The band split in 2002 to allow Garrett to focus on his political career. He became a member of the Australian House of Representatives and the was the Australian Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts from 2007-2010. From 2010, he was the Australian Minister for Education. Garrett did not stand for re-election in 2013. The band has reunited since then for two benefit concerts: the 2005 WaveAid concert for Indian Ocean Tsunami victims and in March 2009 the band reformed for two shows in Canberra as a warm up for "Sound Relief" in Melbourne, a benefit concert for the Victorian Bushfire victims.
The Oils, as they are known to their fans, began as a progressive rock band called Farm in the early 1970s, then under the Midnight Oil name developed a reputation as an impressive and hard-working live act associated with the surfing community of Sydney. They became one of Australia's most respected bands, known for their live performances, and also for their activism and support for community groups and causes.
Midnight Oil's first two albums Midnight Oil and Head Injuries were originally released on an independent label, followed by the EP Bird Noises in 1980. Their third album, Place without a Postcard, was recorded in Great Britain with the respected producer Glyn Johns (Led Zeppelin, The Who) on the back of a brief tour of the UK.
Their fourth album, 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 (spoken as "10 to 1"), marked both the Oil's major Australian breakthrough and the beginning of their successful association with producer Nick Launay. This album also saw considerable success in the college radio scene of the US, prompting a tour of North America.
Following on from 10-1, the Oils with Nick Launay recorded the fifth album Red Sails in the Sunset during a three month stint in Tokyo in 1984, becoming the first known western band to record an entire album in Japan. Red Sails was reasonably successful in Australia, featuring songs like Best of Both Worlds and Kosciuszko, but the album's quirky, experimental sound failed to make major inroads overseas. Also during 1984, frontman Peter Garrett was narrowly defeated in an election for the New South Wales, representing the Nuclear Disarmament Party (NDP).
In 1985, following the release of the EP Species Deceases the Oils embarked on a career-changing tour of remote Aboriginal communities of outback Australia with legendary Aboriginal group, the Warumpi Band. The tour led to the recording of Midnight Oil's major international breakthrough success Diesel and Dust, released in 1987 which featured their biggest international hit Beds Are Burning. The following album Blue Sky Mining, released in 1990 had two songs that topped the US Modern Rock charts, Blue Sky Mine and Forgotten Years. Both Diesel and Dust and Blue Sky Mining were produced with Warne Livesey.
Between 1988 and 1992, the band's Diesel and Dust and Blue Sky Mining discs became known worldwide, as did their political activism for causes ranging from nuclear disarmament to aboriginal rights and environmental issues. Their subsequent albums sold less well outside Australia, but the Oils maintained a following throughout the 1990s and into the new century.
The Midnight Oil lineup remained quite stable over the band's long career: Garrett as lead singer and harmonica, Jim Moginie on guitar and keyboards, Martin Rotsey on guitar, and Rob Hirst on drums. Andrew (Bear) James, the first bass player, left in 1980 due to ill health. Peter Gifford replaced him and in turn quit the band in 1987 citing the pressures of touring. New Zealander Bones Hillman, (ex Swingers) replaced him, and remained with the group until its dissolution in 2002. Gary Morris was the band's manager and effective sixth member (often credited with the simple title "Business, no singing" on albums) throughout.
In 2004 Peter Garrett was elected to Federal Parliament as the Labor member for Kingsford-Smith in Sydney. In November 2007 he became Minister for Arts in the Australian government as a member of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's front bench. He retired from Parliament in 2013. Jim Moginie continues his involvement with music through his own band, The Family Dog and as a producer for artists such as Sarah Blasko. Rob Hirst is also involved with several musical projects such as Hirst and Greene, Ghostwriters, The Angry Tradesmen and The Backsliders. Moginie, Hirst and Martin Rotsey continue to play and record together in instrumental band The Break.
The band reformed in 2016, launched a world tour in 2017 and released the live album Armistice Day: Live at the Domain, Sydney with an accompanying film. 2020 saw the release of the mini-album called The Makarrata Project. Bass guitarist Bones Hillman died on 7 November 2020 of cancer. On 18 May 2021, the band announced their upcoming thirteenth album, Show of Hands, the last recordings to feature Hillman. The first single, released on 28 October, was Rising Seas.
Antarctica
Midnight Oil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I must now plough on
I'm a snow plough
I'm a settler's son
I'm a storm cloud
Rain myself all over the place
I'm a storm cloud
Wipe that smile right off your face
There must be one place left in the world
Where the mountains meet the sea
There must be one place left in the world
Where the water's real and clean
I'm a landslide
I'm a downhill run
I'm a landslide
Open season's just begun
There must be one place left in the world
Where the skin says it can breathe
There's gotta be one place left in the world
It's a solitude of distance and relief
There's gotta be one place left in the world
I'm a snow plough
There has to be one place left in the world
I'm a snow plough
One place
One place left in the world
I'm a short fuser
I'm a slow bluesr
I'm a landslide hummin I'm a downhill runnin
There must be one place left in this world
Where we can be
The lyrics of Midnight Oil's 'Antarctica' are a striking call to arms for the preservation of the southernmost continent as one of the last pure and untainted places on the planet. The song, however, goes much deeper than simple advocacy as it represents one of the band's most unique works. The verses of the song, composed of four stanzas, alludes to the personalities of different elements of the environment, such as the snowplow, storm cloud, and landslide, each becoming representative of human emotion and action.
The chorus of the song, in contrast, delivers one of the most profound messages of the song which is about the need for preservation of natural environments as it states, "There must be one place left in the world where the mountains meet the sea. There must be one place left in the world where the water's real and clean. There's gotta be one place left in the world; it's a solitude of distance and relief." This emphasis on protecting the environment resonates throughout the song's composition and has become one of Midnight Oil's most unforgettable pieces.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a snow plough
I am a determined person who is pushing through challenges and obstacles.
I must now plough on
I must continue pushing forward despite any difficulties.
I'm a settler's son
I come from a family of pioneers who have built a life in new and unforgiving environments.
I'm a storm cloud
I represent a looming and powerful force that can either bring life or destruction.
Rain myself all over the place
I have the ability to make a significant impact on the world.
Wipe that smile right off your face
I challenge you to face the harsh realities of the world.
There must be one place left in the world
There is a need for a place that can provide hope and refuge.
Where the mountains meet the sea
Somewhere that can offer a unique and inspiring environment.
Where the water's real and clean
A place where nature remains untainted and pure.
I'm a landslide
I represent an overwhelming force that cannot be stopped.
Open season's just begun
Change is happening and it's time to take action.
Where the skin says it can breathe
A place where people can escape the suffocation of daily life and be their true selves.
It's a solitude of distance and relief
A sanctuary that offers a sense of separation from the rest of the world.
There has to be one place left in the world
We cannot let everything be destroyed; a hope must remain.
I'm a short fuser
I have a tendency to become easily frustrated and impatient.
I'm a slow bluesr
I can become lost in contemplation and melancholy.
Hummin'
Making a low, continuous sound.
Where we can be
A place where people can thrive and truly be themselves.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES MOGINIE, MARTIN ROTSEY, PETER GARRETT, ROBERT HIRST, WAYNE STEVENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind