The song is about The Bathurst riots were a series of violent incidents that occurred at Bathurst Jail, a prison in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia, in October 1970 and February 1974. On both occasions, a sit-in protest by inmates escalated into a prison riot. Each riot was followed by violent reprisals from prison officers, the so-called Bathurst Batterings. The second outbreak of violence at Bathurst led to the partial destruction and temporary closure of the prison, and ultimately to a Royal Commission into the entire State prison system. Donald Hugh Walker (born 29 November 1951) who wrote the song is an Australian musician and songwriter who wrote many of the hits for Australian pub rock band Cold Chisel. Walker is considered to be one of Australia's best songwriters. In 2012 he was inducted into the Australian Songwriter's Hall of Fame. From the earliest days, Walker was a creative songwriting force for the band. He became known for his passionate and raw lyrical observations on the Australian society and culture of the time. His songwriting credits include the hit singles "Flame Trees," "Saturday Night," "Choirgirl,""Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye)", "Cheap Wine," and the Australian Vietnam war song "Khe Sanh" (voted the 8th greatest Australian song of all time by the Australasian Performing Right Association in 2001. Peace out.
Nick, Her Majesty's Hotel is slang for a prison & the maid is actually a prison guard. Somebody has already mentioned the riots at Bathurst Jail. This is my favourite Chisel song, even if it's one of their shortest.
What you have here is a rock legend giving his absolute all, he has entertained us for 50 odd years. I don't care if he speaks the lyrics, he has earned that right...🇦🇺👍
there was usually a bottle of johnny walker or vodka on board and he smoked and ??? just to get warmed up . He didnt slow down after these guys his solo career was pretty hectic
This was filmed on the last night of the tour in December 2015 on back to back nights and it was a 32 song set list each night and this one of the last songs sung 👍🏼
I've seen Jimmy suffer from fatiuge in his voice before, The venue I worked at often was one of the first he would do on a national tour and often last becaus ehe and the family would all stay locally for a well deserved break. I saw one act "Soul Deep" eight times in the one venue and the last two nights of the tour he was burnt and still belted out the show he had a flu was run down from months on the road and was still worth every cent of the cover charge.
Hi Nick, this was another great chisel song from the early days. Jimmy’s voice was so pure and his diction perfect. Oh I miss 70s and 80s pub rock. Every night of the week at least 2 great bands at some pub or another. ❤
I have never heard a song that can emotionally put in the the despair of a prisoner like this one. it was Chisels gift. music was very personal to the listener
This Song Started life as Four Walls, Wash Basin , Double Bed…. A completely different song then slowly morphed into the song we now universally know as Four Walls….from a Fantastic album…. East.
I agree 100% , the second live version ... he's more then likely at the back end of the concert, iv seen them live many times and he can still get it out better then many singers his age
Thankyou for appreciating our Barnesey 🙌 I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him live 6 times over the years, including Cold Chisel, he’s an absolute legend, he’s the soundtrack to my life ❤️
Jimmy was on radio last week, on the 5AA station segment 'Conversations with Cornsey" half an hour talking about his early life to present worth a listen, two down to earth blokes having a chat.
Another good Chisel ballad sung by Jimmy is Just How Many Times. I saw Jimmy do his Soul tour last year and he sounded excellent. Your judgement of his voice being worn out here is spot on.
That’s the thing with jimmy, if you are lucky enough for them to start touring in your state he sounds absolutely brilliant, but if he tours your state at the backend of the tour you can notice the fatigue in his voice, but to be in the location he performs in it still sounds better live than on a recording on TH-cam
Totally agree with a few of the comments here, & also with Nick’s critique - have a listen to the Ringside live version where Jimmy’s vocals are cleaner & less tired.
This man has spent thousands of hours raising the roof since the early 70s. He admitted in his biography that at times he would go so hard in the early days, his throat would bleed. His voice has changed, it would after what it has been through hahaha.
Great song. Don Walker has written more than a few great songs though. It still puts a lump in my throat. During the covod lockdown Jim said he worked on his vocal range. This can be heard on his new solo album Blue Christmas. Does quite a few numbers with a deeper tone. Likes an album released or book release around Christmas does Jim, great singer with an eye for when is the best time to release new material.
The studio version is from the 70s album, the live version is obviously quite recent in comparison. Jimmy did go through a phase where his voice sounded tired for a couple of years, but oddly it improved greatly again and he regained much of his range and ability. Maybe he found a new vocal coach.
Hey great to see another fine Aussie tune being appreciated by someone in the states. Her majesties hotel is prison now to be renamed His. This is mid 70s Australia so no one was singing about Jailtime. they were banned from radio for a while countdown supported them for years the boys destroyed the stage at their awards show. Musicians, songwriters and performers the real deal
Interesting comparison here, a studio recorded version in the early 80s and a raw live version in 2015. Not sure of the actual concert, but it looks late in the night and possibly end of a long tour. Jimmy’s voice has changed, to me it’s deeper, more powerful and more grit and growl- not better or worse. Would be interesting to know if having more of an Australian than Scottish accent now has had an impact?
@ThatSingerReactions Jimmy with a tired voice on his worst day is better than most on their best day. I've heard many over the years sound a bit rough at the end of a long tour.
SUGGESTION! If u havnt done it already ........... 'Stevie Wright' (lead singer of Easybeats) doing his solo 'Evie' Parts 1-3 Live . Am sure you will like a great voice & performance.
Jimmy said in an interview a couple of years ago that instead of using his vocal cords to sing, he uses his secondary vocal cords that surround the main ones, so even when he loses his speaking voice, he can still sing as he usually would.
This was not the case when he was young - he had a very pure primary cord engagement then. As he aged, the amount of false cord engagement increased and became part of every note he sings. It's a part of the deterioration of his voice, but instead of worrying about it, he decided to lean into it and make it his signature sound. The only alternative would have been to take extended rests and rehabilitate his voice. It's not that his primary cords aren't still working - they are still responsible for the actual pitch of his notes, but the false cords and providing a lot of the tone and support for his voice.
@@andoletube I’m not sure if you misread my comment, but I didn’t say his primary vocal cords don’t work. It’s just that he said in two interviews that I’ve both seen and read that he uses his secondary vocal cords to sing.
@@vxlenciix No, I didn't think that. I was just adding some extra information. Although I do think his primary cords are not what they used to be - which is why he sought extra support and strength from his false cords. He can't sing high notes anymore with pure primary cords, like the early days when he was so pure and clear. He morphed into a completely different voice - which makes it all the more amazing that his career didn't suffer for it.
I much prefer this version to the original. And I was around whe this first came out and it was good but for me this was much better and I prefer his vocals in this one.
I've been waiting for you to do this one. This is not a song, this a hymn and it was from the heart. The Bathurst riots were a sad time in Australian history, you will understand better if you read it here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathurst_riots
Always remember a story he said in an interview years ago he got a random phone call once and it was from Eddie Van Halen. Jimmy invited him to his place. Long story short Eddie wanted Jimmy to be the singer for Van Halen. Obviously history shows he turned Eddie down.
Yeah his voice is fully gone in that live one he is way older in that hes just belting it out he really should of cancelled the shows for a year...lately now in 2023 he seems to be getting his voice back 😊
And that's why I prefer the old Barnsey's voice. Too much fake growl for the last decade. He has done some amazing stuff over the last decade and proven he still has the gift. But... because he is known for the grit, growl and belt so he thinks he needs to fake it up for every sung word to keep us entertained and that may have fatigued his voice. Please, for love of rock and roll, just sing it as it was originally written Jimmy.
Jimmy can't sing this song the way he did in his youth anymore, it's not a criticism it's just age it's a reality that he can't sing that high & clean anymore.
@@paul-Ess What Jimmy has done well as he's aged is chosen good material for his voice, of course the classic Chisel era was his prime it's hard for any rocker to sound like they did in their 20's for long.. he was a hard drinker, drugger & smoker to boot.
nO..THE SECOND VERSION IS TRHE ELDER jIMMY AND HE DOES NOT HAVE THE SWEETER VOICE OF HIS BOYHHOOD...tHE SONG IS ABOUT A time when conditions in our jails were brutal and the boys at Bathurst held a sit in which turned into a flogging...You have to remember jails like Grafton had reception bashings...ie:no matter what your crime you got a flogging by the screws just for breathing
As an Australian....Its funny to me that the black american experince was worst than the white Australian experience. Trust me, you would rhater pick cotten fields
That live version isn't their best. You should do a video on the early version of the song - "Four Walls, Washbasin, Double Bed". It's on TH-cam, and IMO it is superior.
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The song is about The Bathurst riots were a series of violent incidents that occurred at Bathurst Jail, a prison in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia, in October 1970 and February 1974. On both occasions, a sit-in protest by inmates escalated into a prison riot. Each riot was followed by violent reprisals from prison officers, the so-called Bathurst Batterings. The second outbreak of violence at Bathurst led to the partial destruction and temporary closure of the prison, and ultimately to a Royal Commission into the entire State prison system. Donald Hugh Walker (born 29 November 1951) who wrote the song is an Australian musician and songwriter who wrote many of the hits for Australian pub rock band Cold Chisel. Walker is considered to be one of Australia's best songwriters. In 2012 he was inducted into the Australian Songwriter's Hall of Fame. From the earliest days, Walker was a creative songwriting force for the band. He became known for his passionate and raw lyrical observations on the Australian society and culture of the time. His songwriting credits include the hit singles "Flame Trees," "Saturday Night," "Choirgirl,""Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye)", "Cheap Wine," and the Australian Vietnam war song "Khe Sanh" (voted the 8th greatest Australian song of all time by the Australasian Performing Right Association in 2001. Peace out.
Been a chisel fan since the early 80s they were amazing .
This puts to bed the lie that Jimmy can only scream. His voice is angelic
This was written by Don Walker after they did some prison shows, awesome lyrics and an emotional song…. A great ballad
I reckon the Pentridge inmates would have enjoyed them. I was pleased they were allowed play inside.
Nick, Her Majesty's Hotel is slang for a prison & the maid is actually a prison guard. Somebody has already mentioned the riots at Bathurst Jail. This is my favourite Chisel song, even if it's one of their shortest.
I'd pay to listen to him whisper. The man is a legend, brilliant. 👍🍺
Same
You need to acknowledge Don Walker who writes these classic songs
What you have here is a rock legend giving his absolute all, he has entertained us for 50 odd years. I don't care if he speaks the lyrics, he has earned that right...🇦🇺👍
there was usually a bottle of johnny walker or vodka on board and he smoked and ??? just to get warmed up . He didnt slow down after these guys his solo career was pretty hectic
chisel could do everything - groove , rock , piano ballads , ....even perfect pop ,yeh ....even take you to church ....amazing band
This was filmed on the last night of the tour in December 2015 on back to back nights and it was a 32 song set list each night and this one of the last songs sung 👍🏼
I can't like this enough, one of my favourite songs of all time and has been since the 80's
" Four walls, wash basin, prison bed" Love this song !
I've seen Jimmy suffer from fatiuge in his voice before, The venue I worked at often was one of the first he would do on a national tour and often last becaus ehe and the family would all stay locally for a well deserved break.
I saw one act "Soul Deep" eight times in the one venue and the last two nights of the tour he was burnt and still belted out the show he had a flu was run down from months on the road and was still worth every cent of the cover charge.
Hi Nick, this was another great chisel song from the early days. Jimmy’s voice was so pure and his diction perfect. Oh I miss 70s and 80s pub rock. Every night of the week at least 2 great bands at some pub or another. ❤
Barnsy touches my heart every time he sings 💜 and Mossy makes the guitar sing 💕powerful 💞
It’s His Majesty’s hotel now.
The second version is just 50-60years of passion showing its wear. Still feel every lyric because he's such a great artist.
If Chisel was a boxer, theyd be the greatest talent never to become a world champ.
He's definitely lost some finesse over the years
This is amazing !! Reminds me of being a teenager in the 1980’s in Australia .
Criminally underrated band. CRIMJNAL!
Her Majesty’s Hotel, Aussie slang for jail
Have a listen to jimmy singing this song live on their ringside tour mate. It's flawless
Barnsy touches my heart every time he sings 💜 powerful 💞
let's not forget that the live version came some 30 years of hard living after the studio version... and still nails it.
My favourite of ALL Chisel songs. Simply sad and beautiful all in one. Perfectly performed.
This one of my all-time favourite Cold Chisel songs along with Star Hotel
One of my favorite Chisel songs!!!
Ever time I hear this I only have 1 thought...more please 🙏
I have never heard a song that can emotionally put in the the despair of a prisoner like this one. it was Chisels gift. music was very personal to the listener
This Song Started life as Four Walls, Wash Basin , Double Bed…. A completely different song then slowly morphed into the song we now universally know as Four Walls….from a Fantastic album…. East.
My absolute favourite Chisel song......... The lyrics are so evocative, the musicality is spot on.
Very true. His voice was going on that song on that night. Keep up the great work bro.
I agree 100% , the second live version ... he's more then likely at the back end of the concert, iv seen them live many times and he can still get it out better then many singers his age
You're on the ball. Not every show can be perfect.
Thankyou for appreciating our Barnesey 🙌
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him live 6 times over the years, including Cold Chisel, he’s an absolute legend, he’s the soundtrack to my life ❤️
Jimmy was on radio last week, on the 5AA station segment 'Conversations with Cornsey" half an hour talking about his early life to present worth a listen, two down to earth blokes having a chat.
Just my favourite - never fails.
There's 30 years of age between these two versions
They're just so good.
My fave Chisels song ever
How good is this! I have so many fave CC songs, they are all soooo freaking good.
Another good Chisel ballad sung by Jimmy is Just How Many Times. I saw Jimmy do his Soul tour last year and he sounded excellent. Your judgement of his voice being worn out here is spot on.
That’s the thing with jimmy, if you are lucky enough for them to start touring in your state he sounds absolutely brilliant, but if he tours your state at the backend of the tour you can notice the fatigue in his voice, but to be in the location he performs in it still sounds better live than on a recording on TH-cam
One of my favourite Chisel songs! 👏🏻
Love this song 🎵 ❤️
Totally agree with a few of the comments here, & also with Nick’s critique - have a listen to the Ringside live version where Jimmy’s vocals are cleaner & less tired.
This man has spent thousands of hours raising the roof since the early 70s. He admitted in his biography that at times he would go so hard in the early days, his throat would bleed. His voice has changed, it would after what it has been through hahaha.
Great song. Don Walker has written more than a few great songs though. It still puts a lump in my throat. During the covod lockdown Jim said he worked on his vocal range. This can be heard on his new solo album Blue Christmas. Does quite a few numbers with a deeper tone. Likes an album released or book release around Christmas does Jim, great singer with an eye for when is the best time to release new material.
Listen to this song live. Put in four walls live swingshift
Great album swingshift, still playing it 40 years later.
I don't know if you've done Angel in My Room? it's another great one. This song "Four Walls" is Jimmy at his vocal best!
You must listen to the lyrics or google them such as with this one, " I love to march while some nazi calls the time"
Yeh 50yrs on mate!.
Still pure Gold!.👍
New sub , Melbourne, Vic, Australia...
Love this song..
Fecking awesome song.
This was the last show of the tour and jimmy’s voice is warn out!
The studio version is from the 70s album, the live version is obviously quite recent in comparison. Jimmy did go through a phase where his voice sounded tired for a couple of years, but oddly it improved greatly again and he regained much of his range and ability. Maybe he found a new vocal coach.
Listen to the live album by Chisel called Swingshift that came out early 80's. This song is epic on that.
It was still in tune, rough or not. Loved it.
Hey great to see another fine Aussie tune being appreciated by someone in the states. Her majesties hotel is prison now to be renamed His. This is mid 70s Australia so no one was singing about Jailtime. they were banned from radio for a while countdown supported them for years the boys destroyed the stage at their awards show. Musicians, songwriters and performers the real deal
Jimmy was like 50 years older in the live version you chose. When he was young he was brilliant live...
There was a lot of years between these versions and there was a lot of years of Vodka and cigarettes in between.
The whole East album is excellent.
Interesting comparison here, a studio recorded version in the early 80s and a raw live version in 2015. Not sure of the actual concert, but it looks late in the night and possibly end of a long tour. Jimmy’s voice has changed, to me it’s deeper, more powerful and more grit and growl- not better or worse. Would be interesting to know if having more of an Australian than Scottish accent now has had an impact?
Definitely something up with his voice in this clip. Still he gets through it in real Jimmy style ❤️
Last part of his tour and he had sung a 32 song set I was told so I was right because even with his tired voice he can out sing many Singers 💯
@ThatSingerReactions Jimmy with a tired voice on his worst day is better than most on their best day. I've heard many over the years sound a bit rough at the end of a long tour.
Its interesting to google cold chisel gig history. They performed a lot of gigs in the 70s and 80s
Original recording-1980 , this live version-2015
I've always thought this to be one of their best songs. Pleased to hear your comments about how much you liked it.
Great tune man
I lived in bathurst when the riot happened at Bathurst jail
Number 5 , Diesel
SUGGESTION! If u havnt done it already ........... 'Stevie Wright' (lead singer of Easybeats) doing his solo 'Evie' Parts 1-3 Live . Am sure you will like a great voice & performance.
Yes, Yes, Yes!
Jimmy said in an interview a couple of years ago that instead of using his vocal cords to sing, he uses his secondary vocal cords that surround the main ones, so even when he loses his speaking voice, he can still sing as he usually would.
This was not the case when he was young - he had a very pure primary cord engagement then. As he aged, the amount of false cord engagement increased and became part of every note he sings. It's a part of the deterioration of his voice, but instead of worrying about it, he decided to lean into it and make it his signature sound. The only alternative would have been to take extended rests and rehabilitate his voice. It's not that his primary cords aren't still working - they are still responsible for the actual pitch of his notes, but the false cords and providing a lot of the tone and support for his voice.
@@andoletube I’m not sure if you misread my comment, but I didn’t say his primary vocal cords don’t work. It’s just that he said in two interviews that I’ve both seen and read that he uses his secondary vocal cords to sing.
@@vxlenciix No, I didn't think that. I was just adding some extra information. Although I do think his primary cords are not what they used to be - which is why he sought extra support and strength from his false cords. He can't sing high notes anymore with pure primary cords, like the early days when he was so pure and clear. He morphed into a completely different voice - which makes it all the more amazing that his career didn't suffer for it.
You really need to get onto " The last wave of summer" album.
I much prefer this version to the original. And I was around whe this first came out and it was good but for me this was much better and I prefer his vocals in this one.
I've been waiting for you to do this one.
This is not a song, this a hymn and it was from the heart. The Bathurst riots were a sad time in Australian history, you will understand better if you read it here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathurst_riots
Its 35 years after he recorded the original version....
You gotta check out Bow River live from ringside
He's been there and done that
@@nickmaguire4914 when ?
Jimmy had a very unhealthy period in his life, he has now overcome it, the show must still go on! 😒 Professional, passionate, always!!
Steve Perry - Journey
Always remember a story he said in an interview years ago he got a random phone call once and it was from Eddie Van Halen. Jimmy invited him to his place. Long story short Eddie wanted Jimmy to be the singer for Van Halen. Obviously history shows he turned Eddie down.
You should do My Turn to Cry if you havent already
Jimmy is old here. Play the earlier live version. One of my favourite bands of all time.
Bathurst Bikie riots !
Watch love is enough official video jimmy barnes
That sounds like Ian Moss singing on the first video ??
It isn't.
his voice had burnt out at the time of that live version
Yeah his voice is fully gone in that live one he is way older in that hes just belting it out he really should of cancelled the shows for a year...lately now in 2023 he seems to be getting his voice back 😊
And that's why I prefer the old Barnsey's voice. Too much fake growl for the last decade.
He has done some amazing stuff over the last decade and proven he still has the gift.
But... because he is known for the grit, growl and belt so he thinks he needs to fake it up for every sung word to keep us entertained and that may have fatigued his voice.
Please, for love of rock and roll, just sing it as it was originally written Jimmy.
The Waifs did a great version
Jimmy can't sing this song the way he did in his youth anymore, it's not a criticism it's just age it's a reality that he can't sing that high & clean anymore.
@@paul-Ess What Jimmy has done well as he's aged is chosen good material for his voice, of course the classic Chisel era was his prime it's hard for any rocker to sound like they did in their 20's for long.. he was a hard drinker, drugger & smoker to boot.
nO..THE SECOND VERSION IS TRHE ELDER jIMMY AND HE DOES NOT HAVE THE SWEETER VOICE OF HIS BOYHHOOD...tHE SONG IS ABOUT A time when conditions in our jails were brutal and the boys at Bathurst held a sit in which turned into a flogging...You have to remember jails like Grafton had reception bashings...ie:no matter what your crime you got a flogging by the screws just for breathing
jimmy's is a legend but his voice has changed.. Yes its worn out now and the clarity from his youth is gone. Just saying
absolutely no care of the initial lyrics / story
As an Australian....Its funny to me that the black american experince was worst than the white Australian experience. Trust me, you would rhater pick cotten fields
There S way better live versions that they did at different times.
His much older in the live
Love Jimmy, but that live version was pretty bad.
We all get older 🤔
you focus on lyrics coool... but story is strong
That live version isn't their best. You should do a video on the early version of the song - "Four Walls, Washbasin, Double Bed". It's on TH-cam, and IMO it is superior.
hes a little off and struggled and thru him self forward a litte lto get grunt or push out of his huge old american style bellows