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.
Surfing With A Spoon
Midnight Oil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That a one way loving wouldn't last
You think I'm moving slowly girl
i tell you, you're moving way too fast
Working in the city from 9 to 5
Traffic on the highway gonna blow my mind
Surfing with a spoon all the rest of the time
You better find your way without me
'Cause I'm heading for the coast in june
Don't talk about me when I'm gone
You know I couldn't leave too soon
Working...
I'm back in town, you're still around
I guess I'll have to stay away
I'm going up north where the weather's fine
And I'm living it from day to day
Working...
(Hirst/Moginie/Rotsey/Garrett)
The lyrics of Midnight Oil's "Surfing With A Spoon" represent a man's commitment issues and his desire to pursue a carefree life of surfing and adventure rather than settling down. The opening line "Well you knew from the start that a one way loving wouldn't last" suggests that the woman in the relationship was aware that it was not going to work out. The man then accuses her of moving too fast and comments on how he is taking it slow. He then goes on to describe his mundane life of working in the city from 9 to 5 and enduring the stressful traffic on the highway. The title "surfing with a spoon" encapsulates the theme of seeking adventure in everyday situations, even mundane ones. The man is not only a surfer but a dreamer and is not content with just living life on autopilot.
The chorus "Surfing with a spoon all the rest of the time" reinforces the theme of finding adventure in life, no matter how small or unlikely. The man then declares that he is leaving for the coast in June and that she should find her way without him. He does not want her to talk about him while he is gone, implying that he wants to cut ties and explore a life of adventure with no attachments. The second verse repeats the themes of commitment issues and the call of adventure. The man is intrigued by a carefree lifestyle, and he is not ready to settle down.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you knew from the start
You were aware from the beginning
That a one way loving wouldn't last
That a relationship without mutual feelings would inevitably fail
You think I'm moving slowly girl
You believe that I am taking things too slow
i tell you, you're moving way too fast
But, in my opinion, you are rushing too much
Working in the city from 9 to 5
I spend my days employed from nine to five
Traffic on the highway gonna blow my mind
The traffic on the highway often irritates me
Surfing with a spoon all the rest of the time
During my free time, I try to find joy in simple things like eating with a spoon
You better find your way without me
It would be best if you learned to navigate without my aid
'Cause I'm heading for the coast in june
Because I plan on going to the coast during the month of June
Don't talk about me when I'm gone
Please refrain from speaking about me behind my back when I am absent
You know I couldn't leave too soon
I feel as if I had to depart as soon as possible
I'm back in town, you're still around
I have returned, but you have not left
I guess I'll have to stay away
I suppose that I will have to continue avoiding you
I'm going up north where the weather's fine
I am travelling to the northern regions where the weather is pleasant
And I'm living it from day to day
I am taking each day as it comes, enjoying the moment
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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