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.
Forgotten Years
Midnight Oil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hearts have been hard, our hands have been clenched in a fist too long
Our sons will never be soldiers, our daughters will never need guns
These are the yrs between
These are the yrs that were hard fought and won
Contracts torn at the edges, old signatures stained with tears
Seasons of war and peace, these should not be forgotten yaers
Still it aches like tetanus, it reeks of politics
The hardest years, the darkest yrs, the roarin' yrs, the fallen yrs
These should not be forgotten yrs
The hardest yrs, the wildest yrs, the desperate and divided yrs
We will remember, these should not be forgotten yrs
Our shoreline was never invaded, our country was never in flames
This is the calm we breathe, this is a feeling too strong to contain
Still it aches like tetanus, it reeks of politics
Signatures stained with tears, who can remember
We've got to remember
The hardest...
Forsaking aching breaking yrs, the time and tested heartbreak yrs
These should not be forgotten yrs
The blinded yrs, the binded yrs, the desperate and divided yrs
These should not be forgotten yrs, remember
The song "Forgotten Years" by Midnight Oil is a poignant commentary on the impact of war and politics on future generations. The first verse acknowledges the cycle of violence and anger passed down from generation to generation. It speaks about how our hearts have hardened and our hands have been clenched in fists for too long. The chorus then declares that the years of struggle and sacrifice should not be forgotten. The contracts torn at the edges and old signatures stained with tears represent the pain of war and loss experienced by those who have come before us. The song acknowledges that these events may not have affected everyone equally, but that they are still part of our shared history.
As the song progresses, the lyrics note that while our country was not invaded and our shoreline not breached, we too have experienced pain aching like tetanus and the stench of politics. The closing verse asks us to not forget the test of time, broken hearts, the blinded and binded years. It’s important to remember all of it.
The song is a reminder to future generations to learn from the past and not to forget the trials and sacrifices made to secure their future. It serves as a call to action for the next generation to continue to fight for justice and to ensure that the struggles and lessons of the past are not forgotten.
Line by Line Meaning
Few of the sins of the father, are visited upon the son
The mistakes of the previous generation should not define the next generation.
Hearts have been hard, our hands have been clenched in a fist too long
We have held onto anger and bitterness for too long.
Our sons will never be soldiers, our daughters will never need guns
We should strive for a time of peace so that our future generations don't have to suffer through war.
These are the yrs between
The time period where we have experienced growth and change.
These are the yrs that were hard fought and won
The years where we have fought for progress and come out victorious.
Contracts torn at the edges, old signatures stained with tears
Broken promises and failed agreements.
Seasons of war and peace, these should not be forgotten yrs
We should remember the times of both conflict and calmness.
Still it aches like tetanus, it reeks of politics
The pain of the past is still present and is often caused by political issues.
How many dreams remain? This is a feeling too strong to contain
The desire to see progress and fulfillment of dreams is too strong to ignore.
The hardest years, the darkest yrs, the roarin' yrs, the fallen yrs
Difficult and tumultuous times should not be forgotten.
These should not be forgotten yrs
We must remember these times in order to learn from them.
The hardest yrs, the wildest yrs, the desperate and divided yrs
The times of great challenge and struggle should be remembered.
We will remember, these should not be forgotten yrs
We must actively make an effort to remember these difficult years.
Our shoreline was never invaded, our country was never in flames
We have been fortunate to not have suffered through major wars or invasions.
This is the calm we breathe, this is a feeling too strong to contain
The feeling of peace is too valuable to not appreciate.
Forsaking aching breaking yrs, the time and tested heartbreak yrs
We should not forget the times of pain and heartbreak.
The blinded yrs, the binded yrs, the desperate and divided yrs
We should remember the times where we were lost and disconnected.
These should not be forgotten yrs, remember
Remembering the past is crucial to creating a better future.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES MOGINIE, MARTIN ROTSEY, PETER GARRETT, ROBERT HIRST, WAYNE STEVENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Auvergne Limousin
One of the best songs ever written. Midnight Oil was one of a kind.
Wargod_ARTS
was? They're still around killing it. ;)
Rise Up AC
Really? EVER? Come on.
Greg Lenz
definitely ARB top 10 or better.
Greg Lenz
@Rise Up AC WHAT, everyone has a different concept of EVER (forEVER), Why should that matter? Wouldn't that be hypercritical.
Zciliya Films
@Rise Up ACI'll agree with him. I'm actually in the process of compiling my personal all time Top 100, and this song is definitely going to be in it. And I'm a DJ who has played on the public airwaves. This song has grandeur like little else. You don't have to agree, but I do without hesitation.
Wear a mask
The world would be a better place if everyone just listened to midnight oil.
Red Oktopuss
SO RIGHT!!!
Rise Up AC
Great music by hyper talented musicians and song writers, but if we listened to them the world would come to a stop and everything we know would not exist. That is what is wrong with liberal and woke ideology. They want to take away what the world runs on. Money, fossil fuels, free enterprise, etc. Sometimes people, wars are necessary to preserve peace and freedom. So no, Midnight Oil's political views were naive and not realistic in the world.= of the 80's and today. But I love Midnight Oil.
Zavier Gunnis
Thank you