Barnes was born… Read Full Bio ↴Jimmy Barnes (b. 1956) is an Australian rock singer.
Barnes was born James Dixon Swan on the 28th April 1956 in Glasgow, Scotland, and moved to Australia with his family when he was six years old.
He first came to public attention as the lead singer with popular Australian pub-rock band Cold Chisel, which he joined in 1973 and with whom he recorded seven albums between 1978 and 1983. When the band split up in 1983 he launched a solo career almost immediately; his first album, Bodyswerve, entered the Australian charts at number one. It was the first of a remarkable run of top charting albums for Barnes, as each of his first six solo albums entered the charts at number one, a feat that no other Australian artist is likely to match.
In 1986 Barnes recorded two singles with INXS, duetting with that band's singer Michael Hutchence on a cover of The Easybeats' "Good Times", and "Laying Down the Law", which was co-written by Barnes with INXS members Andrew Farriss and Hutchence. "Good Times" was used as the theme song for the Australia Made series of concerts that toured the country in the summer of 1986-1987. Both songs later appeared on the soundtrack of the 1980s teen vampire film The Lost Boys.
Following Hutchence's death in 1997, Barnes appeared live on stage with INXS at shows throughout Australia between 1999 and 2001.
His album Double Happiness, released in July 2005, reaffirmed his popularity, entering the ARIAnet albums chart at number one, his seventh album to do so. Barnes was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame on the 23rd October 2005 for his solo career efforts. Coupled with Cold Chisel's previous induction, Barnes is the only artist to be entered into the Hall of Fame twice.
Barnes is also the father of singer David Campbell, who recently starred in the Australian production of the musical Sunset Boulevard, and was a contestant on the Australian television programme Dancing with the Stars. The two perform the duet "Wichita Lineman" on Double Happiness.
Flame Trees
Jimmy Barnes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm just savouring familiar sights
We share some history, this town and I
And I can't stop that long forgotten feeling of her
Time to book a room to stay tonight
Number one is to find some friends to say "You're doing well
After all this time you boys look just the same"
Settle in to play "Do you remember so and so?"
Number three is never say her name
Oh the flame trees will blind the weary driver
And there's nothing else could set fire to this town
There's no change, there's no pace
Everything within its place
Just makes it harder to believe that she won't be around
Oh, who needs that sentimental bullshit, anyway
You know it takes more than just a memory to make me cry
And I'm happy just to sit here round a table with old friends
And see which one of us can tell the biggest lies
And there's a girl, she's falling in love near where the pianola stands
With a young local factory out-of-worker, just holding hands
And I'm wondering if he'll go or if he'll stay...
Do you remember, nothing stopped us on the field
In our day
Oh the flame trees will blind the weary driver
And there's nothing else could set fire to this town
There's no change, there's no pace
Everything within its place
Just makes it harder to believe that she won't be around
Oh the flame trees will blind the weary driver
And there's nothing else could set fire to this town
There's no change, there's no pace
Everything within its place
Just makes it harder to believe that she won't be around
In Jimmy Barnes's song "Flame Trees," the singer reminisces about his hometown and the memories he has shared with it. The first verse describes him watching kids driving by and enjoying the familiar sights of the town. The chorus then turns to discuss the beauty and danger of the flame trees in the area, while also highlighting the stagnancy of the town where everything remains the same. The second verse then lists off the three things he must do while in the town: catch up with old friends, reminisce about the past, and avoid mentioning a woman who he still has feelings for. The song finishes with Barnes observing a young couple in love and wondering about their future, as he remembers his own youthful adventures.
The song itself was inspired by the town of Grafton, New South Wales where Barnes grew up. The flame trees mentioned in the song are actually Jacaranda trees which bloom a vivid purple once a year and are a beloved symbol of the area. Barnes has said that the song is about the feeling of being homesick for a place that no longer exists in the same way. It is a song about nostalgia and the difficulty of moving on from past memories.
Line by Line Meaning
Kids out driving Saturday afternoon pass me by
People younger than me are enjoying a drive through town on a Saturday, reminding me of my own youth and the good times I had here
I'm just savouring familiar sights
I am enjoying the nostalgia of seeing places and people that are familiar to me
We share some history, this town and I
The town and I have a shared past, with memories that are both good and bad
And I can't stop that long forgotten feeling of her
Despite the passing of time, I am reminded of a special woman who was once in my life
Time to book a room to stay tonight
I am planning to spend the night in town and revisit old memories
Number one is to find some friends to say 'You're doing well
One of my priorities is to catch up with old friends and see how they are doing
After all this time you boys look just the same
Despite the passing of years, my old friends look much the same as they did when we were young
Number two is the happy hour at one of two hotels
Another priority is to enjoy a drink with my friends at a local hotel during happy hour
Settle in to play 'Do you remember so and so?'
We will reminisce and ask each other if we remember certain people and events from our past
Number three is never say her name
I have made a conscious decision to avoid bringing up the name of the special woman from my past
Oh the flame trees will blind the weary driver
The beauty of the flame trees in town can be overwhelming, and could even cause an accident for a tired driver
And there's nothing else could set fire to this town
The flame trees are such a unique and powerful feature of this town that they are the only thing that could 'set fire' to it in a metaphorical sense
There's no change, there's no pace
The town has not changed much over time, and life here moves at a slow and steady pace
Everything within its place
The town has a sense of order and routine, with every thing and person in their proper place
Just makes it harder to believe that she won't be around
The lack of change in the town and its steady pace makes it difficult to accept that the special woman from my past is no longer part of it
Oh, who needs that sentimental bullshit, anyway
I am dismissive of sentimentality and believe that true emotion requires more than just memories
You know it takes more than just a memory to make me cry
I believe that genuine emotion requires something more than just a recollection of the past
And I'm happy just to sit here round a table with old friends
I am content to spend time with my friends and enjoy their company
And see which one of us can tell the biggest lies
We are having fun exaggerating our old stories and seeing who can come up with the most outrageous tales
And there's a girl, she's falling in love near where the pianola stands
There is a young woman in town who is experiencing the joy of falling in love near a place where there is a pianola, which is a type of mechanical piano
With a young local factory out-of-worker, just holding hands
She is falling in love with a young man who is currently out of work and from the local area
And I'm wondering if he'll go or if he'll stay...
I am curious about the young man's future and whether his love for the woman will keep him in town or if he will leave to find work elsewhere
Do you remember, nothing stopped us on the field
I am asking my friends if they remember the past when we were invincible and nothing stood in our way
Contributed by Camden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Villain John Noel
@Jimmy Barnes WOW,I'm in awe,so kind of you to reply.
Yeah,so i'm from Melbourne (French parents),the pub scene was pretty amaaaziing back in the day, Jo-Jo Zep and the falcons, Kevin Borich,The Partyboys,Skyhooks,Mark Gillespie,Ross Haniford....and a band called Cold Chisel,have you ever heard of them ?
But yeah,I think music is very important to Australians, well it is to me.
I've sort of done the opposite to you (with your Scottish background) i came over here for a holiday, couldn't speak a word,I still have a hard time with the language,they know i'm not French soon as i open my mouth,I suppose only imigants could understand.
Your music had a profound influence on my life,I was a wild cunt back in the day, I'm from Broadmedows, lot's of booze, heaps of drugs,I think i played even harder than i worked.I could identify my life often through your songs, there are just so many great tunes, it was just so close to home the subject matter and the way they were sung was great.
I'm 61 now, funny as it may seem Khé San brings me to tears, I never went to Vietnam (too young) but the rest is my life,"I've travelled the world from year to year,each one found me aimless,one more year the worst for wear".
It's the ils saying,you can take the boy out of Broadmedows, but you can't take Broadmedows out of the boy.
Great docu' on your life,great place Glasgow,great country Scotland.Great to see you performing live,it's been a long time since i've spoken English,hope that there aren't too many spelling mistakes.
Have a great day 😊
colin nairn
Still got it. The voice is as strong as ever. Such a legend.
Shirley Sang
It's love- & to hear Jimmy sing it alone... his emotion shows on all levels.
Also duets w/ others. I can tell how e'body is into it. Must listen about 100 + times more, n it won't be enough
Jay Wincer
The man is a miracle.
Mark Freeman
Layed my best mate to rest 5 months ago and flame trees was played as we entered the chapel - chisel fans for 40 years and this was our go to song at all hours of the day and night #RIP Brades
Shirley Sang
The love of my life passed b4 we could listen to JB together. I know he'd love all the music. I will never stop listening. S Fla. USA
Mark Freeman
Thanks for the messages of ❤️. Doesn’t get any easier miss ya Brades
Peter T
Couldn’t have sent your mate off with a better song. Bless 💜
Michael Gorman
All the best, RIP to your mate, time passes so quickly.
Garry Hern
God bless mates soul.😎💋☺️💕✌️🎶
Villain John Noel
Hi from France, i've been out of Australia 31years now, but an old Cold Chisel song brings back so many great memories.
Great to hear you sing live,brings back memories,your voice sounds great.