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.
Is It Now?
Midnight Oil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He wears a matching suit, steel tipped shoes and the diamonds
And he holds the dying flame, the loaded dice and the answer
He stalks the open road that leads form here to there
You'd better look out, watch out, beware
There's no safety here
Crouched by the fence, sweat dries cold on your every breath
He's telling jokes to all the saviours in the ward
Be warned when it comes to that, to the point of indecision
When you hesitate, he'll make his choice for you
You better look out, beware
There's no safety here (no, no, no safety)
Crouched by the fence, sweat dried cold on your every breath
His eyes, they turn red
You think and recall what he said
He puts a name to every face
Table talk and wall to wall
Winners win the game, and the losers win the war
Resurrection, intersection, comic books and mass defection
Vinyl floor and sliding doors, nothing more
Lost the thread of conversation
Sentence fails and engine roars
No recall, blindfold to the stairs
Is it now?
Is it now?
(Moginie/Garrett)
The lyrics of Midnight Oil's "Is It Now?" suggest a feeling of impending danger, mistrust, and uncertainty. The song describes a man who walks alone at night wearing fancy attire and holding a flame, dice, and the answers to unknown questions. He travels on the open road, leading somewhere unknown. The singer warns the listener to beware of this man, as there is no safety to be found. The sense of danger increases as the second verse paints us a picture of a ward where saviours gather, and laughter fills the air. Don't be fooled; this man will make his choices for you when you hesitate, and it's time to make a decision. The song ends with disconnected phrases related to resurrection, intersection, comic books, mass defection, and lost threads of conversation, leading us to ask, is it now?
The song's disjunctive lyrics and melody create a sense of unease that reflects the societal anxieties of the time, possibly the mid-1980s. Its themes of uncertainty, mistrust, and danger are timeless and resonate with listeners today. Midnight Oil's soundscape style fuses rock, punk, and experimental sound design, creating a unique listening experience that sets them apart from their contemporaries. The song's sparse arrangement creates moments of tension, leading to the release of abrupt and passionate guitar solos. Its haunting melody and lyrics echo in the listener's ears long after the song ends.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a man who walks the lonely field at midnight
A lonely person is wandering in a deserted field at midnight
He wears a matching suit, steel tipped shoes and the diamonds
The lonely person wears a coordinated suit, shoes with steel tips, and diamonds
And he holds the dying flame, the loaded dice and the answer
The lonely person possesses three items: A dwindling flame, a set of loaded dice, and an answer to a question
He stalks the open road that leads from here to there
The lonely person pursues the unoccupied road that takes them to their destination
You'd better look out, watch out, beware
People should be careful, cautious, and aware of their surroundings
There's no safety here
This location is not a secure or safe place to be
Crouched by the fence, sweat dries cold on your every breath
Someone is perched by the barrier, and the chill is causing their perspiration to vanish rapidly
Where's the saviour that the critics dream about now
Where is the rescuer that the commentators had fantasized about?
He's telling jokes to all the saviours in the ward
He is conversing and amusing the saviours who are in the clinic
Be warned when it comes to that, to the point of indecision
Beware when you become uncertain or can't decide about something
When you hesitate, he'll make his choice for you
If you pause, the individual will make a selection on your behalf
You better look out, beware
Be vigilant and cautious
There's no safety here (no, no, no safety)
This area is not a safe location
Crouched by the fence, sweat dried cold on your every breath
Someone is hiding by the fence, and the freezing cold is causing their sweat to evaporate quickly
His eyes, they turn red
The individual's iris is becoming a shade of red
You think and recall what he said
You attempt to remember something that he specified earlier
He puts a name to every face
He attaches a name to every individual he encounters
Table talk and wall to wall
Conversations taking place at the tables, covering almost everything in the space
Winners win the game, and the losers win the war
Those who win one instance are not always the ultimate champions, but the ones who suffer the most setbacks and come out alive are the true winners
Resurrection, intersection, comic books and mass defection
Themes such as reincarnation, intersections, comic books, and widespread abandonment are mentioned
Vinyl floor and sliding doors, nothing more
A visually barren, featureless environment with only a vinyl floor and sliding doors
Lost the thread of conversation
The main point or flow of the conversation is no longer evident
Sentence fails and engine roars
Speech is deemed inadequate and the whirring of engines is heard
No recall, blindfold to the stairs
There is no memory of what occurred before, and the path ahead is unknown
Is it now?
Is this the current time or the precise moment?
Is it now?
Is this the current time or the precise moment?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREW JAMES, JAMES MOGINIE, MARTIN ROTSEY, PETER GARRETT, ROBERT HIRST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind