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.
Home
Midnight Oil Lyrics
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It is a place I've never seen
Don't even know where it is
Don't even know my name
Where is home, where is my home?
I'm searching far and wide
It is the feeling that everything's wrong
We are alive, we that have wings
We have devices can do anything, I say
Where is home, where is my home?
I hear my spirit cry
If you're out of transmission, way out on the road
If you're out of commission I can, give you the code
Darkness is coming and it's in your command
Time to be moving, time
There is a town I was born
Now there's a place I've got to call home
Where is home, where is my home?
I'm searching far and wide, oh yeah
Where is home, where is my home?
I hear my spirit cry
It's in the clear blue sky
The lyrics to Midnight Oil's song "Home" are reflective and introspective, delving into themes of identity and belonging. The singer begins by stating that they were born in a place they have never seen, continuing to say that they do not even know where this place is, nor their own name. The repetition of the question "where is home?" carries throughout the song, indicating the singer's search for a place to belong, a place to call their own.
The lyrics take a sharp turn when the singer describes the feeling of everything being wrong, characterizing it as a "bastard song." They acknowledge the incredible power of human technology, noting that "We have devices can do anything," but still express a sense of displacement, questioning the meaning of it all. The phrase "I hear my spirit cry" adds a sense of despair to the song, underscoring just how deeply the singer longs to find a sense of home.
The song concludes on a somewhat hopeful note, as the singer mentions a town where they were born that they feel might become the home they seek. The final line, "It's in the clear blue sky," suggests that the idea of a physical place to call home may be less important than something more intangible- perhaps the feeling of being free, or the desire to connect with something higher.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a place I was born
I don't actually have a connection to this birthplace
It is a place I've never seen
Even though it must be an important place, I've never actually been there
Don't even know where it is
I lack the necessary information to locate this place
Don't even know my name
I feel like I've lost my sense of identity
Where is home, where is my home?
I'm looking for a place of belonging
I'm searching far and wide
I'm trying to uncover any clues I can
It's a bastard song
It's a difficult and painful thing to confront
It is the feeling that everything's wrong
I feel like I don't fit anywhere
We are alive, we that have wings
We are able to do so much, yet we still feel incomplete
We have devices can do anything, I say
Even with all of our progress, we still can't find a home
Where is home, where is my home?
I'm still searching for that sense of belonging
I hear my spirit cry
This search feels like something that's within me
If you're out of transmission, way out on the road
If you're feeling lost and alone
If you're out of commission I can, give you the code
I can help you find your way, even if I haven't found mine
Darkness is coming and it's in your command
Even with all of the uncertainty, you can take control of your situation
Time to be moving, time
It's time to start taking action and making change happen
There is a town I was born
My birthplace is a real location
Now there's a place I've got to call home
I need to create a sense of belonging for myself
Where is home, where is my home?
I'm still searching for that sense of belonging
I'm searching far and wide, oh yeah
I'm still trying to find that place where I fit
Where is home, where is my home?
I'm still searching for that sense of belonging
I hear my spirit cry
This search feels like something that's within me
It's in the clear blue sky
This sense of belonging is something intangible and difficult to find.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., ST MUSIC LLC
Written by: ROBERT WILLIAM LAMM, BRETT JAMES, JASON RANDOLPH SCHEFF, JAY DE MARCUS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind