Midnight Oil are an influential alternative rock band formed in Sydney, Aus… Read Full Bio ↴Midnight Oil are an influential alternative rock band formed in Sydney, Australia in 1976. The band originally formed as "Farm" in 1972. The band is best known for their political activism and environmentalism and their 1987 worldwide hit single "Beds Are Burning". For most of their career, the band consisted of Peter Garrett (vocals), Jim Moginie (guitar, keyboards), Martin Rotsey (guitar), Bones Hillman (bass, vocals) and Rob Hirst (drums).

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.

Luritja Way
Midnight Oil Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's no highway to luritja way
I listen I listen for it now.

There's no turnoff to luritja way
One moment one moment for me please.

I'm reaching out for you across a thousand years
I'm reaching out for you.

Joining the dots at luritja way
There is something hanging in the breeze.

Empty space at luritja way
No richer one picture of discontent.

I'm reaching out for you in a valley full of tears
I'm reaching out for you.

And I don't want to go home
Gasoline junkies dance stoned
It's better than drinking alone.

Oh guiding light you will shine you'll pick me up
You'll hold me up
Oh guiding light you will shine
You will shine on me in eternity.

Love is bought and sold
Wobbegong tooth of gold
No one gets to get old.

I'm reaching out for you 'cause I still believe in you.

Overall Meaning

The song Luritja Way by Midnight Oil reflects an intense longing for a place that may not even exist or may be difficult to locate. Luritja Way refers to a remote area in Australia that is hard to get to, and the singer is expressing how distant it feels from him. He is actively searching for any sign of a highway or turnoff that could lead him to this elusive place. The lack of these markers adds to the mystery and allure of Luritja Way, and the lyrics indicate that the singer will not give up until he finds it.

The chorus of the song is especially poignant, where the singer declares that he is "reaching out for you across a thousand years." This line indicates how deep his desire is to find Luritja Way, and the metaphorical distance he must traverse to obtain it. The song has a spiritual overtone, with references to searching for a guiding light that will help the singer navigate his way to this elusive place. The final lines where he still believes in Luritja Way shows that the search is not over yet.

Overall, Luritja Way is an ode to the power of human longing and how it can sometimes transcend time and space. The song encourages the listener to keep searching for their own version of Luritja Way, whatever that may be.

Line by Line Meaning

There's no highway to luritja way
A journey to Luritja Way has no direct route

I listen I listen for it now.
Keenly anticipating Luritja Way

There's no turnoff to luritja way
There is no exit that leads to Luritja Way

One moment one moment for me please.
Asking for a brief pause to take in the imminent arrival at Luritja Way

I'm reaching out for you across a thousand years
Reaching out through time to an unknown recipient

I'm reaching out for you.
An earnest attempt to find someone

Joining the dots at luritja way
Connecting key pieces to arrive at Luritja way

There is something hanging in the breeze.
A perceptible feeling of something important in the air

Empty space at luritja way
Luritja Way has a vast nothingness to it

No richer one picture of discontent.
The bleak state of mind evokes a sense of despair

I'm reaching out for you in a valley full of tears
Making an emotional plea to find someone in sad surroundings