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.
Stars Of Warburton
Midnight Oil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He, He's out there
You know it's Kennedy's shadow from White Cross to Michigan
ATM's, are in the air, oh yeah machines they are spinning out everywhere
The speaker is speaking
Can you hear the sound
The listener is listening as he hits the ground
I couldn't believe
I couldn't believe the stars of Warburton were waiting for me
We were dancing, we were dancing on the plain
We're looking through the window didn't see any buffalo there
We got our pipe dreams, they went up in smoke dreams
Burn it clean in the climate control, of your hypermark malls
Don't want to talk about Elvis Presley
Don't want to see his white shoes walking around
And around and around over here
The press baron's acting up the mainframes are down
Newspapers crawling around on the ground
The medium or the message still there's no one around
I couldn't believe
I couldn't believe the stars of Warburton were waiting for me
Over the hills and mountains we go, so far, so far away
For the ring of the axe on the ironbark, for the smell of the wallaby stew
From the golden reefs to the sandstone cliffs
Came the sheep of the Mallee plain
The wind blew the soil to the Orient, we'll be shouting to the skies again
I couldn't believe
I couldn't believe the stars of Warburton were waiting for me
I couldn't believe
I couldn't believe the stars of Warburton were living in me
Raining down on me, were washing down on me
(Moginie/Garrett)
The opening verses of Midnight Oil's song Stars Of Warburton give us a glimpse into the chaotic state of affairs of modern times, where technology has replaced traditional tools, and the press is controlled by powerful forces. The singer is describing being completely shaken down in a toy town, with the shadow of a powerful figure like Kennedy looming in the background. The mention of ATMs being in the air and machines spinning out everywhere establishes the theme of advanced technology.
The chorus depicts a surreal scene in which the stars of Warburton, a rural town in Western Australia, are waiting for the singer. It is unclear who or what the stars represent - it could be a literal representation of the stars in the sky, or a metaphor for something deeper that the singer has been seeking. The latter interpretation is strengthened by the line "we got our pipe dreams, they went up in smoke dreams", suggesting that the singer's aspirations may have been misguided.
The final verse takes us on a journey through the Australian landscape, from the mountains to the plains, and links the various regions with the legacy of colonialism. The image of the sheep of the Mallee plain being blown away to the Orient illustrates the impact of imperialism on not just the landscape, but also the people and fauna of the country. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, suggesting that the stars of Warburton represent the hope for a better future that the singer has been seeking.
Line by Line Meaning
I, I was, I was shaken down in a toy town
The singer was interrogated in a small place.
He, He's out there
Someone is present.
You know it's Kennedy's shadow from White Cross to Michigan
A person's influence is vast.
ATM's, are in the air, oh yeah machines they are spinning out everywhere
The listener sees many technology-based machines being built and used.
The speaker is speaking
Can you hear the sound
The listener is listening as he hits the ground
The medium or the message but there's no one around
Communication is taking place, but there is no one physically present.
I couldn't believe
I couldn't believe the stars of Warburton were waiting for me
The singer was amazed to see the heavenly bodies in the sky of Warburton.
We were dancing, we were dancing on the plain
We're looking through the window didn't see any buffalo there
We got our pipe dreams, they went up in smoke dreams
Burn it clean in the climate control, of your hypermark malls
Don't want to talk about Elvis Presley
Don't want to see his white shoes walking around
And around and around over here
The press baron's acting up the mainframes are down
Newspapers crawling around on the ground
The medium or the message still there's no one around
The singer and others were having fun when they realized they were unable to achieve their dreams, which burned out. The singer does not want to discuss a famous person or see his shoes. An important person's actions have caused problems, and the media message is still not reaching anyone.
Over the hills and mountains we go, so far, so far away
For the ring of the axe on the ironbark, for the smell of the wallaby stew
From the golden reefs to the sandstone cliffs
Came the sheep of the Mallee plain
The wind blew the soil to the Orient, we'll be shouting to the skies again
People traveled far and wide to experience new things such as the sound and scent of food being cooked, and animals from the plains. The landscape is beautiful and the air carries their voices.
I couldn't believe
I couldn't believe the stars of Warburton were waiting for me
I couldn't believe
I couldn't believe the stars of Warburton were living in me
Raining down on me, were washing down on me
The artist was awed by the sight of stars in Warburton, and felt they were a part of them. The stars' rays washed over the artist.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES MOGINIE, MARTIN ROTSEY, PETER GARRETT, ROBERT HIRST, WAYNE STEVENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind