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.
Harrisburg
Midnight Oil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The umpire's not laughing
The President's resented,
The Ambassador's a night club
You cannot get it out
It's stuff you cannot taste or see
It's stuff you cannot smell
As the hottest stuff in hell
Harrisburg, oh Harrisburg
The plant is melting down
The people out in Harrisburg
Are getting out of town
And when the stuff gets in
You cannot get it out
The company said it would not blow
The Government said it might
Harrisburg, Oh Harrisburg
I wonder who was right
Who can leave it behind,
The curtains are drawn
There's something I must say to you
You cannot get it out
The song "Harrisburg" by Midnight Oil is a protest song that was released in 1985. The lyrics speak about the nuclear disaster in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which occurred on March 28, 1979. The disaster was a result of a nuclear power plant, Three Mile Island, experiencing a partial meltdown of one of the reactors. The disaster resulted in the release of radioactive gases and the danger of more severe consequences.
The lyrics of the song are a commentary on the devastating impact of the disaster on the people of Harrisburg. The "stuff" that is referred to in the song is the radioactive fallout that the people cannot get out of their bodies, homes, and environment. The lyrics speak about the incompetence and irresponsibility of both the companies and the government who allowed such a disaster to occur. The company said that the plant would not blow, but the government said that it might. The confusion and betrayal of the people are highlighted in the lyrics, and the chorus reflects the urgency of the situation as the people are trying to flee their homes.
The song "Harrisburg" remains an important reminder of the dangers of nuclear power and the importance of responsible government and corporate actions. It signifies the crucial role of music and art in creating awareness and inspiring change.
Line by Line Meaning
The empire rings
The powerful and corrupt system is expanding its influence
The umpire's not laughing
Those who should be stopping the unethical practices are not doing anything about it
The President's resented,
The people do not trust the leaders of their country anymore due to their dishonesty
The Ambassador's a night club
The representative sent to deal with the issue does not have the appropriate qualifications or seriousness
You cannot get it out
The consequences of the wrongdoing cannot be undone or erased
It's stuff you cannot taste or see
The harmful effects of the radiation released cannot be detected by human senses
It's stuff you cannot smell
The toxic and invisible nature of the radiation
It's stuff that's twenty times as hot
The level of heat and damage caused by the radiation is intense and serious
As the hottest stuff in hell
The imagined comparison with the intense heat of hell emphasizes the severity of the situation
Harrisburg, oh Harrisburg
Addressing the location where the nuclear plant incident occurred
The plant is melting down
The breakdown of the nuclear power plant has become irreversible
The people out in Harrisburg
The local community who are directly impacted by the radiation fallout
Are getting out of town
The people are fleeing the area due to the high levels of radiation
And when the stuff gets in
Highlighting the danger of the radiation entering the body
You cannot get it out
The long-lasting and lethal consequences of radiation exposure
The company said it would not blow
The nuclear plant company promised the public that there would not be a nuclear meltdown
The Government said it might
The government was more honest with the potential risk of nuclear meltdown
I wonder who was right
Questioning the reliability of the authorities and their decisions
Who can leave it behind,
No one can forget the devastating effects of the nuclear disaster
The curtains are drawn
The event has ended, but the people's lives are still impacted by it
There's something I must say to you
A sincere message or warning to the listeners
You cannot get it out
Reiterating the permanent and devastating effects of radiation exposure
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES MOGINIE, MARTIN ROTSEY, PETER GARRETT, PETER GIFFORD, ROBERT HIRST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind