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.
Bushfire
Midnight Oil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There is so much to remind me
As the stars come out above me, home
Cool wind, clear my head
Bright sun grow my food
Strong rain clear my heart
Fill my land
I don't know why it is sold
Don't know why it's so cold
In this life that we live
New day, new day, new day
In my shoes, in my shoes
There is so much to astound me
As the whirlpool spins around me, home
Bushfire, burn and grow
Sunset watch and rest low
Long night holding child close, feed my dream
It's a new day
I don't know why it is sold
Don't know why it's so cold
In this life that we live
New day new day new day
It's larger than life, darker than death
We're gonna move those mountains aside
Here come the messages
(Moginie/Garrett)
The lyrics to Midnight Oil's song Bushfire talk about the beauty and power of nature, and how it can both awe and challenge us. The repetition of "in my shoes" suggests a personal connection to the environment, and the singer is reminded of this connection as "the stars come out above me" and "the whirlpool spins around me." The different elements - cool wind, bright sun, strong rain - have different effects on the singer, clearing their head, growing their food, and clearing their heart respectively. Even the bushfires can have a positive effect, as they burn and grow, creating new life in their wake. The chorus, "It's a new day," reinforces the idea that nature is always changing and renewing itself.
The lyrics also touch on the struggles of modern life, as the singer doesn't know "why it's sold" or "why it's so cold" in the life they live. This could refer to the commodification of nature, where it is bought and sold like any other resource, or to the emotional distance and isolation that can come with modern urban living. The final lines, "It's larger than life, darker than death / We're gonna move those mountains aside / Here come the messages," suggest a determination to overcome these struggles and communicate the importance of nature to others.
Line by Line Meaning
In my shoes, in my shoes
As I am who I am, and in my position,
There is so much to remind me
I am constantly reminded of all that is going on around me
As the stars come out above me, home
As the stars reveal themselves in the night sky, I realize that I am home
Cool wind, clear my head
A refreshing breeze has the power to unburden and clear my mind
Bright sun grow my food
The sun nourishes and fosters the growth of the sustenance I rely on
Strong rain clear my heart
The cleansing strength of rainwater has the power to cleanse my heart, washing away my worries and anxieties
Fill my land
Bring prosperity to the land that is so important to me
It's a new day
A fresh start, a day full of potential, and endless possibilities
I don't know why it is sold
I can't understand why things are the way they are
Don't know why it's so cold
I can't fathom why the world can be such a cruel and unfeeling place
In this life that we live
This is the reality that we must face every day
There is so much to astound me
There are so many things that take my breath away, both good and bad
As the whirlpool spins around me, home
As chaos swirls around me, I take comfort in the fact that I am at home
Bushfire, burn and grow
A bushfire can be destructive, but it can also renew and enrich the land
Sunset watch and rest low
I take a moment to appreciate the beauty of a sunset and rest for a little while
Long night holding child close, feed my dream
As I hold my child close in the long night, I feel the weight of my responsibilities, but also a renewed sense of hope and purpose
It's larger than life, darker than death
The problem at hand is immense and overwhelming, and has the potential to be deadly
We're gonna move those mountains aside
Even in the face of overwhelming odds, we are going to persevere and come out on top
Here come the messages
The incoming messages are a warning sign of impending danger or change
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES MOGINIE, MARTIN ROTSEY, PETER GARRETT, ROBERT HIRST, WAYNE STEVENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Beergut222
Midnight Oil is so underrated. In many ways, they were a decade too early. I'm sure if the new generation, so conscious of green living and taking care of the Earth, would absolutely embrace the Oil and the pro-eco songs they sang during the 80s.
Mmmm
If only we knew the Truth
Corruption at the highest level
will never give us clean air
and a better earth.
“ GREED “
chaigonjenkins
born in 96 and a big fan of the Oils, oh and I'm romanian
Bobby Hill
This song should have thousands of more views. It deserves nothing less.
Eltargrimm
This one is a classic for me. I was 14 when I first heard, 34 now and still love it.
sausagefinger12
U2 can only dream to be as good. Fact
S.A. Hogan
THE OILS are first and foremost an AUSSIE band, unwilling to compromise their sound for the rest of the world, and this is both their charm and the thing that keeps them from becoming the next COLDPLAY or U2.
Keeper Ohsix
OILS...among my top 2 or 3 bands of all time. Depth, spirit, strength, ferocity, conscience, touch, taste. balance....simply exquisite. (and I'm a Yank ;)
Myrddin
Did you just say yank smh
anne marie Jensen
Love this one Midnight Oil :-) :-) <3 <3 <3