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.
Kosciusko
Midnight Oil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Darwin down to Alice Springs
Dealers in the clearing house
The settlements explode
High up in the homelands
Miners drive across the land
Encounter no resistance
Older than Kosciusko
Dry white seasons years ago
Darkness over Charleville
The fires begin to grow
No end to the hostility
Now they wanna be somewhere else
No stranger to brutality
Now they'd like to be someone else
Older than Kosciusko
Driven back to Alice Springs
Endless storm and struggle
Marks the spirit of the age
High up in the homelands
Celebration 'cross the land
Builds up like a cyclone
Now the fires begin to rage
No end to the hostility
Now they wanna be somewhere else
No stranger to brutality
Now they'd like to be someone else
Call off the ultimatum
No, don't turn away
Call off the ultimatum until yesterday
Call off the ultimatum
No, don't turn away
Bind up the brokenhearted
No, don't turn away
Call off the ultimatum until yesterday
No end to the hostility
Now they wanna be somewhere else
No stranger to brutality
Now they'd like to be someone else
No end to the hostility
Now they wanna be somewhere
The lyrics to Midnight Oil's "Kosciusko" describe the struggles and injustices faced by the Indigenous people of Australia. The song takes its name from the highest mountain in Australia, located in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales. The opening line, "older than Kosciusko", alludes to the fact that the Aboriginal people have inhabited the land for tens of thousands of years before the mountain even existed. The lyrics go on to describe the violence and exploitation inflicted upon them by settlers, miners, and dealers. The references to Darwin, Alice Springs, and Charleville represent different regions in Australia in which these conflicts have occurred.
The chorus of the song expresses the desire for change and a better life. The repeated lines "No end to the hostility, Now they wanna be somewhere else" reflect the urgency and desperation for a resolution to the ongoing conflict. The final lines call for compassion and the mending of broken relationships. The ultimatum referred to in the song may symbolize the violent and oppressive actions taken by those in power towards the Indigenous people, and the call to "bind up the brokenhearted" is a plea for reconciliation and healing.
Overall, "Kosciusko" is an insightful and politically charged song that highlights the ongoing struggles of Indigenous Australians and calls for a better future for all.
Line by Line Meaning
Older than Kosciusko
Refers to the ancient and rich history of the Australian land and its indigenous people, which existed well before the conquest of Kosciusko.
Darwin down to Alice Springs
The song touches on the vastness of Australian landscape and the journey from one end of the country to another, representing the diversity of Aboriginal people and their experiences.
Dealers in the clearing house
The exploitation of natural resources and Aboriginal people through industries like mining and agriculture.
The settlements explode
Refers to the violence and displacement of Indigenous peoples from their lands and the destruction of their communities through the implementation of colonial policies.
High up in the homelands
The homelands refer to the remote and sparsely populated regions of the Australian continent, where Indigenous people have lived for thousands of years.
Miners drive across the land
The exploitation of natural resources by companies and industries, with a complete disregard for the traditional and cultural significance of the land.
Encounter no resistance
The lack of protection and recognition of the rights of Indigenous peoples, leading to a power imbalance and systemic oppression.
When the people block the road
When Aboriginal people take a stand for their land rights, and protest the destruction of their cultures and resources, they are met with resistance and oppression.
Dry white seasons years ago
A reference to the devastating effects of a prolonged drought that affected the region nearly 50 years before the song was written, and how that event represented a significant shift in the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Darkness over Charleville
Charleville is a town in Queensland, which was significantly affected by the drought. The darkness refers to the hardship and suffering endured by the people in the region, including Indigenous Australians.
The fires begin to grow
Represents the worsening conditions leading to an escalation in conflicts between the Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous Australians.
No end to the hostility
A reference to the systemic oppression and racism experienced by Indigenous Australians, which has persisted for generations and persists today.
Now they wanna be somewhere else
Indigenous Australians have been forcibly displaced from their traditional lands and cultures due to government policies or encroaching development, resulting in many people wanting to move or leave their communities.
No stranger to brutality
Indigenous Australians have experienced extreme and widespread violence and oppression since colonization, leading to a continuing trauma and intergenerational trauma.
Now they'd like to be someone else
In response to the oppression and violence experienced by Indigenous Australians, many people have had to leave their cultural and traditional ways behind and adopt a new identity.
Endless storm and struggle
A metaphor for the constant and ongoing resistance of Indigenous Australians, who continue to fight for their land rights and cultural recognition.
Marks the spirit of the age
The deeply ingrained racism and mistreatment of Indigenous Australians is a defining characteristic of the contemporary Australian social and political landscape.
Celebration 'cross the land
Despite the struggle and hostility experienced by Indigenous Australians, there are moments of strength and resilience, including community celebrations and cultural practices.
Builds up like a cyclone
The celebration can bring people together and unify the community even amidst ongoing struggles and oppression.
Call off the ultimatum
The ultimatum is a metaphor for the constant threat of cultural erasure and displacement that Indigenous Australians face. The song implores non-Indigenous Australians to take responsibility and stand up to protect their cultures and people.
No, don't turn away
Inaction and turning a blind eye to the violence and oppression experienced by Indigenous Australians only furthers their plight.
Bind up the brokenhearted
A reference to the damage caused by colonization and the systemic oppression carried out by non-Indigenous Australians. Calls for non-Indigenous Australians to work towards reconciliation and intercultural healing.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES MOGINIE, MARTIN ROTSEY, PETER GARRETT, PETER GIFFORD, ROBERT HIRST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Gaul
Midnight Oil needs to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They're the greatest band nobody knows about beyond their enlightened fans.
David A. Quinn, Sr.
They never be... 😔
Sean
Very true
Master Temple
We in Canada remember.....was taught the Australian alphabet by a Midnight Oil roadie...very hilarious!
Scott Allsebrooke
I was properly schooled about them after I bought 'Screaming in Blue'.
CYCOlogist
I would include The Angels.
Mat Van Rhoon VFX
Best song on the album. I remember listening to this album over and over on a Countrylink train trip from Sydney down to Melbourne. Looking out the window seeing our beautiful country wizz past was phenomenal!
Vagner Silva
The best australian band ever! Hugs from Brazil!
Muttley
I love the clean sound of that acoustic guitar at the start being overtaken by that gritty electric the next moment.
Such a kickarse song.
The Teacher
The Mountain in Australia was named by the Polish explorer Pawel Edmund Strzelecki in 1840, in honour of the Polish-Lithuanian national hero, General Tadeusz Kościuszko, because of its perceived resemblance to the Kościuszko Mound in Kraków.
The Street and Bridge in New York City was named after Polish military leader Tadeusz Kościuszko, who fought alongside the Americans in the American Revolutionary War. Kosciuszko was a skilled engineer with a military education by the time he arrived in the American colonies from Poland in 1776. Offering his services to the revolutionary cause, he masterminded a key British defeat at Saratoga and oversaw the building of military fortifications at West Point.
Rumour has it that the bridge is known to locals as K Bridge thus avoiding any embarrassment meant because of a likely mis-pronuciation.