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.
Tin Legs And Tin Mines
Midnight Oil Lyrics
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I'm gonna wait till we all stop from running
Boxed in like candles, polar bear pride
Turning to terror as the script is read out
Unwilling actors, accomplished protractors will shout
I'm gonna wait till we reach the sky
Tin legs and tin mines, anyone cries
Waiting around there must be a time
Time to start thinking and working it out
Come with me now, come with me now, we'll be laughing
Who's running the world today?
I'm gonna wait till they knock on my door
I'm gonna wait till they dig up the floor boards
Poland in Disneyland, wet dream control
Super computer, the new contraband
I'm gonna wait, we must make a stand
Come with me now, stand with me now one more time
The song "Tin Legs And Tin Mines" by Midnight Oil is a socio-political commentary on the state of the world, particularly the impact of modern technology and capitalism. The opening lines of the song, "I'm gonna wait for the moment to come, I'm gonna wait till we all stop from running," suggest a waiting for change and a time to reconsider the direction we are heading. The reference to "boxed in like candles," highlights the sense of confinement and vulnerability, while "polar bear pride turning to terror" underscores the sense of impending danger for humanity.
The second stanza shifts the focus to the need for hope in the face of dire circumstances. The reference to "Tin legs and tin mines, anyone cries" suggests that everyone is affected, and that it is in their collective interest to find a solution. The call to "come with me now, we'll be laughing" is a hopeful note in a song that is otherwise quite somber. The lyrics are asking for unity among people and willingness to work together.
The third stanza returns to the theme of waiting for change, underscored with the specific imagery of waiting until the situation is dire enough for people to take a stand. The lyric "Poland in Disneyland, wet dream control, supercomputer, the new contraband" highlights the impact of modern technology and capitalist influence on the world. The song concludes with a call to "stand with me now one more time," emphasizing once again the importance of collective action.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna wait for the moment to come
I will wait until the right time comes
I'm gonna wait till we all stop from running
I will wait until everyone stops running around/busy
Boxed in like candles, polar bear pride
We feel trapped and helpless, like polar bears losing their homes due to melting ice (represented as candles)
Turning to terror as the script is read out
Feeling frightened as events unfold beyond our control, like being in a play with a predetermined script
Unwilling actors, accomplished protractors will shout
We may feel powerless, but we can still speak out against the injustices we witness
I'm gonna wait till we reach the sky
I will wait until we achieve our lofty goals
Tin legs and tin mines, anyone cries
Life is difficult and dangerous, and it's okay to feel overwhelmed or to cry
Cry in the hope that there'll be tomorrow
Even when things seem bleak, we can hold onto hope for a better future
Waiting around there must be a time
We can't wait forever; we must take action eventually
Time to start thinking and working it out
It's time to put our heads together and come up with solutions
Come with me now, come with me now, we'll be laughing
Let's face our problems together and find reasons to be happy
Who's running the world today?
Who is in charge, and are they doing a good job?
I'm gonna wait till they knock on my door
I will wait until directly affected by a problem to take action
I'm gonna wait till they dig up the floor boards
I will wait until forced to confront problems that were previously hidden or ignored
Poland in Disneyland, wet dream control
Referring to the rise of authoritarian regimes, where a fake 'Disneyland' version of the country is used to control citizens' dreams and desires
Super computer, the new contraband
In an era of increasing technological control, the ability to resist such control is highly valuable
I'm gonna wait, we must make a stand
Waiting is not enough; we must take action and stand up for what we believe in
Come with me now, stand with me now one more time
Let's unite and stand together to create a better future
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