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.
Truganini
Midnight Oil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Roads are cut, lines are down
We'll be staying at the Roma Bar
Till that monsoon passes on
The backbone of this country's broken
The land is cracked and the land is sore
Farmers are hanging on by their fingertips
I hear much support for the monarchy
I hear the Union Jack's to remain
I see Namatjira in custody
I see Truganini's in chains
And the world it won't stand still
Blue collar work it don't get you nowhere
You just go round and round in debt
Somebody's got you on that treadmill, mate
And I hope you're not beaten yet
I hear much support for the monarchy
I see the Union Jack in flames, let it burn
I see Namatjira with dignity
I see Truganini's in chains
The song "Truganini" by Midnight Oil is a political protest song that deals with a range of themes such as Australia's colonial past, the government's attitude towards indigenous rights, and the impact of modernization on the environment. The song's title refers to Truganini, an indigenous Tasmanian who is known for her resistance to the European colonization of Australia in the 19th century. Throughout the song, Peter Garrett, the lead singer, makes a series of observations about the state of the country, the challenges faced by farmers, and the plight of indigenous Australians.
The first verse of the song sets the scene with a description of a road train stranded in the midst of a bad storm. The second verse delves deeper into the issues at hand, with the singer lamenting the state of the broken land and the farmers hanging on by their fingertips. The third verse represents a commentary on the government's attitude towards indigenous Australians, with a reference to Truganini and Namatjira, who were both persecuted by the authorities. The chorus repeats the refrain, "and the world won't stand still," indicating that action is needed to address these issues.
The fourth verse addresses the struggles faced by blue-collar workers who are stuck in a cycle of debt and are forced to work long hours just to survive. This verse serves as a critique of the modern economic system and the lack of support for the working-class. The fifth verse returns to the theme of indigenous rights, with a call to burn the Union Jack and to recognize the dignity of people like Namatjira. Overall, "Truganini" is a powerful indictment of the injustices that have been perpetrated against indigenous Australians and a call to action for social and environmental change.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a road train going nowhere
There's a sense of hopelessness and stagnation in this country.
Roads are cut, lines are down
Everything that's supposed to keep this country moving is currently at a standstill.
We'll be staying at the Roma Bar
We'll be stuck in this state of despair until things get better.
Till that monsoon passes on
Hope is on the horizon, but it's still far off.
The backbone of this country's broken
The things that used to make this country strong have crumbled.
The land is cracked and the land is sore
The land itself has suffered as a result of the country's decline.
Farmers are hanging on by their fingertips
Even those who are supposed to be the backbone of this country are barely holding on.
We cursed and stumbled across that shore
This country was founded on a history of violence and exploitation.
I hear much support for the monarchy
Many people in this country are still clinging to outdated and oppressive systems of government.
I hear the Union Jack's to remain
There are still those who believe that this country should remain tied to its colonial past.
I see Namatjira in custody
Indigenous people are still being oppressed and incarcerated by the government.
I see Truganini's in chains
The legacy of colonial violence is still visible in the treatment of Indigenous people today.
And the world it won't stand still
The problems in this country won't go away on their own; action needs to be taken to address them.
Blue collar work it don't get you nowhere
Working hard isn't enough to get ahead in this economy.
You just go round and round in debt
Many people are trapped in a cycle of debt that they can't escape from.
Somebody's got you on that treadmill, mate
The system is designed to keep people running in circles and never getting ahead.
And I hope you're not beaten yet
Despite all of this, there's still hope that things can change for the better.
I hear much support for the monarchy
Many people in this country are still clinging to outdated and oppressive systems of government.
I see the Union Jack in flames, let it burn
It's time to let go of the country's colonial past and move forward.
I see Namatjira with dignity
Indigenous people deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, not incarcerated.
I see Truganini's in chains
The legacy of colonial violence is still visible in the treatment of Indigenous people today.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES MOGINIE, MARTIN ROTSEY, PETER GARRETT, ROBERT HIRST, WAYNE STEVENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind