Indigenous folk told me this song was about the removal of Aboriginal people from Old Mapoon back in the 1960s to resettle them in Bamaga. Their homes were literally burned to prevent them returning to them hence the "beds are burning" line! I cried when they told me this story.
Pay the rent , give it back.... The land .... How can you sleep with injustice is the basic meaning....... everyone in Australia rocked out to this song when it was released have a huge political impact 👏
This is a political song about giving native Australian lands back to the Pintupi, who were among the very last people to come in from the desert. These "last contact" people began moving from the Gibson Desert to settlements and missions in the 1930s. More were forcibly moved during the 1950s and 1960s to the Papunya settlement. In 1981 they left to return to their own country and established the Kintore community which is nestled in the picturesque Kintore Ranges, surrounded by Mulga and Spinifex country. It is now a thriving little community with a population of about 400.
At the heart of the song is the notion that indigenous people who were forcibly removed from parts of Australia to make way for agriculture and mining should have ownership rights.
@@jodiecostello6356 The part of First Nations history that the British suppressed, to perpetuate the notion of a primitive people, was that there were language groups who were settled in one place, even while others were nomadic. If you read the diaries of people like Joseph Banks, who mentions a tract of land nine miles long where a language group were growing crops, and Governor Lachlan Macquarie, you see the reality is quite different.
This song is about acknowledgement of our country's dispossession of the traditional owners. I always thought this was a powerful metaphor that could be applied in a lot of countries. If you have repression, disenfranchised people or a history that you don't want to acknowledge, just going on with your life because you think it doesn't affect you is like going to sleep in a burning bed.
I understand all that BUT, that doesn’t mean they’re not PERFECT and free from SIN. I grew up in “White Conservative” AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺. I consider this country MY HOME! We’re talking the 70’s for me! My Grandparents migrated to Australia 🇦🇺 back in 1965. When Australia OPENED their doors to everyone OTHER than England. My grandparents migrated from the “AFRICAS” back in 1965. We’re from MAURITIUS 🇲🇺. My mix is WELSH! Mauritians are ALL mixed. There is NO indigenous people there. The Dutch had it and KILLED all the DODO 🦤 there as it was their FOOD source! Then it fell into the hands of the FRENCH. Because of the “SUGAR CANE” there before falling into The British. WHO fought for the Island and WON! So, first languages there is BOTH English/French. But the locals do have a “CREOLE” they speak which is the unofficial language for Mauritians! My point! Even though WE R also COLOURED peoples, A mixed Race, my level of racism here in Australia 🇦🇺 has been MINIMAL! We experienced it when I was a child, but yeah, BRING ON any Aussie speaking to me now…. Not only do they know I’m AUSSIE AS cause u can hear that in my speech, BUT, I’ll give that crap back 10 fold!!! So my question is: How many times do we say “SORRY” before we can be United? I’m a Christian, so forgiveness is a major part of my beliefs. We as humans R NOT perfect, but if our God or ur God can forgive, build a bridge and MOVE ON! Shouldn’t we be looking at that? I’ve NEVER worked with and “Indigenous” person before EVER! Recently, I did. She PROVED to be just as “Backstabbing, Bitchy, Demanding & intolerable” as other people IN THE WORLD 🌎 At the end of the day, they are out to ERASE how much people who have chosen this country as home as “ILLEGITIMATE “ And ALWAYS be “Entitled” to a country that was transformed by the British so they can what? Destroy??? With their OWN agenda???
@@katchiewilliams4638 Sorry doesn't mean much when we still haven't done anything meaningful to right the wrongs of the past or those that persist to this day. As for being united, we are not. Australia is currently divided along racial lines. I don't mean that in some metaphorical or simply social sense, I mean it literally and it is evident in our nation's statistics. For example, the life expectancy of Aboriginal Australians is roughly 8yr lower than that of non-indigenous Australians; Though they make up only 3% of the Australian population, Aboriginal Australians comprise 26% of our nation's prison population, making them the most incarcerated people in the world; The rate of child removal from Aboriginal homes is 10 times that for children from non-indigenous homes; The rate of childhood mortality is twice as high for Aboriginal children than for non-indigenous; 1 in 3 Aboriginal Australians is living in poverty compared to 1 in 8 for non-indigenous Australians; Aboriginal unemployment is three times higher than that of non-indigenous Australians; Etc, etc, etc. So you've known one Aboriginal person ever?... And you think that person is somehow representative of all Aboriginal people?... You drew your conclusion from a sample size of one?... That's ridiculous. As for your claims that Aboriginal people want to "erase" non-indigenous Australians and "destroy" modern Australia, what evidence do you have for this?... Sounds to me that you're just regurgitating Murdoch media talking points. I challenge you to seek out conversations with Aboriginal Australians. Ask them their views first hand and I bet you'll discover that very few, if any, actually hold such views. Your views on indigenous Australians seem very ignorant and very prejudiced.
Legislation has it that we are all repressed equally! Don't you get it? Dispossessed? Of what? Uranium mines? T 'V? Beer? dispossessed of WHAT exactly? THIS IS MY COUNTRY! And I am happy to share it with you !
An amazingly powerful song. Peter Garrett is a great political and environmental activist. He was even a Federal minister for a while. The Oil's are a great band, you should listen to more of their work.
Such an EPIC song of its time, even now! He became a Minister of our Parliament in Australia 🇦🇺 to try and make a difference at the time. His dance moves as epic especially the wobbles he gets. ❤
@@Blade43 well that kinda makes it even more white person dancing then, if he's the only person who does it & he's white :P Maybe it should be called "Garrett dancing" or "Oils dancing" if we want to be more accurate of what it is then :)
Ryan, Midnight Oil addressed many political and social issues in their music. this was a great example, another that jumps out at me is Blue Sky Mine... addressing the issues with asbestosis and the lack of response from the mine owners and the government. Just amazing music and real stories to tell about the people of Australia. Well done for choosing this song.
@@mehere8038 I do not know but I think the song is in Europe generally an all-time hit! In our small village disco for example, the song ran 20 years ago always as an intro song when the party went off.... wild times were that 😅
That would be the Indians, Africans, Polynesians and Asians that they bred from initially, or perhaps the Dutch, French, Portugese and Spanish who invaded/discovered Terra Australis first! Traditional Owners?? Undeveloped and vacant land has very little value, but I'm sure the Dutch would appreciate having West Australia and Tasmania back - they did claim and name them first! 🤔
@@pepperedsteak5115 How can you acknowledge something you do not understand or have the complete knowledge of? The creators opinion is his opinion of the moment and conditions when he wrote it, mine is a properly researched historical fact in response to your statement! Our wonderful country was created by brave explorers, slave convicts and the refugees, not the indigenous! 😏
@@jenniferharrison8915 why do you think 60,000 ++ years of continuous history should have anything tondo with what you might call barren land and Terra Nullius ..the indigenous people didn't need to build buildings or roads or parliament houses to be in control of this land and their conservation of it and changing it to.suit their lifestyles and and practices...you seem to know very little ..and if you are from Australia you should be ashamed of your knowledge and you have no voice ...
A lot of their songs are political on a range of issues, equity, climate change, indigenous rights. The lead singer Peter Garrett was actually a federal politician in the Labour Rudd government for a few years.
Yeah. He sold out for political gain. Yeah. The songs were good, but then he folded, to get political. Now he is doing nothing to get achieved. For koori people. Was just a ruse. Too sell music..
@@nancycurtis7315 it was a mistake sure but I don’t think it was a ruse. I believe he genuinely thought he could do some good but inexperience and a lack of political nouse let him down. BTW I don’t actually like Midnight Oil that much so I’m not saying this just because I’m a fan.
@Steve C A closed mind is a dead mind. Have to rethink ones own, at times. Look differently and I grow. Thank you so much for your reply. Gave me a differentl aspect. Greetings from Dimboola, in Victoria, Australia. You are very open minded. Gave me a alternative way of thinking. 63 years young!
Really sorry you didn’t pause the song while reading the lyrics. Peter Garrett’s performance is always amazing. Midnight Oil are a political band and the string driving music leaves no real doubt. The song is about Land Rights for First Nations people.
@@HenriHattar WoW! Well you know what they say, if you have nothing good to say then scroll on by. (I was going to refer to a list of the Oil’s chart topping hits but there were so very many).
He was an elected politician at the this time. Member for Kingsford Smith, Minister for the Environment and the Arts, 2007-2010 Australian Federal Government
That's actually pretty crazy when you think about it, that he was actually serving in parliament while doing that concert! I never realised that, I thought he stopped performing while he was a pollie
The song was released in 1987. All (I think) Midnight Oils' songs are about environmental issues and Indigenous rights. Personally, my favourite lyrics are the first verse of King Of The Mountain. "Fair's fair" is a request/urging to be equitable and reasonable. Eg "Fair's fair, I bought the last beers, now it's your turn."
Peter Garrett, my favourite rock muso turned Minister for the Crown. His voice was such a breath of fresh air in Parliament. We didn’t know in many ways how good we had it in the Gillard era
We're still in the Gillard era. What she did, with holding the minority government together for it's entire term & genuinely negotiating with the cross benchers as adults is still with us today, it's why our politics & country is so stable no matter what goes on around the world. She taught us we could expect politicians to act like adults & we should hold them to account when they don't. I remember in 2016, when we had such a massive swing against the established parties & it took a month to even figure out who tf we'd elected in the Senate & about a week to get the lower house winner decided & the politicians & many others were trying to sow fear & anxiety & talking about how our dollar would crash etc etc (it didn't, it got dubbed the "teflon dollar" instead). I was at my local spa/sauna, with lots of right wing men & a number of people new to, or not Aussies who were stressing out over it, the right wing Aussie blokes were all reassuring them it was a non-issue, that "Gillard handled it, so these guys will too" These were all the Gillard haters! She really did change how the average Aussie looks at politics, really did make us feel like we had ownership & we could vote outside the box & for who we really wanted & it was ok & would be good for our country, we didn't have to buy into the big party propaganda & put up with their childish antics & yeh, our dollar didn't crash, cause the average people refused to accept our country was in trouble, cause we'd put our politicians in a position where they had to act like adults & negotiate instead of playing party politics games. Gillard was a turning point in that!
@@mehere8038 Where could we be on climate change action had Rupert Murdoch not called for the hatchet job they did n Julia Gillard? David Attenborough commented that the carbon tax was exactly what we needed and when we needed it. Murdoch got cold feet over that (he has money in oil) and the steps to limit media ownership percentage to avoid undue influence.
@@Bellas1717 I think the entire world would be a VERY different place on a huge range of issues if Rupert hadn't been calling the shots! I hope we do get a Royal Commission into his influence!
This song sends a very powerful message. It’s all about indigenous land rights. We took their land, now it’s time to give it back. Let’s be fair, pay the rent, pay our share. It’s a great song and it was a huge hit for Midnight Oil.😊
It's about carrying on with our everyday suburban lives while Indigenous ppl suffer from white colonialism & dispossession. Lead singer Peter Garrett is just as famous for his unique dancing style (I call it chopping veggies) as he is for his activism 😎
Bullshit they suffer..we give them everything...stop your snivelling and be proud of your white heritage...we gave the world civilisation..wake up 🇦🇺🇦🇺
Interesting in that it was written 36 years prior. It is written about the injustice of taking land from the original owners making massive profit and no repayment
This is a song that indigineous people all around relate to...its about aboriginal lands that were stolen from them with European settlement..It was also released and charted well in the US ....
He did write a song about mining of blue asbestos also called " blue sky mine" criticising the big Australian company CSR. ( mostly known for suger these days)
Midnight Oil’s “Beds Are Burning” is a song which we can safely say first and foremost is encouraging social activism. More specifically, it is brought to us by an Australian band, and its sentimental foundation is in the plight of the people who are indigenous to that part of world. You see like many other native groups around the globe, Australian aborigines have suffered at the hands of European settlers. This includes being displaced from their lands, amongst other travesties. Thus many of the lyrics used in this song, such as Midnight Oil calling on to the audience “to pay the rent”, actually points to the idea of the White population of Australia giving back, if you will, to the aborigines. In other words, aboriginal activists have perpetually fought for rights such as economic independence and self-determination, and they have found vocal supporters in Midnight Oil. As such, most people probably understand the title, as it is used in the chorus, to actually mean something other than what it does. They interpret it as alluding to the callousness of the dominant class (i.e. those of European descent) in the face of the suffering of aborigines. But according to Rob Hirst (of Midnight Oil), who contributed to the writing of “Beds Are Burning”, such is not actually the case. “How can we dance when our earth is turning? How do we sleep while our beds are burning?” According to Hirst, the title is actually meant to highlight the richness of the aboriginal spirit. It is basically trying to say that despite all of the challenges which have thus far been thrown their way, nothing has been able to decimate their happiness. As such, even while their “earth is turning” or “beds are burning”, they are still able to respectively engage in productive or even joyous activities such as ‘dancing’ and ‘sleeping’. So the purpose of this track is twofold. On one hand, it is definitely letting Australian citizens who have directly benefited from the mistreatment of the land’s native inhabitants know that they are logically indebted to the welfare of the aborigines. But secondly it is also a celebration of the enduring spirit of the latter. The band pays tribute to them for not letting such intrusive and harrowing circumstances destroy them. “Beds Are Burning” was released during August of 1986. It was the second single from Midnight Oil’s album entitled “Diesel and Dust”. Throughout the years, “Beds Are Burning” has been recognized as Midnight Oil’s signature song. Furthermore it has been placed onto a number of distinguished ‘greatest hits’ lists. Perhaps most notably amongst them is the “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll”. That coveted list was compiled by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Moreover in 2001, the song was placed at number 3 on the list of the Top 30 Australian Songs ever. This ranking was compiled by the Australasian Performing Rights Association based on the 75 years it had already been in existence up until that point. Indeed “Beds Are Burning” has been certified Platinum in the Land Down Under. In addition to that, it peaked at number 6 on the Kent Music Report and won two Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards in 1988. It won in the categories of Single of the Year and Song of the Year. This classic was performed by Midnight Oil at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It was bit controversial since then-Prime Minister John Howard was apparently not sympathetic to the plight of indigenous Australians at all. But the band made it their goal to put the message of the song across as plainly as possible. They didn’t care even though they well aware that the Prime Minister was holding a prominent place amongst the listening audience. Chart-wise, “Beds Are Burning” actually performed better in some other countries outside of Australia. For example, it topped music charts in Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. Moreover “Beds Are Burning” peaked at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart. It reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. A collective of international musicians, aided by the likes of international political icons Kofi Annan and Desmond Tutu, covered this song in 2009. However, that time around its intended purpose was to focus on the issue of climate change. “Beds Are Burning” was written by Midnight Oil members P. Garrett, J. Moginie and R. Hirst.
This song is about indigenous land rights and saving sacred sights ,but the guy singing ended up minister for the environment in the national government so the subject of the environment was never far away .
I assume at the end Peter Garrett was talking about the next song, and they were about to perform King of the Mountain. This is another epic Midnight Oils song.
I was born here like my parents before me and grandparents before them. I owe them nothing. They get too much already and they weren't alive 200 yrs ago . They never suffered the aboriginals alive today ? What a crock of 💩
Neither me nor any of my family ever took any lands, dont be ignorant, nor did they own the land, they were only small tribes of separate Wanderers who were an already mixed and "invaded" race! 👎
@@jenniferharrison8915Again, you are wrong and are spreading false information. The fact you are so willfully ignorant of information that is so readily accessible and so unwilling to be open to the fact you are wrong is very telling that you are in fact, motivated not by truth, but by some other factor.
@@_BangDroid_ Furthermore, Captain Cook was a Scientist and genuine explorer, and NO "Invading" English Army EVER entered Terra Australis (named by Ptolemy)! "Invasion" is what Russia is doing to Ukraine, that is also an example of "genocide"! 😏
True, it not one of their best songs but it known more widely than their better songs. Most Midnight Oil songs would be hard for overseas people to understand as many of the lyrics are about things in Australia. Power and the Passion is one of their better songs but how would an overseas person understand who Gough was etc? Fantastic song that an Aussie of the period would get but be totally lost on an overseas person.
I don't know exactly what's meant by the chorus, but I always felt like it meant something similar to asking someone who has done terrible things 'How do you sleep at night?'. How do we relax or enjoy ourselves when there's injustice we should be making right?
Our house and many others were due to be drowned by a shallow, environmentally disastrous dam ... Peter Garrett, the lead singer of the OILs, as environment minister in the Rudd government stopped it cold ... forever grateful.
Happy Arvo! 🤗👍 More music Ryan! 😃 The singer became a politician, for a while! I think this is about WA mining companies abuse of Aboriginal lands for profit, maybe chemicals, rent? They were certainly Different! 🤨👍
Ryan, this "Oils" song is Australian Rock culture from the 1980s. I forgot he wrote Kintore & Papunya (NT) communities in this song. I was just out there the other week. A powerful message that continues today. 😊
Ryan, this song is older than you are, so is the band. 😜👍🇦🇺. It was released on 19th August, 1987 - 36 years ago! Yikes! Feels like ten years ago to me!
Midnight Oil went and spent time with Aboriginal communities in the Western Desert area, and based on their experiences wrote the album this song is taken from. The song is about land rights.
@@Dr_KAP yes. But hey they are good, saw them at Kingston rock, near st moritz in st Kilda, back in the day, as they say now. Still sick to death of some of it, you know the ones.
Midnight Oils POWER AND THE PASSION is i think one of their best songs so please have a listen its great..This band is very unique and another Australian icon band loved by millions of all ages..
Midnight Oil were very much into Aboriginal land rights and the environment. Front man Peter Garret is a barrister and former politician, environmentalist and activist. He was Environment Minister 2007-2010 and Education Minister 2010-2013 in the Australian Labor government. Midnight Oil began as a pub rock band, playing the pub circuit around Sydney. Drummer Rob Hurst did the majority of their writing. In my opinion, Midnight Oil's best album is 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1. Worth listening to and released during their height of activism. Beds are Burning is from their Diesel and Dust album, which is also a great album. Without doubt the loudest band I've seen live. Spy vs Spy comes a close second. The 1980s were the golden years of Australian music.
I was lucky enough to be able to see them live in Vancouver Canada. Before the concert they were supporting Greenpeace at Clayquout sound to condemn the clearcutting of one of the largest remaining tracts of temperate rainforests left in the world.💚
Have you got a video queue where people can enter videos for you to watch? Australia is not appreciated or understood by the rest of the west and particularly the USA and Canada as much as it should be. Shining some light on our history, politics and achievements would be very entertaining and useful for the people across the pond I think.
Could not agree more… it’s very easy to rant to a favourable crowd. Entering the bullpit that is politics with all the deals and underhanded shit.. most enter with good intentions only to find out/be seduced by money/power and a great retirement benefit.
So simplistic and beyond obtuse, as a politician Peter Garrett was constricted by his party, so as a result many things he wanted to achieve wasn’t possible which is why he left. Get a clue!
Peter Garrett, Lead Singer, was known for his unique moves. Picture many people in the crowd copying his dance moves ! Midnight Oil always put on a brilliant and powerful concert. From outback camps, Sydney Opera House and huge stadiums. Peter Garrett is a Australian musician, environmentalist, activist and former politician. And a really top bloke 🇦🇺
It is a great song and stands the test of time. Another great song that is almost an anthem here is you're The Voice by John Farnham. Best seen live with the Melbourne symphony Orchestra
Agree. The song is about new Australians giving land back to our indigenous as they have lived here for 60000 plus years before white man came and .. well you know.
and probably double that length of time, that's what environmental records suggest. archaeology so far has only found at least 65,000 years, likely 80,000 years
Oh man, lots of great stuff for you to explore. Midnight oil, cold chisel etc. Its great to see a brilliant reaction to an iconic Aussie band! Keep exploring!!!
Midnight Oil were the political band in their day . The lead singer later became a politician, now retired. Thee guys are aged in their 70s now. This song was in the 70s or 80s
Paying the rent is about paying for all we steal off First Nations. It is recognition that not even the dignity of Treaty was extended to First Nations people's as they were deemed "less than human" under the Terra Nullius legal justification for stealing this country. Terra Nullius means "empty land" and held that Australia was "empty of people" - it only had First Nations here. This remains a shameful aspect of our national truth.
Check out Yothu Yindi- Treaty also a fantastic song. I love this song, it came out in the 80s. The lead singer went on to work in Australian politics for a few years. It's about indigenous land rights.
Super stoked that you reacted to these guys, they're my favourite band! If you're interested in checking out more of their songs, Power and The Passion, Read About It, Forgotten Years, Blue Sky Mine, Truganini and My Country are all great songs with real meaning behind them (Best of Both Worlds and Stand In Line are also just great rock songs too).
Ryan, the 'climate stuff' in the song was actually about mining - 'how can we dance when our earth is turning', 'how can be sleep while our beds (lands) are burning' from the indigenous point of view.
Indigenous folk told me this song was about the removal of Aboriginal people from Old Mapoon back in the 1960s to resettle them in Bamaga. Their homes were literally burned to prevent them returning to them hence the "beds are burning" line! I cried when they told me this story.
Thank you for saying this. I had no idea.
don't ever read about the cherokee trail of tears, then...
@@TheRedStateBlue i did, and it broke my heart
i had no idea that this was the meaning, I always thought it was the rent cap going up.
So Ryan wasn't literal enough instead of too literal.
Pay the rent , give it back.... The land .... How can you sleep with injustice is the basic meaning....... everyone in Australia rocked out to this song when it was released have a huge political impact 👏
And the lyrics are full of crap!
Not just Oz. Even I (71) remember it on the radio in the UK.
Was a number one hit here in the Netherlands.
This is a political song about giving native Australian lands back to the Pintupi, who were among the very last people to come in from the desert. These "last contact" people began moving from the Gibson Desert to settlements and missions in the 1930s. More were forcibly moved during the 1950s and 1960s to the Papunya settlement. In 1981 they left to return to their own country and established the Kintore community which is nestled in the picturesque Kintore Ranges, surrounded by Mulga and Spinifex country. It is now a thriving little community with a population of about 400.
At the heart of the song is the notion that indigenous people who were forcibly removed from parts of Australia to make way for agriculture and mining should have ownership rights.
From parts of Australia 🧐 nomadic walk about all over the land cuz involved Moore the mining rights
I thought that was blue sky mine.
@misshel9807 Blue Sky Mine is about Asbestos mining in Wittenoom Western Australia...
@@jodiecostello6356 The part of First Nations history that the British suppressed, to perpetuate the notion of a primitive people, was that there were language groups who were settled in one place, even while others were nomadic. If you read the diaries of people like Joseph Banks, who mentions a tract of land nine miles long where a language group were growing crops, and Governor Lachlan Macquarie, you see the reality is quite different.
@@Bellas1717 didn't mean they all travelled the land , I ment they travelled all the land👣
This song is about acknowledgement of our country's dispossession of the traditional owners. I always thought this was a powerful metaphor that could be applied in a lot of countries. If you have repression, disenfranchised people or a history that you don't want to acknowledge, just going on with your life because you think it doesn't affect you is like going to sleep in a burning bed.
They were NEVER owners, they say they were "custodians".
I understand all that BUT, that doesn’t mean they’re not PERFECT and free from SIN.
I grew up in “White Conservative” AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺. I consider this country MY HOME! We’re talking the 70’s for me!
My Grandparents migrated to Australia 🇦🇺 back in 1965. When Australia OPENED their doors to everyone OTHER than England.
My grandparents migrated from the “AFRICAS” back in 1965. We’re from MAURITIUS 🇲🇺. My mix is WELSH! Mauritians are ALL mixed. There is NO indigenous people there. The Dutch had it and KILLED all the DODO 🦤 there as it was their FOOD source!
Then it fell into the hands of the FRENCH. Because of the “SUGAR CANE” there before falling into The British. WHO fought for the Island and WON! So, first languages there is BOTH English/French. But the locals do have a “CREOLE” they speak which is the unofficial language for Mauritians!
My point! Even though WE R also COLOURED peoples, A mixed Race, my level of racism here in Australia 🇦🇺 has been MINIMAL!
We experienced it when I was a child, but yeah, BRING ON any Aussie speaking to me now…. Not only do they know I’m AUSSIE AS cause u can hear that in my speech, BUT, I’ll give that crap back 10 fold!!!
So my question is: How many times do we say “SORRY” before we can be United?
I’m a Christian, so forgiveness is a major part of my beliefs. We as humans R NOT perfect, but if our God or ur God can forgive, build a bridge and MOVE ON! Shouldn’t we be looking at that?
I’ve NEVER worked with and “Indigenous” person before EVER! Recently, I did.
She PROVED to be just as “Backstabbing, Bitchy, Demanding & intolerable” as other people IN THE WORLD 🌎
At the end of the day, they are out to ERASE how much people who have chosen this country as home as “ILLEGITIMATE “ And ALWAYS be “Entitled” to a country that was transformed by the British so they can what?
Destroy??? With their OWN agenda???
@@katchiewilliams4638 Sorry doesn't mean much when we still haven't done anything meaningful to right the wrongs of the past or those that persist to this day. As for being united, we are not. Australia is currently divided along racial lines. I don't mean that in some metaphorical or simply social sense, I mean it literally and it is evident in our nation's statistics. For example, the life expectancy of Aboriginal Australians is roughly 8yr lower than that of non-indigenous Australians; Though they make up only 3% of the Australian population, Aboriginal Australians comprise 26% of our nation's prison population, making them the most incarcerated people in the world; The rate of child removal from Aboriginal homes is 10 times that for children from non-indigenous homes; The rate of childhood mortality is twice as high for Aboriginal children than for non-indigenous; 1 in 3 Aboriginal Australians is living in poverty compared to 1 in 8 for non-indigenous Australians; Aboriginal unemployment is three times higher than that of non-indigenous Australians; Etc, etc, etc.
So you've known one Aboriginal person ever?... And you think that person is somehow representative of all Aboriginal people?... You drew your conclusion from a sample size of one?... That's ridiculous.
As for your claims that Aboriginal people want to "erase" non-indigenous Australians and "destroy" modern Australia, what evidence do you have for this?... Sounds to me that you're just regurgitating Murdoch media talking points. I challenge you to seek out conversations with Aboriginal Australians. Ask them their views first hand and I bet you'll discover that very few, if any, actually hold such views.
Your views on indigenous Australians seem very ignorant and very prejudiced.
Legislation has it that we are all repressed equally! Don't you get it? Dispossessed? Of what? Uranium mines? T 'V? Beer? dispossessed of WHAT exactly? THIS IS MY COUNTRY! And I am happy to share it with you !
True. This song would fit most throughout history. Someone with a bigger gun always takes over. And shows who's boss. Even wildlife I just realised
An amazingly powerful song. Peter Garrett is a great political and environmental activist. He was even a Federal minister for a while.
The Oil's are a great band, you should listen to more of their work.
Such an EPIC song of its time, even now!
He became a Minister of our Parliament in Australia 🇦🇺 to try and make a difference at the time. His dance moves as epic especially the wobbles he gets. ❤
yup, fighting for black people, but his dancing is white as!!!!!!!!
@@mehere8038 Is it though, I've only seen dancing like this when people were pissed, and it was only imitating Garrett.
I hope Ryan reads these comments 🙏
@@Blade43 well that kinda makes it even more white person dancing then, if he's the only person who does it & he's white :P Maybe it should be called "Garrett dancing" or "Oils dancing" if we want to be more accurate of what it is then :)
@@mehere8038 I'll agree to Garrett dancing/moves, I have no idea how he came up with those moves, but he certainly has made it his own.
Ryan, Midnight Oil addressed many political and social issues in their music. this was a great example, another that jumps out at me is Blue Sky Mine... addressing the issues with asbestosis and the lack of response from the mine owners and the government. Just amazing music and real stories to tell about the people of Australia. Well done for choosing this song.
and forgotten years
In Germany it's actually impossible not to know the song because somehow it's always playing somewhere... Radio, parties, etc. Greetings
Is that expats or Germans?
That's interesting though, I had no idea of that
@@mehere8038 I do not know but I think the song is in Europe generally an all-time hit! In our small village disco for example, the song ran 20 years ago always as an intro song when the party went off.... wild times were that 😅
Here in the Netherlands it is also a known song. Never knew what it really was about until know.
in a nutshell it's about acknowledging the traditional owners and native peoples of this wonderful country
love your channel mate, keep up the goodwork
That would be the Indians, Africans, Polynesians and Asians that they bred from initially, or perhaps the Dutch, French, Portugese and Spanish who invaded/discovered Terra Australis first! Traditional Owners?? Undeveloped and vacant land has very little value, but I'm sure the Dutch would appreciate having West Australia and Tasmania back - they did claim and name them first! 🤔
@@jenniferharrison8915 reguardless of your thoughts that is what the creator of the song wrote it about. Your opinions are invalid here
@@pepperedsteak5115 How can you acknowledge something you do not understand or have the complete knowledge of? The creators opinion is his opinion of the moment and conditions when he wrote it, mine is a properly researched historical fact in response to your statement! Our wonderful country was created by brave explorers, slave convicts and the refugees, not the indigenous! 😏
@@jenniferharrison8915 why do you think 60,000 ++ years of continuous history should have anything tondo with what you might call barren land and Terra Nullius
..the indigenous people didn't need to build buildings or roads or parliament houses to be in control of this land and their conservation of it and changing it to.suit their lifestyles and and practices...you seem to know very little ..and if you are from Australia you should be ashamed of your knowledge and you have no voice ...
A lot of their songs are political on a range of issues, equity, climate change, indigenous rights. The lead singer Peter Garrett was actually a federal politician in the Labour Rudd government for a few years.
Yeah. He sold out for political gain. Yeah. The songs were good, but then he folded, to get political. Now he is doing nothing to get achieved. For koori people. Was just a ruse. Too sell music..
@@nancycurtis7315 it was a mistake sure but I don’t think it was a ruse. I believe he genuinely thought he could do some good but inexperience and a lack of political nouse let him down. BTW I don’t actually like Midnight Oil that much so I’m not saying this just because I’m a fan.
@Steve C I can go with that thought. Appreciate the other side of yours. Always another way of considering. I had not. Thank you.
@@nancycurtis7315 Well Nancy I could be wrong 🤣🤣🤣. But it’s so nice to have a pleasant exchange on social media so thankyou for your kind words.
@Steve C A closed mind is a dead mind. Have to rethink ones own, at times. Look differently and I grow. Thank you so much for your reply. Gave me a differentl aspect. Greetings from Dimboola, in Victoria, Australia. You are very open minded. Gave me a alternative way of thinking. 63 years young!
Another cool song dealing with a similar theme is "Treaty" by Yothu Yindi
That was reserved Peter Garret dancing
the "Power and the Passion" was always my fav Oils track.
Mine too - better than Beds are Burning IMO 😊
You have discovered one of Australia’s great Aussie bands. You need to see more 🤘
Awesome to see you introduced to the Oils! They have so many amazing songs especially from that time. Aussie rock from the ‘80s was incredible.
You should try Looking up Skyhooks, Your Man Red Symons is in that band. They were big down under.
That would probably be Red Symons.
Really sorry you didn’t pause the song while reading the lyrics. Peter Garrett’s performance is always amazing. Midnight Oil are a political band and the string driving music leaves no real doubt. The song is about Land Rights for First Nations people.
One P Garret is most famous in his mind, not a good voice or that much in tune and the lyrics? My cat scratches better ones in the kitty litter.
@@HenriHattar WoW! Well you know what they say, if you have nothing good to say then scroll on by. (I was going to refer to a list of the Oil’s chart topping hits but there were so very many).
@@lynneperry7454 YES WOW! hey DO say that, maybe some one sould inform Garret huh!@
Peter Garrett (the lead singer) was our Minister for the Environment for a while.
And at the time this was recorded
He was an elected politician at the this time. Member for Kingsford Smith, Minister for the Environment and the Arts, 2007-2010 Australian Federal Government
That's actually pretty crazy when you think about it, that he was actually serving in parliament while doing that concert! I never realised that, I thought he stopped performing while he was a pollie
The song was released in 1987. All (I think) Midnight Oils' songs are about environmental issues and Indigenous rights. Personally, my favourite lyrics are the first verse of King Of The Mountain.
"Fair's fair" is a request/urging to be equitable and reasonable. Eg "Fair's fair, I bought the last beers, now it's your turn."
I remember this song.
I think Midnight Oil released this in 1986.
It was quite a popular song here in the U.K.
Released in 1987. My flatmate and her sister were in the video clip
Peter Garrett, my favourite rock muso turned Minister for the Crown. His voice was such a breath of fresh air in Parliament. We didn’t know in many ways how good we had it in the Gillard era
We're still in the Gillard era. What she did, with holding the minority government together for it's entire term & genuinely negotiating with the cross benchers as adults is still with us today, it's why our politics & country is so stable no matter what goes on around the world. She taught us we could expect politicians to act like adults & we should hold them to account when they don't.
I remember in 2016, when we had such a massive swing against the established parties & it took a month to even figure out who tf we'd elected in the Senate & about a week to get the lower house winner decided & the politicians & many others were trying to sow fear & anxiety & talking about how our dollar would crash etc etc (it didn't, it got dubbed the "teflon dollar" instead). I was at my local spa/sauna, with lots of right wing men & a number of people new to, or not Aussies who were stressing out over it, the right wing Aussie blokes were all reassuring them it was a non-issue, that "Gillard handled it, so these guys will too" These were all the Gillard haters! She really did change how the average Aussie looks at politics, really did make us feel like we had ownership & we could vote outside the box & for who we really wanted & it was ok & would be good for our country, we didn't have to buy into the big party propaganda & put up with their childish antics & yeh, our dollar didn't crash, cause the average people refused to accept our country was in trouble, cause we'd put our politicians in a position where they had to act like adults & negotiate instead of playing party politics games. Gillard was a turning point in that!
@@mehere8038 Where could we be on climate change action had Rupert Murdoch not called for the hatchet job they did n Julia Gillard? David Attenborough commented that the carbon tax was exactly what we needed and when we needed it. Murdoch got cold feet over that (he has money in oil) and the steps to limit media ownership percentage to avoid undue influence.
@@Bellas1717 I think the entire world would be a VERY different place on a huge range of issues if Rupert hadn't been calling the shots! I hope we do get a Royal Commission into his influence!
It's just a shame he joined Labor (sic) instead of the Greens. He had to compromise so many of his values.
This track was written and produced before reconciliation of tribal land and its people’s here in Australia
8:54
Reconciliation? Really? Australia has a long, long way to go before we make statements like this one.
@@becsutherland4506 Yes of course you’re right Bec
What I meant to say was this song was written and performed before the March for reconciliation
This song sends a very powerful message. It’s all about indigenous land rights. We took their land, now it’s time to give it back. Let’s be fair, pay the rent, pay our share. It’s a great song and it was a huge hit for Midnight Oil.😊
Peter Garrett dances like a stick insect on speed 😂 great man, politician and activist though 👍🏼
You should listen to John Farnham and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra "You're the Voice".
It's about carrying on with our everyday suburban lives while Indigenous ppl suffer from white colonialism & dispossession. Lead singer Peter Garrett is just as famous for his unique dancing style (I call it chopping veggies) as he is for his activism 😎
And about as famous in Oz as John Farnham
Not really contributing to the conversation sorry
Chopping veggies 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Bullshit they suffer..we give them everything...stop your snivelling and be proud of your white heritage...we gave the world civilisation..wake up 🇦🇺🇦🇺
I’ll be seeing chopping veggies EVERY time now 😂
@@damfadd like you right here, right now wasting your energy to contribute nothing of value. Well done 👏🏻🤦🏼♀️
New sub, cheers from the Hunter NSW Australia 🇦🇺 😋☺️😻 (great channel, great content)
Beds are Burning is a classic Australian Song about the current Australian political climate.
Interesting in that it was written 36 years prior. It is written about the injustice of taking land from the original owners making massive profit and no repayment
This is a song that indigineous people all around relate to...its about aboriginal lands that were stolen from them with European settlement..It was also released and charted well in the US ....
He did write a song about mining of blue asbestos also called " blue sky mine" criticising the big Australian company CSR. ( mostly known for suger these days)
Great reaction. I loved that it was real reaction but you took the time at the end to learn what the song was about.🤩
1987 sounds right.
When we were listening to it partying in a barn in a northern German village.
It is about indigenous land rights
Midnight Oil’s “Beds Are Burning” is a song which we can safely say first and foremost is encouraging social activism. More specifically, it is brought to us by an Australian band, and its sentimental foundation is in the plight of the people who are indigenous to that part of world.
You see like many other native groups around the globe, Australian aborigines have suffered at the hands of European settlers. This includes being displaced from their lands, amongst other travesties.
Thus many of the lyrics used in this song, such as Midnight Oil calling on to the audience “to pay the rent”, actually points to the idea of the White population of Australia giving back, if you will, to the aborigines. In other words, aboriginal activists have perpetually fought for rights such as economic independence and self-determination, and they have found vocal supporters in Midnight Oil.
As such, most people probably understand the title, as it is used in the chorus, to actually mean something other than what it does. They interpret it as alluding to the callousness of the dominant class (i.e. those of European descent) in the face of the suffering of aborigines. But according to Rob Hirst (of Midnight Oil), who contributed to the writing of “Beds Are Burning”, such is not actually the case.
“How can we dance when our earth is turning?
How do we sleep while our beds are burning?”
According to Hirst, the title is actually meant to highlight the richness of the aboriginal spirit. It is basically trying to say that despite all of the challenges which have thus far been thrown their way, nothing has been able to decimate their happiness. As such, even while their “earth is turning” or “beds are burning”, they are still able to respectively engage in productive or even joyous activities such as ‘dancing’ and ‘sleeping’.
So the purpose of this track is twofold. On one hand, it is definitely letting Australian citizens who have directly benefited from the mistreatment of the land’s native inhabitants know that they are logically indebted to the welfare of the aborigines. But secondly it is also a celebration of the enduring spirit of the latter. The band pays tribute to them for not letting such intrusive and harrowing circumstances destroy them.
“Beds Are Burning” was released during August of 1986. It was the second single from Midnight Oil’s album entitled “Diesel and Dust”.
Throughout the years, “Beds Are Burning” has been recognized as Midnight Oil’s signature song. Furthermore it has been placed onto a number of distinguished ‘greatest hits’ lists. Perhaps most notably amongst them is the “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll”. That coveted list was compiled by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Moreover in 2001, the song was placed at number 3 on the list of the Top 30 Australian Songs ever. This ranking was compiled by the Australasian Performing Rights Association based on the 75 years it had already been in existence up until that point.
Indeed “Beds Are Burning” has been certified Platinum in the Land Down Under. In addition to that, it peaked at number 6 on the Kent Music Report and won two Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards in 1988. It won in the categories of Single of the Year and Song of the Year.
This classic was performed by Midnight Oil at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It was bit controversial since then-Prime Minister John Howard was apparently not sympathetic to the plight of indigenous Australians at all. But the band made it their goal to put the message of the song across as plainly as possible. They didn’t care even though they well aware that the Prime Minister was holding a prominent place amongst the listening audience.
Chart-wise, “Beds Are Burning” actually performed better in some other countries outside of Australia. For example, it topped music charts in Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.
Moreover “Beds Are Burning” peaked at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart. It reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.
A collective of international musicians, aided by the likes of international political icons Kofi Annan and Desmond Tutu, covered this song in 2009. However, that time around its intended purpose was to focus on the issue of climate change.
“Beds Are Burning” was written by Midnight Oil members P. Garrett, J. Moginie and R. Hirst.
Thank you. I didn't know a lot of this, and a I am an Aussie!
U.S. forces, is one of their classics, have a listen.
That’s my fave of theirs 😊
This song is about indigenous land rights and saving sacred sights ,but the guy singing ended up minister for the environment in the national government so the subject of the environment was never far away .
This was awesome!! You should watch some more Midnight Oil!!
More Midnight Oil Please 😊
When will you play Red, from thr brilliant Skyhooks band?
Great song
My fave from Midnight Oil would have to be Short Memory
Go the oils!!!!
It’s basically a protest song about indigenous land rights
This was a big hit in Europe when I was young. Makes me feel a bit old, but still a great song.
This song was way ahead of its time, as this band was too!
I assume at the end Peter Garrett was talking about the next song, and they were about to perform King of the Mountain. This is another epic Midnight Oils song.
Midnight oil made it big in America in the 80s/ 90s
It's about give it back and give respect to the aboriginal people
I was born here like my parents before me and grandparents before them. I owe them nothing. They get too much already and they weren't alive 200 yrs ago . They never suffered the aboriginals alive today ? What a crock of 💩
You'll get a better listening experience from the recorded version but I guess YT would try remove that. Classic Aussie band
Beds are burning or bed's on fire, refers to a situation which can't be ignored and action must be taken.
FYI, Ryan, Peter Garrett (the singer) went on to be Australia's Minister for the Environment and Water in our Federal government...
Midnight Oil toured America and met with many Native Americans. I remember they were very well received.
Its about aboriginal lands we took
Neither me nor any of my family ever took any lands, dont be ignorant, nor did they own the land, they were only small tribes of separate Wanderers who were an already mixed and "invaded" race! 👎
@@jenniferharrison8915Again, you are wrong and are spreading false information. The fact you are so willfully ignorant of information that is so readily accessible and so unwilling to be open to the fact you are wrong is very telling that you are in fact, motivated not by truth, but by some other factor.
@@_BangDroid_ Furthermore, Captain Cook was a Scientist and genuine explorer, and NO "Invading" English Army EVER entered Terra Australis (named by Ptolemy)! "Invasion" is what Russia is doing to Ukraine, that is also an example of "genocide"! 😏
@@_BangDroid_ Do you have a PhD in history too? 🤔
American ppl always do reaction to beds are burning when short memory is devoted to America even put down that weapon is applicable to.
True, it not one of their best songs but it known more widely than their better songs.
Most Midnight Oil songs would be hard for overseas people to understand as many of the lyrics are about things in Australia. Power and the Passion is one of their better songs but how would an overseas person understand who Gough was etc? Fantastic song that an Aussie of the period would get but be totally lost on an overseas person.
I don't know exactly what's meant by the chorus, but I always felt like it meant something similar to asking someone who has done terrible things 'How do you sleep at night?'. How do we relax or enjoy ourselves when there's injustice we should be making right?
Lead Singer Peter Garret served as a federal minister for some time
Ah, the days when Australians had a heart. Lasted for like, five minutes. "Short Memory."
Our house and many others were due to be drowned by a shallow, environmentally disastrous dam ... Peter Garrett, the lead singer of the OILs, as environment minister in the Rudd government stopped it cold ... forever grateful.
Happy Arvo! 🤗👍 More music Ryan! 😃 The singer became a politician, for a while! I think this is about WA mining companies abuse of Aboriginal lands for profit, maybe chemicals, rent? They were certainly Different! 🤨👍
Ryan, this "Oils" song is Australian Rock culture from the 1980s. I forgot he wrote Kintore & Papunya (NT) communities in this song. I was just out there the other week. A powerful message that continues today. 😊
When I was in the New Jersey, back in the early 90's - this song was on near constant playback on the local Pub's Jukebox.
Hey Ryan ! You must listen to "Unchained Melody" sung by Bobby Hatfield ( Righteous Brothers ) 1965. Live performance video.
Ryan, this song is older than you are, so is the band. 😜👍🇦🇺. It was released on 19th August, 1987 - 36 years ago! Yikes! Feels like ten years ago to me!
Midnight Oil went and spent time with Aboriginal communities in the Western Desert area, and based on their experiences wrote the album this song is taken from. The song is about land rights.
Ill never stop getting a laugh from Garret on stage.
Hes definately born an entertainer.
Absolutely, his pretend Epileptic Spasms performing on stage were entertaining.
Two words. Cold Chisel.
Two words. Over rated.
@@davidbarlow6860 actually overrated is one word 😂
@@Dr_KAP I think if you go to the funk and wagnels, you shall find an entry for over and also rated, two words Dr.
@@davidbarlow6860 it’s one word you know it David 😝 you’re just messing with me now
@@Dr_KAP yes. But hey they are good, saw them at Kingston rock, near st moritz in st Kilda, back in the day, as they say now. Still sick to death of some of it, you know the ones.
Thank you I haven't heard that song for years. So true.
Definitely should listen to Cold Chisel. I also think you should listen to From Little Things, Big Things Grow by Paul Kelly.
Midnight Oils POWER AND THE PASSION is i think one of their best songs so please have a listen its great..This band is very unique and another Australian icon band loved by millions of all ages..
Midnight Oil were very much into Aboriginal land rights and the environment. Front man Peter Garret is a barrister and former politician, environmentalist and activist. He was Environment Minister 2007-2010 and Education Minister 2010-2013 in the Australian Labor government. Midnight Oil began as a pub rock band, playing the pub circuit around Sydney. Drummer Rob Hurst did the majority of their writing.
In my opinion, Midnight Oil's best album is 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1. Worth listening to and released during their height of activism. Beds are Burning is from their Diesel and Dust album, which is also a great album.
Without doubt the loudest band I've seen live. Spy vs Spy comes a close second. The 1980s were the golden years of Australian music.
I was lucky enough to be able to see them live in Vancouver Canada. Before the concert they were supporting Greenpeace at Clayquout sound to condemn the clearcutting of one of the largest remaining tracts of temperate rainforests left in the world.💚
They recently called it quits after over 40 years together, so there's a lot of music for you to explore in your spare time.
love this song so much
Just saw them in concert last year and it was awesome
This is the extended version filmed in the outback: th-cam.com/video/h1VPf9hjOFM/w-d-xo.html
The best one
Have you got a video queue where people can enter videos for you to watch? Australia is not appreciated or understood by the rest of the west and particularly the USA and Canada as much as it should be. Shining some light on our history, politics and achievements would be very entertaining and useful for the people across the pond I think.
This song came out in 1987, Amazing band even better live , lve seen them many times..
As a singer, he had all the answers.
As a politician, he stood for virtually nothing.
Could not agree more… it’s very easy to rant to a favourable crowd. Entering the bullpit that is politics with all the deals and underhanded shit.. most enter with good intentions only to find out/be seduced by money/power and a great retirement benefit.
So simplistic and beyond obtuse, as a politician Peter Garrett was constricted by his party, so as a result many things he wanted to achieve wasn’t possible which is why he left. Get a clue!
pink bats (insulation materials)
Absolutely nothing at all! Just another trained ambulance chaser doing what they do best when they finally make it to parliament. Nothing.
@@q9920867 and a Royal Commission cleared him and the federal government of any responsibility. Keep up
wedding cake island by midnight oil,nice song.they did a show out front of the exxon building,the curtains closed from ground floor up.
Peter Garrett, Lead Singer, was known for his unique moves. Picture many people in the crowd copying his dance moves ! Midnight Oil always put on a brilliant and powerful concert. From outback camps, Sydney Opera House and huge stadiums.
Peter Garrett is a Australian musician, environmentalist, activist and former politician.
And a really top bloke 🇦🇺
It is a great song and stands the test of time. Another great song that is almost an anthem here is you're The Voice by John Farnham. Best seen live with the Melbourne symphony Orchestra
Peter Garrett's dance style is unique lol,
Agree. The song is about new Australians giving land back to our indigenous as they have lived here for 60000 plus years before white man came and .. well you know.
and probably double that length of time, that's what environmental records suggest. archaeology so far has only found at least 65,000 years, likely 80,000 years
Oh man, lots of great stuff for you to explore. Midnight oil, cold chisel etc. Its great to see a brilliant reaction to an iconic Aussie band! Keep exploring!!!
Bloody brilliant song! I still get so emotional when I listen to this.
Peter Garrett, the lead singer, always gets into some wild dance moves.
Pity you haven't seen the original music video, would explain a lot for you.
Great reaction, Ryan. One thing: the lyrics (which you misread twice) say "bloodwood" (a type of tree) not "bloodwork"... 🤣
Midnight Oil were the political band in their day . The lead singer later became a politician, now retired. Thee guys are aged in their 70s now. This song was in the 70s or 80s
And this sort of song is what songs were meant to be. Songs were story telling and a way of spreading information and memories.
Grew up on this. Heard it hundreds upon hundreds of times. It is a great jam💥💥💥💥
Paying the rent is about paying for all we steal off First Nations.
It is recognition that not even the dignity of Treaty was extended to First Nations people's as they were deemed "less than human" under the Terra Nullius legal justification for stealing this country.
Terra Nullius means "empty land" and held that Australia was "empty of people" - it only had First Nations here.
This remains a shameful aspect of our national truth.
Check out Yothu Yindi- Treaty also a fantastic song.
I love this song, it came out in the 80s. The lead singer went on to work in Australian politics for a few years.
It's about indigenous land rights.
Australia has a horrible history regarding the treatment of our indigenous Australians. We’ve done awful things to them over the last 200 + years
We need house naggers like Jacinta who say everything is fine
Same for USA plus Spain in South America
Peter Costello , Australian treasurer, performed a version of this in parliament 😂
Super stoked that you reacted to these guys, they're my favourite band!
If you're interested in checking out more of their songs, Power and The Passion, Read About It, Forgotten Years, Blue Sky Mine, Truganini and My Country are all great songs with real meaning behind them (Best of Both Worlds and Stand In Line are also just great rock songs too).
10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 The BEST album ever. Love love love it!
Ryan, the 'climate stuff' in the song was actually about mining - 'how can we dance when our earth is turning', 'how can be sleep while our beds (lands) are burning' from the indigenous point of view.
A song full of comical angst. Makes me smile every time I hear it.