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.
Head Over Heels
Midnight Oil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know how it feels to be in love
I'm head over heels
Holding back the chills in love
I think I like the sound we're chasing
I'm giving it all and you're reciprocating
I'm head over heels
We're stealing the show
You're stealing my money and love
You're all the same you part-time lovers
When it starts to rain
You're hiding under the covers
It just don't add up
This summer fever
She turns the truth
And I don't believe her
Stories flying, love is dying
In the end I can't understand her lying
(Hirst/Rotsey/Moginie)
The song Head over Heels by Midnight Oil is a love song that describes the feelings of being in love. The lyrics express the euphoria and excitement that love brings, with the singer describing himself as "head over heels". The opening lines "holding back the chills in love" can be interpreted as a description of feeling both thrilled and slightly scared at the intensity of the emotions. He goes on to say that he is giving everything he has to the relationship, and he believes that his lover is doing the same.
In the second verse, the song takes on a more cynical tone, with the singer expressing skepticism about the authenticity of his lover's feelings. The lines "you're stealing my money and love" hint at dishonesty, and the line "when it starts to rain, you're hiding under the covers" suggests that his lover is not truly committed to him. The chorus repeats, urging the listener to "turn back the wheels of love" and recapture the passion felt at the beginning of the relationship.
Overall, the song is a powerful expression of the ups and downs of love, capturing both its excitement and its pitfalls.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm head over heels
I am completely infatuated
You know how it feels to be in love
You understand this feeling
Holding back the chills in love
Trying to keep the love alive
I think I like the sound we're chasing
I am enjoying our pursuit of love
I'm giving it all and you're reciprocating
We are both putting in effort to maintain the relationship
Turning back the wheels of love
Trying to revive an old love
We're stealing the show
We are the center of attention
You're stealing my money and love
You are taking advantage of me financially and emotionally
You're all the same you part-time lovers
You are all just casual, temporary love interests
When it starts to rain
When things get tough
You're hiding under the covers
You are avoiding the problems
It just don't add up
Something doesn't make sense
This summer fever
This intense passion we are experiencing
She turns the truth
She is dishonest
And I don't believe her
I cannot trust her
Stories flying, love is dying
There are rumors and the relationship is deteriorating
In the end I can't understand her lying
I cannot comprehend her deceit
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind