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.
Jimmy Sharman's Boxers
Midnight Oil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sharman's tents roll into town
Twelve will face the auctioneer
Sharman's Boxers stand their ground
Their days are darker than your nights
But they won't be the first to fall
Children broken from their dreams
But they won't be the first to fall
Fighting in the spotlight
Eye's turn blacker than their skin
For Jimmy Sharman's boxers
It's no better if you win
Standing in the darkness
Lined up waiting for the bell
The days are wasted drinking
At the first and last hotel
Why are we fighting for this?
Why are you paying for this?
You pay to see me fall like shrapnel
To the floor
What is the reason for this?
There is a reason for this?
What is the reason they keep coming back for more?
The blows now bring him to his knees
But still the crowd calls out for more
The drums are burning in his ears
The man keeps counting out the score
The lyrics to Midnight Oil's song "Jimmy Sharman's Boxers" describe the brutal world of travelling boxing circuses, where underprivileged and broken individuals are exploited for entertainment. The first verse sets the scene; Sharman's tents roll into town, and twelve boxers will face the auctioneer. The lyrics allude to the fact that these boxers have experienced hardships and pain, with their days being darker than the listener's nights, and children having their dreams broken. However, despite this, they stand their ground and fight.
The second verse describes the actual fights in the circus, where the boxers are forced to fight while their eyes turn blacker than their skin. Winning brings no respite, and the boxers are trapped in a cycle of wasting their days drinking at the local hotel. The chorus questions why people are willing to pay to watch others suffer and fall to the ground. The final verse highlights the toll the fights take on the boxers, with one being brought to his knees, and the crowd still calling out for more. The drums are burning in his ears, and a man counts out the score, highlighting the cold and calculating nature of the events.
Line by Line Meaning
From the red dust north of Dalmore Downs
The tent of Jimmy Sharman's Boxers rolls into town from a distant location.
Sharman's tents roll into town
Jimmy Sharman's Boxers arrive in town in tents.
Twelve will face the auctioneer
Twelve boxers get ready to fight in a match organized by the auctioneer.
Sharman's Boxers stand their ground
Despite facing difficult times, Jimmy Sharman's Boxers remain strong.
Their days are darker than your nights
The life of these boxers is difficult and full of struggle.
But they won't be the first to fall
They may get hurt during the match, but they won't give up easily.
Children broken from their dreams
These boxers have lost the dreams they had as children.
But they won't be the first to fall
Even though they have lost their dreams, they won't give up easily.
Fighting in the spotlight
The boxers fight in the arena in front of a large audience.
Eye's turn blacker than their skin
The boxers get injured during the fight, and their eyes swell up.
For Jimmy Sharman's boxers
The boxers who fight for Jimmy Sharman have it tough.
It's no better if you win
Even if you win the fight, it's not a great outcome for these boxers.
Standing in the darkness
The boxers wait in the dark for their turn to fight.
Lined up waiting for the bell
The boxers are lined up, waiting for the bell to start the match.
The days are wasted drinking
The boxers spend their days drinking and wasting their time.
At the first and last hotel
They spend their days drinking at whatever hotel is available.
Why are we fighting for this?
The boxers question the reason for fighting in such brutal matches.
Why are you paying for this?
The boxers also question those who come to watch and pay for such fights.
You pay to see me fall like shrapnel
The audience comes to watch the boxers fight and fall violently to the ground.
To the floor
The boxers fall to the ground heavily during the match.
What is the reason for this?
The boxers try to understand the purpose of the violent fights that they participate in, and others come to watch.
There is a reason for this?
They wonder if there is a valid reason behind it all.
What is the reason they keep coming back for more?
They question why people keep coming back to watch such brutal matches, despite the violence and suffering.
The blows now bring him to his knees
The boxer is badly injured and falls to his knees due to the force of the punches.
But still the crowd calls out for more
Despite the violence and injury, the audience encourages the boxers to continue fighting.
The drums are burning in his ears
The loud noise from the drums echoes in the boxer's ears even after the fight.
The man keeps counting out the score
The referee continues to count and announce the score, despite the boxers' injuries and suffering.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES MOGINIE, MARTIN ROTSEY, PETER GARRETT, PETER GIFFORD, ROBERT HIRST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind