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.
Gunbarrel Highway
Midnight Oil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'll take you somewhere, show you around
We burnt all the cars that laid down and died
We burnt all the trees to keep us alive
Sat 'round the fire, sang like a choir
With the ashes of civilization in our eyes
I come alive, I read the signs on the Gunbarrel Highway
Far off, a dull radio beats for the young uninvolved
The meaning's a football
A stick and a can and a Kakadu man
Will the speaker speak up or the talker talk down?
The world is no oyster and here in this town
Shit falls like rain on a world that is brown
I come alive, I read the signs on the Gunbarrel Highway
I come alive and the children will sing as the
Satellite swings down that highway
Nothing could be longer than that corrugated road
No ever follows where the road trains go
And no where in the country do the dust storms blow so hard
So hard
I come alive, I read the signs on the Gunbarrel Highway
I hear the sound, it's the wheels as they drive
And the cultures collide on that highway
Ah, it's a hard day, the children will sing as the
Satellite swings down that highway
The song "Gunbarrel Highway" by Midnight Oil is a reflection on the harsh realities of life in the Australian outback. The lyrics describe a group of people wandering through the remote area, burning anything they can find to keep themselves alive. The imagery is stark and apocalyptic, with references to the ashes of civilization and the dust storms that whip across the landscape. Despite the hardships, the singer finds a sense of purpose in reading the signs along the Gunbarrel Highway, which runs through some of the most desolate parts of the country. The chorus suggests a kind of hopefulness, with the children singing as a satellite swings down the highway.
The song seems to be commenting on the idea of progress and the impact that it has had on the land and the people who live there. The line "Shit falls like rain on a world that is brown" suggests a sense of disillusionment with the way things are. It also touches on issues of indigenous rights, with a reference to a Kakadu man, who may be one of the Aboriginal people who are native to the area. The sense of isolation and distance is reinforced by the reference to the radio, which is heard only faintly in the distance.
Overall, the song is a powerful reflection on the complexities and challenges of life in the Australian outback. The stark imagery and evocative lyrics create a vivid picture of a world that is both beautiful and devastatingly harsh.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll give you something to write home about
I will show you a life-changing experience
And I'll take you somewhere, show you around
I will take you to a place where few have gone to
We burnt all the cars that laid down and died
We destroyed useless possessions
We burnt all the trees to keep us alive
We used up natural resources for survival
Sat 'round the fire, sang like a choir
We shared moments of togetherness and joy
With the ashes of civilization in our eyes
Our actions have impacted the environment and society
I come alive, I read the signs on the Gunbarrel Highway
I find meaning and purpose in exploring a harsh, rugged place
Far off, a dull radio beats for the young uninvolved
The news and entertainment media provide dull, unimportant content for people who don't care
The meaning's a football
People care more about sports than important issues
A stick and a can and a Kakadu man
Indigenous people and their culture are often neglected and overlooked
Will the speaker speak up or the talker talk down?
Will the powerful use their influence to make positive change or continue to ignore problems?
The world is no oyster and here in this town
Opportunities and resources are limited
Shit falls like rain on a world that is brown
The harsh reality of life is always present and overwhelming
Nothing could be longer than that corrugated road
This journey is long and difficult
No ever follows where the road trains go
Few people explore beyond the well-traveled path
And no where in the country do the dust storms blow so hard
The conditions of this place are especially difficult
I hear the sound, it's the wheels as they drive
The sounds of civilization are far away and drowned out by the rugged landscape
And the cultures collide on that highway
Different ways of life and worldviews intersect in this harsh setting
Ah, it's a hard day, the children will sing as the
Despite the challenges and difficulties, there's a sense of joy and optimism
Satellite swings down that highway
The wonders of the modern world still reach even the harshest, most remote corners of the earth
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind