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.
One Country
Midnight Oil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who gets to work for bread, who wants to get ahead
Who hands out equal rights, who starts and ends that fight
And not not rant and rave, or end up a slave
Who can make hard won gains, fall like the summer rain
Now every man must be, what his life can be
So don't call, me, the tune, I will walk away
Who want's to please everyone, who says it all can be done
Still sit up on that fence, no one I've heard of yet
Don't call me baby, don't talk in maybes
Don't talk like has-beans, sing it like it should be
Who laughs at the nagging doubt, lying on a neon shroud
Just gotta touch someone, I want to be
So don't call, me, the tune, I will walk away
So don't call, me, the tune, I will walk away
So don't call, me, the tune, I will walk away
Who wants to sit around, turn it up turn it down
Only a man can be, what his life can be
One vision, one people, one landmass
We are defenseless, we have a lifeline
One ocean, one policy, seabed lies
One passion, one movement, one instant
One difference, one lifetime, one understanding
(One country)
Transgression, redemption, one island
Our place mat, one firmament
One element, one moment, one fusion
Yes and one time
The song "One Country" by Midnight Oil is a call to action for individuals to take responsibility for their own lives, their communities, and their country. The lyrics pose several questions, asking who wants to make a difference, who wants to work for success, and who is willing to fight for equality. The song calls for action, encouraging people to not just talk and complain but to act and make changes. It also speaks to the idea of individual responsibility and how each person can contribute to a better world.
The lyrics also address the idea of political inertia and being apathetic to change. The lines "Who want's to please everyone, who says it all can be done, Still sit up on that fence, no one I've heard of yet" speak to the idea that it is impossible to please everyone and that sometimes, you have to take a controversial stance and make difficult decisions.
Overall, "One Country" is a powerful call to action for people to take responsibility for their lives and their communities and work towards creating a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
Who'd like to change the world, who wants to shoot the curl
Who desires to change the world? Who enjoys surfing?
Who gets to work for bread, who wants to get ahead
Who earns their living and who wants to succeed?
Who hands out equal rights, who starts and ends that fight
Who grants equal opportunities, and who determines the beginning and the end of that fight?
And not not rant and rave, or end up a slave
Don't just shout and complain, or be a servant of the system.
Who can make hard won gains, fall like the summer rain
Who can make hard-earned progress disappear as quickly as summer rainfall?
Now every man must be, what his life can be
Every person should fulfil their potential.
So don't call, me, the tune, I will walk away
Don't tell me what to do, I'll leave.
Who want's to please everyone, who says it all can be done
Who aims to satisfy everyone? Who believes that everything is possible?
Still sit up on that fence, no one I've heard of yet
No one I know has managed to remain neutral about important issues.
Don't call me baby, don't talk in maybes
Don't use pet names, and don't speak ambiguously.
Don't talk like has-beans, sing it like it should be
Don't speak like you're past your prime, sing as it is meant to be sung.
Who laughs at the nagging doubt, lying on a neon shroud
Who can dismiss the persistent worry that is all around us?
Just gotta touch someone, I want to be
I just need to reach out to someone, I need to be close to someone.
Who wants to sit around, turn it up turn it down
Who wants to simply wait and do nothing, or alter their own situation?
Only a man can be, what his life can be
Only you can determine who you can be.
One vision, one people, one landmass
We should have one shared purpose, one community, and one continent.
We are defenseless, we have a lifeline
We are vulnerable, but we still have hope.
One ocean, one policy, seabed lies
The ocean is one, and we should have one regulation. The sea floor is our responsibility.
One passion, one movement, one instant
We should all be passionate about one goal, one group, and one moment - the present.
One difference, one lifetime, one understanding
We should appreciate our differences, make the most of our life, and try to understand one another.
(One country)
All these differences should come together so we can coexist happily in one country.
Transgression, redemption, one island
We should regret our wrongs, make amends, and realize that we all live on one island.
Our place mat, one firmament
Our home is a small part of a larger canvas.
One element, one moment, one fusion
We need to unite all elements of nature for one brief moment so we could all live in peace.
Yes and one time
Now is the time for this to happen.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES MOGINIE, MARTIN ROTSEY, PETER GARRETT, ROBERT HIRST, WAYNE STEVENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind