that his golden voice would be an enormous asset," says Hirst.

In 2001, Greene recorded and released independently his debut album The Miles, which sold out its pressing in under a year. He has performed at the Woodford, Jamberoo and Majors Creek Folk Festivals, venues right around Australia as well as touring in Texas and California. He recently won the ABC’s Fresh Air competition with a song called Mind Games. With Hirst & Greene, Rob and Paul have cemented their relationship using a classy collection of classic pop songs largely written by Rob Hirst brought to life using Paul’s outstanding harmonies and co-writes.

Talk
Hirst & Greene Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Run it up run it up run it up, what's that shit you said
Talking like 100's and 50's (Ballin') a young nigga busy
Run it up run it up run it up
Don't play around with the money
I run up a check with no hands
Run it up, run it up, run it up!
Run it up, run it up, run it up!
Run it up, run it up, run it up!

Run it up, run it up, run it up!
Talking like 100's and 50's (Ballin') a young nigga busy
Don't play around with the money
I run up a check with no hands
Ran it up like I'm money man she like tools I'm a handy man
Pull up like the post man got them packs like Fedx
Safety first no Trojan gassed up like a hotbox
Jill Scott stay golden I'm not perfect, but I'm that nigga
Lord blessing all the trap niggas rest in peace to the gas nigga
Reconsider when they look… see the strap bigger
Shoot it out like a outlaw .38 you can't trace nigga
Came a long way from that trap game young hippie still in his prime
Making moves y'all chime on point like micky's I don't really waste time
Hell I'm always on my grind yeah always on my grind
Had to find a way found one to survive living in the past
I'm moving fast forward looking for the truth made I this life mine
Run it up run it up run it up, what's that shit you said
Talking like 100's and 50's (Ballin') a young nigga busy
Run it up run it up run it up
Don't play around with the money
I run up a check with no hands
Run it up, run it up, run it up!
Run it up, run it up, run it up!
Run it up, run it up, run it up!
Run it up, run it up, run it up!
Talking like 100's and 50's (Ballin') a young nigga busy
Don't play around with the money
I run up a check with no hands
Run it up run it up run it up, what's that shit you said
Talking like 100's and 50's (Ballin') a young nigga busy
Run it up run it up run it up
Don't play around with the money
I run up a check with no hands
Run it up, run it up, run it up!
Run it up, run it up, run it up!
Run it up, run it up, run it up!
Run it up, run it up, run it up!
Talking like 100's and 50's (Ballin') a young nigga busy

Don't play around with the money
I run up a check with no hands

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Hirst & Greene's song "Talk" depict a persona who is focused on chasing success and accumulating wealth. The repeated phrase "run it up" signifies the determination to achieve financial success and increase their earnings. The mention of "100's and 50's" represents a desire for significant amounts of money, emphasizing a lavish and extravagant lifestyle. The line "a young nigga busy" suggests that the persona is actively and consistently working towards their goals.

The lyrics also convey a sense of confidence in the persona's ability to handle money responsibly. The line "Don't play around with the money" implies a seriousness and understanding of the importance of financial stability. The phrase "run up a check with no hands" suggests that the persona is so skilled and successful that they can generate income effortlessly.

Furthermore, the lyrics touch upon the persona's relationships and associations with others. The references to being a "handy man" and "post man" portray the persona as someone who is resourceful and dependable, able to provide for their partners or associates. The mention of "packs like Fedx" hints at the persona's involvement in the drug trade or possibly other lucrative business ventures.

As the lyrics progress, they express the persona's ambition and determination to succeed. The line "always on my grind" emphasizes their commitment to working hard and constantly striving for progress. They acknowledge the challenges they have faced in the past but maintain a forward-looking attitude. The line "moving fast forward looking for the truth made I this life mine" suggests a desire for personal growth and authenticity.

Overall, the lyrics of "Talk" reflect a mindset centered around financial success, ambition, and self-improvement. They portray the persona as someone who is focused on achieving their goals, handling money responsibly, and continuously striving for progress.

Line by Line Meaning

Run it up run it up run it up, what's that shit you said
Keep increasing the money, don't just talk about it

Talking like 100's and 50's (Ballin') a young nigga busy
Boasting about making a lot of money while being constantly occupied

Don't play around with the money
Take the money seriously and don't waste it

I run up a check with no hands
Earning a large sum of money effortlessly

Run it up, run it up, run it up!
Continuously increase the money you make

Ran it up like I'm money man she like tools I'm a handy man
Made a lot of money like a successful businessman and she appreciates my skills like a handyman

Pull up like the post man got them packs like Fedex
Arriving with packages like a postal worker and carrying valuable goods like a delivery service

Safety first no Trojan gassed up like a hotbox
Prioritizing safety and not taking unnecessary risks, while being high like a smoky hotbox

Jill Scott stay golden I'm not perfect, but I'm that nigga
Referencing the musician Jill Scott staying true to herself and embracing imperfections, while asserting confidence

Lord blessing all the trap niggas rest in peace to the gas nigga
Expressing gratitude for the blessings on those involved in illegal activities, while remembering someone who was involved with drugs

Reconsider when they look… see the strap bigger
Making others think twice when they see the weapon getting larger

Shoot it out like a outlaw .38 you can't trace nigga
Engaging in a shootout like an outlaw with an untraceable weapon

Came a long way from that trap game young hippie still in his prime
Progressing significantly from illegal activities to a more carefree lifestyle, while still being in the best phase of life

Making moves y'all chime on point like micky's I don't really waste time
Taking strategic actions while others follow, always being efficient and never wasting time

Hell I'm always on my grind yeah always on my grind
Working hard consistently, always focused on achieving success

Had to find a way found one to survive living in the past
Necessity pushed me to discover a means to survive, no longer dwelling on past hardships

I'm moving fast forward looking for the truth made I this life mine
Progressing rapidly towards finding personal fulfillment and purpose in life