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.
Quinella Holiday
Midnight Oil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the voices got higher and higher
For the man at the back with the tickets in his hat
He would have to do more than aspire to
A place with some light on the sand near a beach
A place near some green running water
Place on the hill with a view of the sea
And the cooking was done by his daughter
If the quinella comes in today
The day is late and the race is run
A full weeks wages and the lots been done
'cause the meeting is over and the crowd has thinned
In the game of chance the dice has rolled it's spin
Another long week, lady luck makes it plain
His dreams and his hopes are dashed in vain
In the final shout as they call his name
His tickets lie like scattered leaves out on that asphalt plain
Looking around for the moment that's right
Lottery life well the numbers are tight
As they try one more pull on the handle too late
He thinks of what could be it sticks in his throat
If the quinella...
The lyrics of "Quinella Holiday" by Midnight Oil is a story about a man whose dreams and aspirations have not come true. The man in the story is at a bar with a crowd of people and he is holding tickets in his hat. He dreams of a beautiful place on the beach with green running water, tall tree-filled hills, and a view of the sea. He wants his daughter to cook him some delicious meals while he enjoys the beautiful scenery. He is hoping that the quinella (a type of betting game) would come in and give him the means to achieve his dreams.
However, as the day progresses, the man’s hopes of winning the quinella start to decrease. It becomes clear that luck is not on his side, and his dreams will remain only as dreams. The lyrics describe the disappointment of the man as he loses his chance of winning and realizes that his hopes and dreams are nothing more than illusions that will not materialize. His tickets lie scattered on the ground, the final hope of winning destroyed.
The song is a commentary on the struggle for success and the illusion that betting can offer a way out. It portrays the desperation and the dissatisfaction of the working class who see betting as a way of escaping poverty without having to put in the hard work. Unfortunately, as the lyrics suggest, the chances of winning are slim and the disappointment of losing is greater.
Line by Line Meaning
The bar was crowded in the arvo din
The bar was full of people talking loudly during the afternoon.
And the voices got higher and higher
The noise level in the bar continued to increase over time.
For the man at the back with the tickets in his hat
There was a man standing at the back of the bar with lottery tickets in his hat.
He would have to do more than aspire to
He needed to take action, rather than simply hoping for good luck.
A place with some light on the sand near a beach
The man wanted to move to a location near a beach with good lighting.
A place near some green running water
He also wanted to live near flowing water surrounded by trees or vegetation.
Place on the hill with a view of the sea
He desired to have a home with a view of the ocean from a high elevation.
And the cooking was done by his daughter
His daughter would prepare meals for him in this dream home.
The day is late and the race is run
The day is nearly over and the horse race has finished.
A full weeks wages and the lots been done
He has already spent all of his earnings for the week at the horse race.
'Cause the meeting is over and the crowd has thinned
The horse race event has ended, and many people have already left.
In the game of chance the dice has rolled it's spin
The outcome of the horse race was unpredictable and uncertain.
Another long week, lady luck makes it plain
The man has had another difficult week, and it is clear that he has had no luck on his side.
His dreams and his hopes are dashed in vain
His aspirations for a better future were just fleeting, wishful thinking.
In the final shout as they call his name
As the race concludes, the winners and losers are announced over a loudspeaker.
His tickets lie like scattered leaves out on that asphalt plain
The man's losing lottery tickets are lying on the ground like fallen leaves on a flat and empty pavement.
Looking around for the moment that's right
He is on the hunt for that lucky moment that could change his fortune.
Lottery life well the numbers are tight
His life is like a lottery where the odds are always against him.
As they try one more pull on the handle too late
In a last chance effort, he pulls the lever on a slot machine as it stops spinning.
He thinks of what could be it sticks in his throat
He realizes what his life could have been like and how his dreams may never come true, which makes him feel choked, upset.
If the quinella...
The man still clings to the hope that his luck may change, and he will win big in the next horse race.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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