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.
No Time for Games
Midnight Oil Lyrics
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Used to be simple but look what it's become
The choice of career, the proper vocation
Out of your hands, all for the needs of the nation
No inhibitions with the modern child
Wasted lessons or pleasure or pain
Easy to follow your natural instinct
Useless expressions and sporting aggression
Don't waste my time, I can't wait for the end of the session
What opportunity, the modern child?
Waste passion and wasted mind
Some kids got no time for playtime
Some kids got no time for games
Some kids got no time for playtime
Some kids got no time for games
The lyrics of Midnight Oil's "No Time for Games" openly critique the demands and pressures placed on modern-day children by society. The first verse talks about how raising children used to be a simple job; however, it has transformed into a more demanding one that requires not only taking care of them physically but also choosing their future vocation carefully. The second verse comments on the idea of "modern" children free of inhibitions, which, ironically, wastes their potential. Contemporary society seems to foster impulsivity and gives little importance to lessons learned through hardship or hard work, which leads to wasted passion and a wasted mind.
The chorus explores how some of the modern children have no time for games or playtime. It could be because they are burdened with so many responsibilities that leave no room or left with energy for leisure activities. It is incredibly sobering to hear the phrase "no time for playtime" since that phrase itself is almost an oxymoron. The song's verses and chorus definitely strike to the heart of a reality that we often do not want to confront, asking the question: why do we expect so much from children while not giving them the chance to experience childhood fully?
Line by Line Meaning
The raising of children, the rearing of young
Parenting used to be simpler but now it has become complicated
Used to be simple but look what it's become
Parenting has become more complicated
The choice of career, the proper vocation
You may not have control over the career path you take
Out of your hands, all for the needs of the nation
Your career choices may be influenced by the needs of society
No inhibitions with the modern child
Children are more free-spirited today
Wasted lessons or pleasure or pain
Experiences can be wasted if you don't learn from them
Easy to follow your natural instinct
It's easy to follow your gut feeling or intuition
Easy to follow, much too hard to learn
Following your instincts is easier than learning from your mistakes
Useless expressions and sporting aggression
Expressions and aggressive behavior on the playing field can be wasteful
Don't waste my time, I can't wait for the end of the session
I don't have time for pointless activities that don't lead anywhere
What opportunity, the modern child?
What opportunities are available to modern children?
Waste passion and wasted mind
Unproductive activities waste the mind and passion
Some kids got no time for playtime
Some kids may not have the luxury of playing leisurely
Some kids got no time for games
Some kids may not have time for leisure activities like games
Some kids got no time for playtime
Some kids may be too busy or burdened to play leisurely
Some kids got no time for games
Some kids may not have time for leisure activities like games
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES MOGINIE, MARTIN ROTSEY, PETER GARRETT, PETER GIFFORD, ROBERT HIRST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind