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.
Too Much Sunshine
Midnight Oil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Took the V8 away
Light a spark in the dark take a mark
It's resurrection day
It's a breeze timorese apec speak
Wear batik seen not heard.
Well we do the same things that we always do
I don't come to bury you
The trouble is with you.
We got too much sunshine,
We got too much sunshine.
Have you ever built your house
In a town called pissitaway
You were dreaming of marinas
With a crown you were king for a day
Saw a man with a reason any season
Got a bird in his hand.
Well we do the same things that we always do
Nothing changes but the channel changes view
Well the trouble with you has been
You can sleep but you can't dream.
We got too much sunshine.
The first verse of Midnight Oil's song Too Much Sunshine seems to be a nostalgic reference to the singer's past. The line "Haven't had so much fun since my daddy took the V8 away" suggests that the singer is reminiscing about a time when they were younger and having fun with their father's car. The next line "Light a spark in the dark take a mark, it's resurrection day" may be interpreted as an invitation to celebrate life and living. The words "Light a spark in the dark" could be interpreted as a call to find joy and positivity in difficult times. "Take a mark" may mean to start a journey with purpose and intention while "it's resurrection day" may signify renewal and rebirth.
The second verse seems to be calling out the monotony of life. The line "Well, we do the same things that we always do, nothing changes but the colour changes hue" suggests that although things may seem to change, it is only superficially. The singer then declares, "I don't come to bury you, the trouble is with you", indicating that the listener is the problem and not the singer. The third verse is about living in a town called Pissitaway and dreaming of something better. The line "Saw a man with a reason any season, got a bird in his hand" could signify a person who has a clear purpose in life and is content with what they have.
Line by Line Meaning
Haven't had so much fun since my daddy
I haven't had this much fun since my father took away the powerful V8 car that I used to drive recklessly.
Took the V8 away
My father took away my V8 car to stop me from driving dangerously.
Light a spark in the dark take a mark
In the darkness, we need to create a spark to light the way and leave a mark on the world.
It's resurrection day
Today is like a rebirth or a renewal, a chance to start again.
It's a breeze timorese apec speak
Speaking in Timorese or APEC language may be easy and effortless, like a breeze.
Wear batik seen not heard.
Wearing the traditional Indonesian fabric called batik is more about the visual appearance, rather than making a statement with words.
Well we do the same things that we always do
Our routine never changes, even though the way we perceive the world around us can shift.
Nothing changes but the colour changes hue
Even though everything stays the same, our perspective and interpretation of things can change over time.
I don't come to bury you
I'm not here to criticize or put you down.
The trouble is with you.
The problem lies with you, not with me or anyone else.
We got too much sunshine,
We have too much positivity or optimism, which can be blinding and unrealistic.
Have you ever built your house
Have you ever created a world for yourself that turned out to be disappointing or unfulfilling?
In a town called pissitaway
Have you ever found yourself in a place that felt like a waste or a mistake?
You were dreaming of marinas
You had high hopes and ambitions for the future, maybe even unrealistic ones.
With a crown you were king for a day
At your peak, you felt like a powerful ruler, but it was only temporary.
Saw a man with a reason any season
You met a man who always seemed to have a purpose or goal, no matter what time of year it was.
Got a bird in his hand.
This man achieved his goals or captured his dreams, and now has something tangible to show for it.
Well the trouble with you has been
The problem with you all along has been that you're unable to dream or imagine beyond what you already know.
You can sleep but you can't dream.
You're capable of resting or being content, but you're unable to envision a life beyond your current circumstances.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
OreoPL
I love that song
Alex Bass
Fully agree , great song.
peter lah
This song is hard to play, but hey we're dreaming nothing dreary.
preserver7777
This could be part of the Box set - Overflow Tank - rarities boxset coming out soon. The actual video compilation DVD in the box set is called 40000 Watt RSL. Here's hoping!
stereomusicvideo
And you'd be right :)