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.
Koala Sprint
Midnight Oil Lyrics
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Concrete caverns catch the sky and hold the stars to ransom
A thousand dreams it's getting late
Thousand runners standing still
I can smell the sand and sea again
I've had enough away
City times down down
I've got to go
Stay low
'Cause I'm going up north again
It's a long way from Chatswood to the top of the gulf
I'll be hitching pacific when the morning sun's up
It's mile after mile on the long coast road
Smell of frangipani ocean sky blue
But I'm sick of seeing those beer can caravans
I'm getting even sicker of the thong drive-in
I'm feeling worse and worse at the chiko locallo
And the pubs all close at ten
Summer sun's got me stopping
Summer sun's got me trying
I'm waiting round for those waves and days
I hope it never ends
Well there's a new world bricking in the Old World charm
Suburbs highway pass cicada-coloured farms
Buy a car, sell a car, lead a car away
20 hours to Brisbane on night prowl play
20 hours to Brisbane...where's Brisbane...
(Garrett/Moginie/Rotsey)
The lyrics to Midnight Oil’s song “Koala Sprint” describe the singer’s longing to escape the city and head north to the beach. The singer describes the city as a “concrete cavern” that holds the stars to ransom, indicating a sense of entrapment in urban life. He dreams of the sand and sea, and feels that it’s time to leave the city behind. The singer longs to head north, a place where he can escape the monotony of city life, with its pubs that close at ten, and instead bask in the endless summer of the coast.
The song also touches on the singer’s journey to the beach, describing the long road trip that he takes from Chatswood to the top of the gulf, hitchhiking along the Pacific, mile after mile on the long coast road. The singer is sick of the beer can caravans, thong drive-ins, and the Chiko Locallo, all symbols of the banality of suburban life. Despite this, he is still enamored with the endless possibilities of the coast, where new worlds can be discovered within the Old World charm.
Overall, “Koala Sprint” is an ode to the freedom and possibility of the coast, and represents escapism from the monotony of suburban life.
Line by Line Meaning
And out from the echoes of the night
Emerging from the silence of the night
Concrete caverns catch the sky and hold the stars to ransom
Tall buildings block out the sky and obscure the stars
A thousand dreams it's getting late
Numerous aspirations, but time is running out
Thousand runners standing still
Many people frozen in one place
I can smell the sand and sea again
The familiar scent of the ocean transports me back
I've had enough away
I've had my fill of being away from home
City times down down
The hustle and bustle of the city is too much
I've got to go
I must leave
Lord don't let me wait
A plea for a quick departure
Stay low
Don't draw attention to oneself
'Cause I'm going up north again
Heading back up north
It's a long way from Chatswood to the top of the gulf
The journey from Chatswood to the top of the gulf is far
I'll be hitching pacific when the morning sun's up
I'll start hitchhiking at sunrise
It's mile after mile on the long coast road
The long coastal road requires driving many miles
Smell of frangipani ocean sky blue
A pleasant scent of frangipani fills the air as I gaze at the blue ocean and sky
But I'm sick of seeing those beer can caravans
Tired of seeing tacky, cheap vehicles
I'm getting even sicker of the thong drive-in
The low-class drive-in theater is even more repulsive
I'm feeling worse and worse at the chiko locallo
The cheap, greasy local restaurant is making me feel nauseous
And the pubs all close at ten
Pubs close early, limiting late-night activities
Summer sun's got me stopping
The warm, summer sun is causing me to pause
Summer sun's got me trying
The summer sun is motivating me to take action
I'm waiting round for those waves and days
I'm looking forward to surfing and leisurely days
I hope it never ends
I never want this to come to a conclusion
Well there's a new world bricking in the Old World charm
The timeless charm of old architecture is dwindling in favor of modern structures
Suburbs highway pass cicada-coloured farms
Driving past brown, earthy farms on suburban highways
Buy a car, sell a car, lead a car away
People are constantly buying and selling cars, taking them away
20 hours to Brisbane on night prowl play
Driving 20 hours at night to get to Brisbane
20 hours to Brisbane...where's Brisbane...
After 20 hours of driving, wondering where exactly Brisbane is
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREW JAMES, JAMES MOGINIE, MARTIN ROTSEY, PETER GARRETT, ROBERT HIRST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind