I am an Indigenous Australian myself and it brings me joy to see that you an outsider have made a connection to this song and the story behind it. Thank you!
When the ancient (indian) Dravindians walked across the land bridges from India to Australia and became isolated Indian aborigines, they separated tribes so did the many languages. Don't matter because the Indians - your ancestors are coming over in droves now and wearing turbans, driving taxis, creating a world where Indian worlds are to take over. They only stay married to their own culture, and they stay strong. Something the aborigines tried to do, but because they were the worst of the Indian people tribes, in the lower area of India, they only stole and fought from each other. They are killers.
It’s definitely Australian, and this is about indigenous land rights. The lead singer, Pete Garrett, has alopecia and is about 6 feet 5 inches tall. He dances like a praying mantis. They found and recorded an indigenous band called Yothu Yindi, who supported Midnight Oil on their world tour, and they had a big hit with a song called “Treaty”. The lead singer,Mandawuy Yunupingu, sings in English and his tribe’s language. He asked permission from the tribal elders, before he used any of their language, sang about certain stories, or even used the didgeridoo in their music. Very traditional. The music is great, and “Treaty” is a great song to dance to. Another of their biggest songs, “Blue Sky Mine”, helped draw attention to the plight of asbestos miners, and contributed to changing the law, so that the miners and their families got compensation for contracting mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer that is always fatal. So the miners, their families, and the townspeople, were all affected.
@@yvonnereed167 Total nonsense all made up by the inner city do gooders. One of my best friends is a half 'true' aboriginal and he has a white wife and four beautiful daughters and has never taken a penny from the government. All this welcome to country scenario is just all made up! Total nonsense and the sooner people like you realise that the better we will all be and not be so divisive.
@@AlphaGeekgirl The aborignals arrived here about 7,500 years ago and were from Southern India. The Negriots were here thousand of years before that. I have written a book on this subject because I grew tired of all the lies the activist aboriginals were saying who were mainly white by the way.
One of the greatest protest group in Australia...Peter Garret (lead singer) of Midnight Oil has been an avid protester for human rights, anti mining & anti war since the 1970's. You have to listen to 'short memories' & 'US forces' Ive listened to these guys since the late 70's and still do😎🇦🇺
Peter actually tried his hand at politics at one point. I guess he discovered what a dirty business it was because he didn’t do anything with it. You can change people more with music, I think.
But sadly he did nothing to help while he was a politician and was very quiet while most of Australia was coerced into getting the shot..I was a huge fan and still love the music but I never heard of Him protesting the tyranny we seen in 2020 and still continues to this day ...no one who didn't get the shot is allowed to get an organ transplant if needed in our hospitals...and when that person dies the hospital beg the family for the body parts of their relative...its a disgrace.
@@kitiyanaand (like the rest of the Oils) Rob is a great human being, always had been. Rob and I went to school together and the Oils were starting off in the 70s when I was setting up Greenpeace Australia with zilch money or members, so helped so much with their support.
I am a proud Wiradjuri Woman. I work in Indigenous Affairs. Makes me so proud you played this deadly (awesome) song. It has a message. Also listen to Blackfella Whitefella by Warumpia Band powerful message
I’m not Wiradjuri, originally from NZ, but so happy to see you here. Thank you very much for your insight. Bands like Midnight Oil shaped my understanding of the absolute unfairness of everything you have been through and are still going through. How can we sleep when our beds are burning indeed…
I’m sorry for what happened to your families. The failure of the voice to be accepted was devastating as well for many of us who aren’t First Nations people.
The rabbit hole of Australian music from the 70’s 80’s and 90’s is very deep. We were blessed with fantastic bands and singers that the rest of the world wasn’t interested in, but now with the power of the internet the world is starting to realise what they have been missing out on. 🇦🇺🤘🥳
Kiwi boy here, raised in the 80's/90's with Aussie rock as a large portion of the soundtrack. Aussie rock is unreal, always has been. Kiwi rock is different, and took 30yrs for me to legitimately start understanding. We make such incredible music in this region of the world 💪💪
Here in Portugal this was a well known song. Every time this played on the disco everyone jumped to the dance floor! I was/am also a big fan of the INXS 🤩
As a Canadian, we loved this song also popular here where Little River Band, AC/DC, Men at Work, Crowded House and Air Supply! It's like Canadian Bands not being well known in Australia and NZ.
"beds are burning"...... that is an OLD saying meaning "you are guilty of something and can't sleep". The song is one of the BEST songs ever, an anthem for the oppressed in the world. The lead singer is an Activist in Australia.
It’s also quite literal, referring to actual instances of Aboriginal villages being burned to the ground in order to force them into Australia’s version of Indian Reservations. This song played a large role in shifting public opinion in favor of Aboriginal rights, which before this time was still a taboo subject, with most white Australians unwilling to face up to the many atrocities committed while ‘settling’ the country. Beyond all that, Midnight Oil was also largely responsible for breaking down barriers into Australia’s recording industry, which had been tightly controlled by powerful corporations, limiting the types of music that made it onto the radio. They built such an overwhelming grassroots base of support by touring every part of the country for many years that they eventually became too big to ignore. The lead singer went on to become a Member of Parliament, where Im pretty sure he still sits to this day.
You’ve made me feel so proud to be Tasmanian and yes I’m An Aboriginal Woman and Auntie Angie to all Thank you baby for firing up this old banger and our awesome band Midnight Oil and the amazing Peter Garret ❤❤❤
The lead singer was a child psychologist who realized he could get his messages to youth through music. He is a passionate humanitarian and environmentalist. He also was a politician for a while. ❤❤
My auntie Jo went to ANU Law School with Peter Garrett. In first year or two he was a tall gangly kid with long blonde hair. He came back after one summer break with a shaved head and a bit more attitude. He'd joinfed a Sydney norther beaches post-punk rock band.
@@johnhiggins8280 Me-thinks he thought he could do more from the inside than the outside so switched from the nuclear disarmament party to Labour. He was too honest and too earnest, he got chewed up and spat out. Unfortunately the politiciand who fail us are the ones who last.
@@outtolunch88 joining the Labour party,to get on the inside was so naive for such a well travelled and educated man. I was a big Midnight oil fan and followed him for years, But his involvement with Greenpeace and Labour was such a disaster that let a lot of people down. If you study geopolitics you know what the Labour left is all about,How could Peter not.
so good to see this getting more recognition..I'm a white aussie who grew up in darwin in the 70s and raised to respect indigenous australians. so much more work to be done to bring respect and peace to the original inhabitants of our big country!
I am a Turrbal man that's my mob my home is Tinchi Tamba the north side of Brisbane city Australia. Life growing up in the 70s and 80s was confusing for me. The Alders always spoke that this was our land not theirs but our Dad always told us to keep our mouth shut about it once we left the house and went out into the society. His generation could not speak about it at all in society. So getting to the point. When this song came out. It was kinda a signal to me that it was ok to stand up and be proud to say this is my land I belong to this land. I for the first time in my life was able to be loud and proud. ALWAYS WAS ALWAYS WILL BE ABORIGINAL LAND
Yes. I'm a middle-aged white person who grew up on Ngoogar in Perth. I was always told not to look at indigenous people. But, luckily for me, there were a few non-racist people in my family so I reached adulthood not being a total tool about it.
And then they got on their buses back to their planes to fly to the next concert using more energy than I will in decades of my life. Talent doesn't always come with critical thinking skills. Just sing the pretty song sh*t for brains.
Haven’t paid attention to this song since I was a teen in the 90’s. Now as an adult, it hits so much harder and the message means so much more. So many atrocities were done against the aboriginal people and they have every right to still feel pain from what was done to them.
I’m an a proud WIradjuri woman. Midnight Oil is one of my fav Aussie bands from the late 70’s . I saw a gem live many times in the 80’s. Peter Garrett, the lead singer was also Minister for the Environment in the early 200O’s. Australian indigenous people had their children stolen from them as far as till the 1960’s . Colonial people came in the late 1700’s and claimed all our land as theirs. We still to this day never had a treaty. Love this song. The whole album is awesome. Very political . ❤💛🖤
@@David-ij6mq and so he should. He thought what he was doing was good, four young men died. The people back then thought they were removing children from bad conditions and doing the right thing. Both government policies. Maybe I should write a song "the roofs are burning" lol.
@@je2338 you're not serious right? 4 young people is too many but thousands were stolen. Woman raped and the men and boys killed and whole tribes spilt. Many can not trace their family lines back before WW2 only 80 years.... it was complete genocide of an entire native race.
I’m Welsh and emigrated to West Australia in 1987. I was completely blown away by how good the local music scene was. It was a golden age sadly disappearing now with the advent of the internet.
@AMCNolan the heyday of Australian music and cinema was thanks to the Whitlam government and their investment in the arts. The end of that era was due to Howard's funding cuts.
yes and no. I know musicians who are entirely independent and make their own records. Do their own tours. And making good money being fairly mediocre and just doing everything themself. The biggest UA-camr on earth is a guy who sells lipstick. You can build your audience yourself now. Based on talent rather than conditioning through repetition because only 40 songs make it on the radio a day. There is way moreoney available to the artist. For much less work you just can't rely on record companies and advertising to promote your band. Gimmicks like tight jeans and throwing TVs out the window won't sell you a million records anymore. You have to have talent in every area of music. These days it's a known thing that only idiots sign record deals if you already have an audience. Most of the people these days saying music is crap are people who don't even go out anymore and or don't look for new music. They are stuck in their nostalgic lane and they ain't gonna swerve for nobody
@daddydawn1653 more ≠ better. There was a time in Australia when small artists could make a living in the arts. They were able to take the time to make better music, films, etc. It's not the case anymore. Small artists putting their music online almost always have to have a "day job".
Midnight Oil played "Beds Are Burning" at the closing ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Sydney. Their black outfits were emblazoned with the word "sorry," a symbolic olive branch towards the Aboriginals who were forced from their lands by a government that refuses to apologize. The government at the time refused to offer an apology for past abuses....
...and the performance was cut, on live TV, as well. ("cut to commercial"....) I believe there was a court case against the band, as well (by the network in Australia, who had the rights to broadcast the Olympics), as the band had promised not to "openly politicize" things, or something 🤷 [But I may be misremembering re: a court case 🤷]
And now we can move on no? Many still play the victim game and live in the past...life is too short...taking responsibility is the sign of maturity...I hope you agree...cheers
@@cm-kl2wx of course we do! Im aboriginal and my grand mother was taken during the stolen generation. Due to that, we cant trace our family before the 1940s. You have to remember slavery was still in australia until early 1970's so a lot of aboriginals still have family members that were slaves that are still alive today. But yes i do agree that we cant live in the past, which i dont, In fact im entitled to multiple aboriginal grants but i refuse to use the government hand outs because ive worked hard for everything i have and i wont let myself be held back by the past. But yes your correct, there is still many that want to play the blame game. My grandfather was given land in the 80-90s which was his tribal land, therefore in my mind, our tribe got the land they lived on there for the debt has been paid. others dont see it that way sadly.
The lead singer Peter Garrett ended up becoming the Australian Minister of the Environment in 2007-2010. He had a rare opportunity to make real change about what he is singing about here.
I'm an Aussie and midnight oil is a political band and they're awesome and never afraid to call a spade a spade please listen to all thier song they even have a song about Exxon Valdeez. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ps: glad you enjoy them, these guys fight for everyone's rights including the earth's rights.
I’m a Chilean born in Australia, I was a kid when this came out. My mum was a uni student when I was a kid and was big on activism, she showed me this when I was young and I hear it less now some 30 yrs later but I teared up at the same point as you. That scene at the end where they give the floor to the indigenous people of this land, my God, emotional af! ❤️ Much respect ✊🏽
The Oils are amazing, Oz has created fantastic music, makes me cry how great they are. Human rights activists. Beds are Burning, what a song. So much meaning
The songs about the rights of Aboriginal Australians to their traditional lands. It came out in 1987. Five years later Eddie Mabo won his court case against the Australian government for his peoples right to title over their lands in the Torres Strait Islands and the government soon after passed the Native Title Act and set out a new process for applicants to have their rights recognised.
It shakes us all night long. Then suddenly our wheels are in motion with Jesse's Girl who we need tonight. She gets up from the silver chair realizing it's a mistake to dream it's over to fall truly madly deeply over the solid rock.
@@South-aussie-girl what did he achieve as a minister? Threw millions away in rebates to insulation bats that were never installed and a few young boys died in the heat installing them. No licence or training was required to install them, just throw them in a roof and garret would give you ten grand. The coroner absolutely criticized this scheme. He also pushed for a carbon tax that would have absolutely destroyed our economy and increased tax. Look at Canada!! In glad he is no longer in politics ..he was just a terrible as the ones he criticized in his songs
This is one of my all time favourites. The Dead Heart by Midnight Oil is another good song. Proud Indigenous woman here and as soon as I heard this song as a kid I knew instantly what it meant 👏🏾♥️
You're correct with your interpretation. As an Aussie who grew up with this band, we still haven't given back so much of their land. It's wrong. This lead singer became a politician and left the band because he wanted to see this happen. Peter still works for this.
Thank you, they are a great band. This song was about the removal of Aboriginal ppl off their land to make way for agriculture and mining. There's no Treaty signed, Native Title is now a way of land returning to Aboriginal ppl but it isnt easy. During the closing ceremony at 2000 Olympic Games, the band wore "Sorry" shirts when the then Prime Minister John Howard being in the audience refused to say Sorry to Aboriginal ppl for past policies and practices regarding the removal of Aboriginal children from their parents/families, named "the Stolen Generation" which occured from mid 1800s to 1970s. The Apology was later done by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Peter Garrett lead singer later became a Parliamentarian.
Welcome to midnight oil. It was beautiful to see your response. I worked out in that country, the Pitjantjatjara lands. Most incredible experience of my life, and got to watch midnight oil play for the mob in Alice Springs. Incredible band from an amazing country.
I first heard this 35 years ago as a young Australian. Always gives me goosebumps. Every time I hear it. So proud of our country, people and midnight oil.
Saw them live at Wellington Rock theater '79. 8 people in the room . They later hit it big with "Power and the passion" early eighties. Peter Garrett the lead singer later became politician.
@neilcampbell3981 This was on the charts in Canada 🇨🇦 when I was a teen when the track was released. We Canucks loved protest performers: Bruce Cobourne, Parachute Club, Luba, Gowan, Tragically Hip and more. We are known for being nice, but we have teeth.
The term "midnight oil" refers to working late into the night. Usually called burning the midnight oil. This song is so relevant, still. We never learn, it's so frustrating.
To expand a bit further on the name calling it burning the "Midnight Oil" refers to when oil lamps were commonly used, and obviously working late while using one.
“The goal is to make this a better place for my children” 1000%. Regardless of politics, just being kind and wanting the best for the world is a really admirable trait. It’s what we all want.
Peter Garret is very educated, man who also became a member of parliament, to represent the truth give our land back to our indigenous aboriginal people
First time I saw this video I knew what it was about. Growing up in Oklahoma I learned about what happened to the Native Americans and it really hit me about how the Brits treated the Aborigini in their colonizing Australia. Really powerful song. When he says 45 degrees he's referring to 45*C which is close to 115*F.
Yep, the western desert lives and breathes in 45 Degrees(Celsius) in summer. We used to use Fahrenheit, so we know what a 100 degrees is too. Same with miles, feet, inches, yards, furlongs, acres etc. Plenty of flies in that western desert too, which btw is probably bigger than Texas.
This is about the Indigenous people Down Under..I speak as an Indigenous Woman ...I come from Indigenous People from North America...Spot on brother. I still live on a reservation in N. America...
Original Australians have around 1,000 languages. The whole country was divided up by the tribes. The english didn't get them at all. They belong to the place they were born. The land belongs to the tribe. Nobody could ever sell it. Yes Eddie Mabo found out that his home island was considered "Crown Land" by the government. It never was sold, just "Claimed" by the crown... he said so why did my dad take me to teach me the boundaries of our place, and what belongs to other family groups? He started a law suit, to re-claim native title. A lot of the desert, belongs to tribes who live there. The government used to decide who could dig up mines etc. Not having any idea they were poisoning the water of the locals. Decisions were made by officials on the south-east coast with no idea who lived there, they assumed no-one, and what ecology would be effected. The natives would go walkabout, travelling hundreds of miles if they wanted to, whenever they wanted to. The government tried to fence off areas for nuclear testing, mines and an american base out there. They forced folk to work on cattle stations/ranches, and withheld wages. The original guys walked off and sat down, until the gov't actually realized they wanted their land back the stolen generation of children, eventually got a small amount of their money back, and a lot of land has been given back the land huge cities are built on sadly will never be returned. So many half white children were forced into harsh religious schools, forbidden to speak their language, never told where they came from, or how to survrvive out there. The abiriginal elders teach their own folk spoken, sung and ceremonial tribal history, where to find food, (which can mean long migration trips.) and what to do wlth it, how to rebuild temporary huts, Gunyahs, and how to use their weapons to hunt. At the coming of age there are long ceremonies, there were fribal scarring done to distinguish the tribes. The (tribal laws meant older folk were married to younger folk, to help look after each other, after the older folk passesd away, they could marry a younger person and have children.) What medicinal plants etc will do what, how to reduce bush-fires and use them to care for the land etc. The soil is destroyed by hooved animals which were brought in by the english, the long droughts don't suit english farming methods either. We have a very large feral camel population and other introduced species wreaking havoc.
@mikmaqwoman • My cousins and other relatives still reside on the reservation, or indigenous lands. My Mother was born and raised there, in the State of Minnesota. I think many of us know what another first people has gone through. Justice certainly has still been along time a coming for the original inhabitants of the earth.
@@themodsify No, didn't mean that at all. "Indigenous" means to me, who were the first people to every country or land that were the original settlers. Choose your country of choice. The Bible in the Old Testament tells about different tribes going out to settle the land. It's never made sense to me that my dark skinned relatives were original to the cold snowy climate of Minnesota. I see profound similarities with the same looking people all over; like in Indonesia for example. And the reason for the shade of skin color is dependent on the amount of "melanin" which tells us a different "history" we were told to believe.
The Living End, Cold chisel, Jimmy Barnes, John Farnham, INXS, Air Supply, AC/DC, Crowded House, The Little River Band, Kasey Chambers, The Angels… so many awesome Aussie bands !!
Midnight oil is an Australian band headed by Peter Garrett, their music was politically charged raising awareness for environmental problems and indigenous issues including indigenous presence in government and protecting sacred sites. Peter Garrett has been a politician now for a while and is loved by most Australians. I recommend the herd" only 19" as an example of Australian hip hop/rap music.
Midnight Oil had huge global success, as an alternative/indie, rock band. As of 2021, Midnight Oil have sold over 20 million albums worldwide. The band was active from 1972 to 2002, with reunions in 2005 and 2009; they reformed in 2016, are currently still performing. They have released 13 studio albums between 1978 and 2022. Beds Are Burning was released as a single in 1987, along with The Dead Heart; some other great singles were Blue Sky Mine, Forgotten Years, Power And Passion and One Country.
First saw Midnight Oil perform in 1976 in Canberra Australia, their messages were clear, yes they became our national protest band and they rocked the establishment. By the early to mid 1980's they really started pumping the message. Diesel and dust
I have seen Peter Garrett up close and personal in concert at a uni bar, and met him in person when he was a politician in Canberra. He is very tall, dances like a demon, and has a heart of gold.
Me and my friend, Alison, saw them at the Bondi Lifesavers in the 80's - we were right up the front we got covered in his sweat - Alison's hubby didn't want her to shower because he was a huge Oils fan 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Midnight Oil performed a "guerilla"gig on the Avenue of the Americas in downtown Manhattan in front of the Exxon Mobil building after the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska. I have it on VCR somewhere. They have always been very political, and environmentally conscious. Peter Garrett, the lead singer, is also a lawyer, and a former member of the Australian Federal government.
Great reaction BP, you’re right it’s about reparations for taking the land and attempting to destroy the indigenous people of Australia. Music is such a great way to get people thinking about social, historical, or environmental issues.
You figured it out, absolutely. He was most definitely, 100% saying they need to give land back to the Indigenous Australians. Two interesting points, since you brought up the environment: 1) Peter Garrett, the lead singer, eventually served as the Australian Environment Minister. 2) since Australians use Celsius to measure temperature, the 45° he mentioned is 113° in our terms. That's not because of climate change though. That's just how crazy the conditions in the Western Desert get.
After their greatest successes, the singer was Australia's Minister for the Environment for several years. He was elected because he has always been very committed to Australia's environment and indigenous people. This song here is just one of their several protest songs.
Another thing is that Peter Garrett is like 6’7” and asthmatic. He loved to dance on stage and would get carried away with his dancing that he would need to run off stage between songs and get some oxygen. They had it ready for him. I just thought that was interesting because he was so involved in what he was singing about. When people would see him dance they started dancing and for at least a little while they would feel a little better I assume. But I believe that he did succeed in getting at least some of their land back.
I am so glad that you added this Midnight Oil song to your viewers. This song changed my life. Released in the late 80’s when I was in college and yes political as well as environmental. This song influenced me beyond words. Peter Garrett who is singing went on to become Minister Of Environmental And Waters in Australia retired now. I haven’t seen this video for well over 20 years and admit to tearing watching it and seeing you tear up too. I love that these words still resonate. I met Peter Garett years ago I was so awe struck by him for so long I couldn’t talk. He was so kind a truly sweet human being. Thank you for reminding me of those times.
Australia has produced some really great rock bands. AC/DC, INXS, Air Supply, Little River Band, Crowded House, and Midnight Oil are just the tip of the iceburg.
The leader of this band: Peter Garrett, is, in addition to being a musician, a political activist and was part of the Australian Congress and was Minister of the Environment for the Labor Party, an active defender of ecology.
Also, we don’t have a Congress in Australia. I think you mean he was a member of parliament, more specifically the Member of the House of Representatives for the Sydney seat of Kingsford Smith. He went on to become the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts and later he was made Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth. Peter resigned from parliament in 2013.
An activist who protested for years about nuclear power - until he became a Labour minister and then approved the expansion of two uranium mines - what a sell out !! 😡😡😡
You just reviewed my favourite song by my favourite band. I'm glad the song had such a profound impact on you, it's been deeply influential for a lot of us who care about land rights. Thankyou for getting it
8:30 you got it. The indigenous peoples of Australia were not recognized as being people by the law until the 1960’s. Everything was taken from them. No treaties ever signed. It was really bad, not much better now.
Considering we just had a referendum to change the constitution to acknowledge our first nations people as the original inhabitants of this land and to have an indigenous led advisory board who will liaise with government around indigenous social issues (a non-binding advisory committee meaning the government does not have to act on any advice given by the board if they don't want to) and that the "No" vote won by a landslide, I say you're about spot on there.... Not much better now, at all. Tragic, shameful and confirmed to me that this country really does have a really deeply ingrained racism (and misogynistic, but that's for another day) problem. People get offended by that opinion but time and time again they just keep confirming the validity and truth behind it.
@@Ezzaroonie "not much better" gtfoh, they get preferential treatment in EVERY facet of life already, what would the Yes vote have done to make things better, do you even know? And "give what back" barren land? There is still 90% of Australia undeveloped if they want to go back living their "traditional" way.
I still get emotional when I hear this song as it reminds me that there are really good people that give us hope in these polarizing times. Peter Garrett, the lead singer is the real deal and this song is always on my playlist.
I was 15 when this got released here in Belgium. It didn't sound like an 80's song to me, so refreshing. I also like Blue Sky Mine. I think the singer went into politics later on in life, fighting for aboriginal' rights.
Beds are Burning donate the majority, if not all their royalties to the causes they write, and sing about. They put their money where their mouth is! Wish we had politicians like that.
A phrase that is circulating, 'you can't discover a country that's already occupied', particularly where indigenous people are fighting for the culture and rights.
This one takes me back, and is still a banger to this day!! And still relevant AF! This is 💯 about all of the damage done to the land and giving it back to the natives!
Midnight Oil has a whole catalogue of hits, well worth diving into. The lead singer, Peter Garrett entered politics for a time to try to make a difference.
Beds are burning and they are talking about the damage done to the land. If you look at the lyrics - everything he's talking about is the damage done to the land. And the land belong to the natives. We came in and built up on it. He's talking about ALL of that.
Listen to 10,9,8,,7,6,5,,4,3,2,1.. which I think was the album before this album but all Oils music rocks they are the bomb and ye they are singing about the mistreatment of Native Australians, Aboriginals.
Its strange how the aboriginals did not believe in personal property, they beleived they did not own the land. So how can you steal something if they dont own it? Suddenly after learning what ownership can get you, and what personal property is, do they change their tune and claim the land as theirs.
@@cypherglitch what are you talking about? The Indigenous people's of Australia had treaties and agreements between them about land usage. They may not have had the exact same concepts of ownership as others but the idea that they had none is clearly wrong. What makes you think no Indigenous Australian had any ideas about things like personal property? Where did you hear that?
I am Australian. Watch Yuthu Yindi's 'Treaty.' The British stole the indigenous people's land and never even gave them a treaty. It's a big political issue in Australia, still unresolved.
'The British'??? That ended in 1830 mate, after we'd dropped our last lot of convicts. Australians stole their land, Australians gave no treaty, and up to the 1980s you stole their children as, apparently, they weren't 'fit' to look after them. It's not resolved because you will never acknowledge what you did... bill would be too high.
@@Mirrorgirl492 Even the aboriginal people voted against it. And good that they did. Stupid that a small group of the population gets to have a say that affects australians as a whole.
@@Mirrorgirl492 Every Australian has a voice. The 1967 referendum still stands as Australia's most successful. Lets thank those 90% of white Australians who voted to allow ALL Australians to be treated equally because they were sick of the racism and segregation instilled on our First Nations people. We can now be ONE if people like you allow it.
@@Mirrorgirl492 The bigger issue with the voice that no one was talking about was the fact that they would lose the sovereignty that was granted to them in the 1970's. We do not have sovereignty under the constitution and one day in the not too distant future, our indigenous folk will be able to claim us as theirs and protect us from the tyranny that is slapping us in the face.
Yes, you called it right. I’m lucky enough to have seen these guys, danced my heart out. The lead singer, Peter Garrett, became a politician for a while. (I promise Australia won’t bite you if you have a holiday here 😂)
It is all about giving back what “we” stole. The Aboriginals were forced to leave their traditional nomadic life behind, kids were actually “stolen” by the government and put in re-education schools. There is a fascinating movie called Rabbit Proof Fence about some kids travelling back to where they came from by following the rabbitt fence that apparently exists across a vast stretch of Australia.
As an Aussie I haven’t even been able to bring myself to watch Rabbit Proof Fence because I know it will tear me apart. I know I should but knowing so many stories already……ugh, our history is……..
One of the first bands to broach the question of giving back what the British has taken all we have taken from the Aboriginals. Just for your info, Australia was invaded by the British where they sent the so-called criminals (some were, some weren't - "stealing a loaf of bread" was enough to be sent to Australia).
Exactly the same as America, the poms sent the criminals there until they set the crims free and the now free ex crims decided not to pay 2% tax on the tea. Twice they have dumped their petty crims in paradise while keeping the shit islands in the Arctic. lol
There’s a good 30 min documentary called “Blackfella/Whitefella” from 1987 which follows Midnight Oil and the band Warumpi (Indigenous Australians) on a tour of Australia.
Aussie here. 56 years old.. one of the greatest most powerful amd iconic protest songs of gen X I listened to this as a teenager.. Another one... "let the Franklin flow" preceded it I believe and stopped the damming of the franklin river in Tasmania... People were chaining themselves to trees at this time.. I'm traditional amd this struck a chord when I was 14... .. Try some others... redgum "I was only 19" simmilar thing different focus... I cried with this one... Indigenous "treaty" which went global as well... songs with meaning that tell stories of a time or acted to precipitate in change become iconic... there are more... Australia is a beautiful open wide place... I have lived in the bush alone.... you are never alone spirit of the place is there. I'm not indigenous... but love it... ❤️
Check out the video for the song by the band Yothu Yindi, "Treaty" 1991 it was partly written by Midnight Oil. Great song !!! Regards from Australia. Midnight Oil rule , lead singer is Peter Garrett. He also became a politician and then left parliament and tours again with Midnight Oil. Glad you liked Midnight Oil.
The song is about Indigenous rights and activism, The song is still a great song with a message that carries on into today's times. Thanks for another great reaction video!
Another GREAT song from the 80s. I still love this song, it just grabs you by the throat and won't let go, perfect for a true protest song. It's also memorable, and gets you moving and pumped up every time. And decades later this song is still relevant because nothing has changed. My 20s really had a fantastic soundtrack.
The oils are legendary down under, killer beats and profound themes make them singular artists. Great to see them getting well deserved attention and praise decades after their reign because the message is eternal ❤
I am an Indigenous Australian myself and it brings me joy to see that you an outsider have made a connection to this song and the story behind it. Thank you!
❤❤❤
🦘🐨😊👍👍🤗🖤💛❤️
I'm too❤
When the ancient (indian) Dravindians walked across the land bridges from India to Australia and became isolated Indian aborigines, they separated tribes so did the many languages. Don't matter because the Indians - your ancestors are coming over in droves now and wearing turbans, driving taxis, creating a world where Indian worlds are to take over. They only stay married to their own culture, and they stay strong. Something the aborigines tried to do, but because they were the worst of the Indian people tribes, in the lower area of India, they only stole and fought from each other. They are killers.
Feels weird seeing An American doing a reation
It’s definitely Australian, and this is about indigenous land rights. The lead singer, Pete Garrett, has alopecia and is about 6 feet 5 inches tall. He dances like a praying mantis. They found and recorded an indigenous band called Yothu Yindi, who supported Midnight Oil on their world tour, and they had a big hit with a song called “Treaty”. The lead singer,Mandawuy Yunupingu, sings in English and his tribe’s language. He asked permission from the tribal elders, before he used any of their language, sang about certain stories, or even used the didgeridoo in their music. Very traditional. The music is great, and “Treaty” is a great song to dance to.
Another of their biggest songs, “Blue Sky Mine”, helped draw attention to the plight of asbestos miners, and contributed to changing the law, so that the miners and their families got compensation for contracting mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer that is always fatal. So the miners, their families, and the townspeople, were all affected.
Goodness and you believe all that stuff?
@@happyolddudeand why wouldn’t they? It’s true.
@@yvonnereed167 Total nonsense all made up by the inner city do gooders. One of my best friends is a half 'true' aboriginal and he has a white wife and four beautiful daughters and has never taken a penny from the government. All this welcome to country scenario is just all made up! Total nonsense and the sooner people like you realise that the better we will all be and not be so divisive.
@@happyolddude explain why you don’t believe it. You can’t just make comments like that without backing it up with some reason. 🤦🏻
@@AlphaGeekgirl The aborignals arrived here about 7,500 years ago and were from Southern India. The Negriots were here thousand of years before that. I have written a book on this subject because I grew tired of all the lies the activist aboriginals were saying who were mainly white by the way.
One of the greatest protest group in Australia...Peter Garret (lead singer) of Midnight Oil has been an avid protester for human rights, anti mining & anti war since the 1970's. You have to listen to 'short memories' & 'US forces'
Ive listened to these guys since the late 70's and still do😎🇦🇺
Def Short Memory and US Forces.. important songs
Not to mention Rob Hirst.. great drummer, great writer
Peter actually tried his hand at politics at one point. I guess he discovered what a dirty business it was because he didn’t do anything with it. You can change people more with music, I think.
But sadly he did nothing to help while he was a politician and was very quiet while most of Australia was coerced into getting the shot..I was a huge fan and still love the music but I never heard of Him protesting the tyranny we seen in 2020 and still continues to this day ...no one who didn't get the shot is allowed to get an organ transplant if needed in our hospitals...and when that person dies the hospital beg the family for the body parts of their relative...its a disgrace.
@@kitiyanaand (like the rest of the Oils) Rob is a great human being, always had been. Rob and I went to school together and the Oils were starting off in the 70s when I was setting up Greenpeace Australia with zilch money or members, so helped so much with their support.
Rob Hirst is a legend, Peter Garrett is a bit of a dick.
I am a proud Wiradjuri Woman. I work in Indigenous Affairs. Makes me so proud you played this deadly (awesome) song. It has a message.
Also listen to Blackfella Whitefella by Warumpia Band powerful message
I’m not Wiradjuri, originally from NZ, but so happy to see you here. Thank you very much for your insight. Bands like Midnight Oil shaped my understanding of the absolute unfairness of everything you have been through and are still going through. How can we sleep when our beds are burning indeed…
I’m a proud Wiradjuri woman too. Love Midnight oil. Saw them live many times in the 80”s .
❤💛🖤
My daughter in law is from the Wiradjuri mob and she’s proud of her heritage.
Blackfella Whitefella is such a powerful song. Stand up and be counted.
Yes!!
The first time I heard this was the 80's I did tear up.
Im a child of the stolen generation of Australia.
It was personal. Thank you for sharing
I'm sorry. There is no way we can ever atone for that
I’m sorry for what happened to your families. The failure of the voice to be accepted was devastating as well for many of us who aren’t First Nations people.
@@dusty4502Vastly underrated comment.
@@daviddempsey8721 I heartily agree.
The rabbit hole of Australian music from the 70’s 80’s and 90’s is very deep. We were blessed with fantastic bands and singers that the rest of the world wasn’t interested in, but now with the power of the internet the world is starting to realise what they have been missing out on. 🇦🇺🤘🥳
Kiwi boy here, raised in the 80's/90's with Aussie rock as a large portion of the soundtrack. Aussie rock is unreal, always has been. Kiwi rock is different, and took 30yrs for me to legitimately start understanding. We make such incredible music in this region of the world 💪💪
Here in Portugal this was a well known song. Every time this played on the disco everyone jumped to the dance floor! I was/am also a big fan of the INXS 🤩
All those garage and small shed bands in schools, suburban neighbours, country towns and cities and on farms. There was a ton of great music.
@@jbrassic5434 Kiwi here around the same age. Spot on. I had Dumb Things by Paul Kelly cranking when I pulled into my driveway after work today.
As a Canadian, we loved this song also popular here where Little River Band, AC/DC, Men at Work, Crowded House and Air Supply! It's like Canadian Bands not being well known in Australia and NZ.
"beds are burning"...... that is an OLD saying meaning "you are guilty of something and can't sleep". The song is one of the BEST songs ever, an anthem for the oppressed in the world. The lead singer is an Activist in Australia.
I never knew what that phrase meant. Thank you 🙏
It’s also quite literal, referring to actual instances of Aboriginal villages being burned to the ground in order to force them into Australia’s version of Indian Reservations. This song played a large role in shifting public opinion in favor of Aboriginal rights, which before this time was still a taboo subject, with most white Australians unwilling to face up to the many atrocities committed while ‘settling’ the country.
Beyond all that, Midnight Oil was also largely responsible for breaking down barriers into Australia’s recording industry, which had been tightly controlled by powerful corporations, limiting the types of music that made it onto the radio. They built such an overwhelming grassroots base of support by touring every part of the country for many years that they eventually became too big to ignore.
The lead singer went on to become a Member of Parliament, where Im pretty sure he still sits to this day.
For memory, that phrase was taken from a WW2 Italian partisan leader battling Mussolini
It means free Palestine?
@@Caroline.123 so you’re going to leave us hanging?
As an Aussie I can say that so many of us feel emotional when listening to this song. Peter Garrett is an absolute genius
One of the greatest living rock bands of all time & Australian rock legends. Their strong point of view was always on the right side of history.
💯
You’ve made me feel so proud to be Tasmanian and yes I’m An Aboriginal Woman and Auntie Angie to all
Thank you baby for firing up this old banger and our awesome band Midnight Oil and the amazing Peter Garret ❤❤❤
As a big Midnight Oil fan, it was so touching to see you in tears when you “got” the meaning of the song.
And so many don’t unfortunately. Such a great band.. every American should know about one of their biggest Allies. We sure know a lot about yours.
I'd love to see him react to when the generals talk
@@raindog428 or Hercules
Really! It is all lies.
THE EPIC BAND OF AUSTRALIA 🤙🏻🇦🇺😎
The original convict country and now a prison island after the shit show since 2020
The lead singer was a child psychologist who realized he could get his messages to youth through music. He is a passionate humanitarian and environmentalist. He also was a politician for a while. ❤❤
Yes a failed politician
No he had a law degree not Child psychology
My auntie Jo went to ANU Law School with Peter Garrett. In first year or two he was a tall gangly kid with long blonde hair.
He came back after one summer break with a shaved head and a bit more attitude. He'd joinfed a Sydney norther beaches post-punk rock band.
@@johnhiggins8280 Me-thinks he thought he could do more from the inside than the outside so switched from the nuclear disarmament party to Labour. He was too honest and too earnest, he got chewed up and spat out.
Unfortunately the politiciand who fail us are the ones who last.
@@outtolunch88 joining the Labour party,to get on the inside was so naive for such a well travelled and educated man. I was a big Midnight oil fan and followed him for years, But his involvement with Greenpeace and Labour was such a disaster that let a lot of people down. If you study geopolitics you know what the Labour left is all about,How could Peter not.
It's about Aboriginal land rights in Australia. Beds are burning is like conscience is burning.
so good to see this getting more recognition..I'm a white aussie who grew up in darwin in the 70s and raised to respect indigenous australians. so much more work to be done to bring respect and peace to the original inhabitants of our big country!
I am a Turrbal man that's my mob my home is Tinchi Tamba the north side of Brisbane city Australia. Life growing up in the 70s and 80s was confusing for me. The Alders always spoke that this was our land not theirs but our Dad always told us to keep our mouth shut about it once we left the house and went out into the society. His generation could not speak about it at all in society. So getting to the point. When this song came out. It was kinda a signal to me that it was ok to stand up and be proud to say this is my land I belong to this land. I for the first time in my life was able to be loud and proud.
ALWAYS WAS ALWAYS WILL BE ABORIGINAL LAND
Yes. I'm a middle-aged white person who grew up on Ngoogar in Perth. I was always told not to look at indigenous people. But, luckily for me, there were a few non-racist people in my family so I reached adulthood not being a total tool about it.
The Oil's played live in the middle of New York City stopping traffic for about 30 minutes to protest about an oil spill by Exxon
I have that on DVD
I love hearing that ❤
And then they got on their buses back to their planes to fly to the next concert using more energy than I will in decades of my life. Talent doesn't always come with critical thinking skills. Just sing the pretty song sh*t for brains.
@@lindabergman3127 That's probably because you can't think clearly.
Was that the Valdeze spill?
Haven’t paid attention to this song since I was a teen in the 90’s. Now as an adult, it hits so much harder and the message means so much more.
So many atrocities were done against the aboriginal people and they have every right to still feel pain from what was done to them.
I’m an a proud WIradjuri woman. Midnight Oil is one of my fav Aussie bands from the late 70’s . I saw a gem live many times in the 80’s. Peter Garrett, the lead singer was also Minister for the Environment in the early 200O’s.
Australian indigenous people had their children stolen from them as far as till the 1960’s . Colonial people came in the late 1700’s and claimed all our land as theirs. We still to this day never had a treaty.
Love this song. The whole album is awesome. Very political .
❤💛🖤
@@jadicor1 didn't he created a bat installation cowboy industry and a few young boys died in the heat?
@@je2338 He took the blame for it.
@@David-ij6mq and so he should. He thought what he was doing was good, four young men died. The people back then thought they were removing children from bad conditions and doing the right thing. Both government policies. Maybe I should write a song "the roofs are burning" lol.
@@je2338 you're not serious right?
4 young people is too many but thousands were stolen.
Woman raped and the men and boys killed and whole tribes spilt.
Many can not trace their family lines back before WW2 only 80 years.... it was complete genocide of an entire native race.
@@David-ij6mq 🤣🤣 the answer you were looking for was yes.
I’m Welsh and emigrated to West Australia in 1987. I was completely blown away by how good the local music scene was. It was a golden age sadly disappearing now with the advent of the internet.
It was the pokies that killed the live music scene. (Poker machines).
@AMCNolan the heyday of Australian music and cinema was thanks to the Whitlam government and their investment in the arts. The end of that era was due to Howard's funding cuts.
yes and no. I know musicians who are entirely independent and make their own records. Do their own tours. And making good money being fairly mediocre and just doing everything themself.
The biggest UA-camr on earth is a guy who sells lipstick. You can build your audience yourself now. Based on talent rather than conditioning through repetition because only 40 songs make it on the radio a day.
There is way moreoney available to the artist. For much less work you just can't rely on record companies and advertising to promote your band.
Gimmicks like tight jeans and throwing TVs out the window won't sell you a million records anymore. You have to have talent in every area of music.
These days it's a known thing that only idiots sign record deals if you already have an audience.
Most of the people these days saying music is crap are people who don't even go out anymore and or don't look for new music.
They are stuck in their nostalgic lane and they ain't gonna swerve for nobody
The internet is legitimately giving people more music.. if it wasn’t for the internet this man wouldn’t have made this video that you commented on..
@daddydawn1653 more ≠ better. There was a time in Australia when small artists could make a living in the arts. They were able to take the time to make better music, films, etc. It's not the case anymore. Small artists putting their music online almost always have to have a "day job".
Aussie Girl here 🇦🇺
Grew up listening to this Brilliant Band.
Yes he’s speaking of giving the land back to our indigenous ppl’s of Australia 👋 ❤
Midnight Oil played "Beds Are Burning" at the closing ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Sydney. Their black outfits were emblazoned with the word "sorry," a symbolic olive branch towards the Aboriginals who were forced from their lands by a government that refuses to apologize. The government at the time refused to offer an apology for past abuses....
...and the performance was cut, on live TV, as well.
("cut to commercial"....)
I believe there was a court case against the band, as well (by the network in Australia, who had the rights to broadcast the Olympics), as the band had promised not to "openly politicize" things, or something 🤷
[But I may be misremembering re: a court case 🤷]
Wasn't cut in Australia
And now we can move on no? Many still play the victim game and live in the past...life is too short...taking responsibility is the sign of maturity...I hope you agree...cheers
@@cm-kl2wx of course we do! Im aboriginal and my grand mother was taken during the stolen generation. Due to that, we cant trace our family before the 1940s. You have to remember slavery was still in australia until early 1970's so a lot of aboriginals still have family members that were slaves that are still alive today. But yes i do agree that we cant live in the past, which i dont, In fact im entitled to multiple aboriginal grants but i refuse to use the government hand outs because ive worked hard for everything i have and i wont let myself be held back by the past. But yes your correct, there is still many that want to play the blame game.
My grandfather was given land in the 80-90s which was his tribal land, therefore in my mind, our tribe got the land they lived on there for the debt has been paid. others dont see it that way sadly.
@@cm-kl2wxif you want us to move on then you first need to address and fix the issue
The lead singer Peter Garrett ended up becoming the Australian Minister of the Environment in 2007-2010. He had a rare opportunity to make real change about what he is singing about here.
Which was pointless as it’s fantasy.
@personalcheeses8073 Absolutely. Nothing ever gets fixed by the system that is intentionally corrupt and broken.
yes you right !
And that rare oppurtunity was wasted
They did more as a band
I'm an Aussie and midnight oil is a political band and they're awesome and never afraid to call a spade a spade please listen to all thier song they even have a song about Exxon Valdeez. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ps: glad you enjoy them, these guys fight for everyone's rights including the earth's rights.
I’m a Chilean born in Australia, I was a kid when this came out. My mum was a uni student when I was a kid and was big on activism, she showed me this when I was young and I hear it less now some 30 yrs later but I teared up at the same point as you. That scene at the end where they give the floor to the indigenous people of this land, my God, emotional af! ❤️ Much respect ✊🏽
The Oils are amazing, Oz has created fantastic music, makes me cry how great they are. Human rights activists. Beds are Burning, what a song. So much meaning
The songs about the rights of Aboriginal Australians to their traditional lands. It came out in 1987. Five years later Eddie Mabo won his court case against the Australian government for his peoples right to title over their lands in the Torres Strait Islands and the government soon after passed the Native Title Act and set out a new process for applicants to have their rights recognised.
"It's Mabo; it's Justice, it's the vibe." Dennis Denuto, Solicitor to the Downtrodden.
Great😂❤
@@Mirrorgirl492 Dennis Denuto and his legendary battle with a photo copier. 😄
The lead singer Peter Garrett became a Federal Labor Minister in the Rudd government . Aussie Here. Love how you americans love our music ❤
It shakes us all night long. Then suddenly our wheels are in motion with Jesse's Girl who we need tonight. She gets up from the silver chair realizing it's a mistake to dream it's over to fall truly madly deeply over the solid rock.
He achieved bugger all. Much more successful as a lead singer.
@@South-aussie-girl what did he achieve as a minister? Threw millions away in rebates to insulation bats that were never installed and a few young boys died in the heat installing them. No licence or training was required to install them, just throw them in a roof and garret would give you ten grand. The coroner absolutely criticized this scheme. He also pushed for a carbon tax that would have absolutely destroyed our economy and increased tax. Look at Canada!! In glad he is no longer in politics ..he was just a terrible as the ones he criticized in his songs
"The dude's vocals are mad original."
As soon as I heard that I thought 'wait until you see him dance' lol. 😂
one of the other commenters said "he dances like a praying mantis" which, although hilarious, is also true
Saw them at Bondi Lifesavers in the '80s - right up the front he's doing his Frankenstein dance, got covered in his sweat. Bloody awesome night.
😂😂😂
He can't dance ... but he sure can sing!
LOL. Yep. He's pretty out there ❤
This is one of my all time favourites. The Dead Heart by Midnight Oil is another good song. Proud Indigenous woman here and as soon as I heard this song as a kid I knew instantly what it meant 👏🏾♥️
You're correct with your interpretation. As an Aussie who grew up with this band, we still haven't given back so much of their land. It's wrong. This lead singer became a politician and left the band because he wanted to see this happen. Peter still works for this.
Powerful song from a band who deserved more attention than they received
Midnight Oil , "BLUE SKY MINE"...another great tune.
Blue sky mine was filmed in my outback gold mining town....filmed on a famous salt lake.
Thank you, they are a great band. This song was about the removal of Aboriginal ppl off their land to make way for agriculture and mining. There's no Treaty signed, Native Title is now a way of land returning to Aboriginal ppl but it isnt easy. During the closing ceremony at 2000 Olympic Games, the band wore "Sorry" shirts when the then Prime Minister John Howard being in the audience refused to say Sorry to Aboriginal ppl for past policies and practices regarding the removal of Aboriginal children from their parents/families, named "the Stolen Generation" which occured from mid 1800s to 1970s. The Apology was later done by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Peter Garrett lead singer later became a Parliamentarian.
Very well summarized.
Welcome to midnight oil.
It was beautiful to see your response. I worked out in that country, the Pitjantjatjara lands. Most incredible experience of my life, and got to watch midnight oil play for the mob in Alice Springs. Incredible band from an amazing country.
I first heard this 35 years ago as a young Australian.
Always gives me goosebumps. Every time I hear it.
So proud of our country, people and midnight oil.
Midnight Oil was one of this planet's major protest bands of the 1970s.
You are one of the few Americans to get this first time. It was a protest song about land rights.
80s really, though releasing albums since 77
Saw them live at Wellington Rock theater '79. 8 people in the room . They later hit it big with "Power and the passion" early eighties. Peter Garrett the lead singer later became politician.
@neilcampbell3981 This was on the charts in Canada 🇨🇦 when I was a teen when the track was released.
We Canucks loved protest performers: Bruce Cobourne, Parachute Club, Luba, Gowan, Tragically Hip and more. We are known for being nice, but we have teeth.
The term "midnight oil" refers to working late into the night. Usually called burning the midnight oil.
This song is so relevant, still. We never learn, it's so frustrating.
To expand a bit further on the name calling it burning the "Midnight Oil" refers to when oil lamps were commonly used, and obviously working late while using one.
One of the best live bands Australia has ever produced
“The goal is to make this a better place for my children” 1000%. Regardless of politics, just being kind and wanting the best for the world is a really admirable trait. It’s what we all want.
Peter Garret is very educated, man who also became a member of parliament, to represent the truth give our land back to our indigenous aboriginal people
First time I saw this video I knew what it was about. Growing up in Oklahoma I learned about what happened to the Native Americans and it really hit me about how the Brits treated the Aborigini in their colonizing Australia. Really powerful song.
When he says 45 degrees he's referring to 45*C which is close to 115*F.
There is a huge similarity to Native Americans and our indigenous Aussies . I'm Aussie
Yep, the western desert lives and breathes in 45 Degrees(Celsius) in summer. We used to use Fahrenheit, so we know what a 100 degrees is too. Same with miles, feet, inches, yards, furlongs, acres etc. Plenty of flies in that western desert too, which btw is probably bigger than Texas.
This is about the Indigenous people Down Under..I speak as an Indigenous Woman ...I come from Indigenous People from North America...Spot on brother. I still live on a reservation in N. America...
Original Australians have around 1,000 languages. The whole country was divided up by the tribes. The english didn't get them at all. They belong to the place they were born. The land belongs to the tribe. Nobody could ever sell it. Yes Eddie Mabo found out that his home island was considered "Crown Land" by the government. It never was sold, just "Claimed" by the crown... he said so why did my dad take me to teach me the boundaries of our place, and what belongs to other family groups? He started a law suit, to re-claim native title. A lot of the desert, belongs to tribes who live there. The government used to decide who could dig up mines etc. Not having any idea they were poisoning the water of the locals. Decisions were made by officials on the south-east coast with no idea who lived there, they assumed no-one, and what ecology would be effected. The natives would go walkabout, travelling hundreds of miles if they wanted to, whenever they wanted to. The government tried to fence off areas for nuclear testing, mines and an american base out there. They forced folk to work on cattle stations/ranches, and withheld wages. The original guys walked off and sat down, until the gov't actually realized they wanted their land back the stolen generation of children, eventually got a small amount of their money back, and a lot of land has been given back the land huge cities are built on sadly will never be returned.
So many half white children were forced into harsh religious schools, forbidden to speak their language, never told where they came from, or how to survrvive out there. The abiriginal elders teach their own folk spoken, sung and ceremonial tribal history, where to find food, (which can mean long migration trips.) and what to do wlth it, how to rebuild temporary huts, Gunyahs, and how to use their weapons to hunt. At the coming of age there are long ceremonies, there were fribal scarring done to distinguish the tribes. The (tribal laws meant older folk were married to younger folk, to help look after each other, after the older folk passesd away, they could marry a younger person and have children.) What medicinal plants etc will do what, how to reduce bush-fires and use them to care for the land etc. The soil is destroyed by hooved animals which were brought in by the english, the long droughts don't suit english farming methods either. We have a very large feral camel population and other introduced species wreaking havoc.
@mikmaqwoman • My cousins and other relatives still reside on the reservation, or indigenous lands.
My Mother was born and raised there, in the State of Minnesota.
I think many of us know what another first people has gone through.
Justice certainly has still been along time a coming for the original inhabitants of the earth.
@@JamesJohnson-ig6ofhow did the non original habitants of the earth come about? Are we aliens?
@@themodsify No, didn't mean that at all.
"Indigenous" means to me, who were the first people to every country or land that were the original settlers. Choose your country of choice.
The Bible in the Old Testament tells about different tribes going out to settle the land. It's never made sense to me that my dark skinned relatives were original to the cold snowy climate of Minnesota. I see profound similarities with the same looking people all over; like in Indonesia for example. And the reason for the shade of skin color is dependent on the amount of "melanin" which tells us a different "history" we were told to believe.
@Caroline.123 Lol there's a knowing YOU might not understand.
The Living End, Cold chisel, Jimmy Barnes, John Farnham, INXS, Air Supply, AC/DC, Crowded House, The Little River Band, Kasey Chambers, The Angels… so many awesome Aussie bands !!
Don't forget Savage Garden 😊
I would LOVE to watch BP react to some Split Enz/Crowded House!! ❤️❤️
Or some stuff from this millennium like Hilltop Hoods, Parkway Drive, Empire of the Sun, Wolfmother, Karnivool and The Butterfly Effect.
Crowded House are a New Zealand band.
@@larasolomon6568 I think he means Australasia, but we all know what he meant!
I’m an Aussie. Midnight Oil are legendary down here and your take on that song was spot on. Many more like that in their catalogue❤
Midnight oil is an Australian band headed by Peter Garrett, their music was politically charged raising awareness for environmental problems and indigenous issues including indigenous presence in government and protecting sacred sites. Peter Garrett has been a politician now for a while and is loved by most Australians. I recommend the herd" only 19" as an example of Australian hip hop/rap music.
Midnight Oil had huge global success, as an alternative/indie, rock band. As of 2021, Midnight Oil have sold over 20 million albums worldwide. The band was active from 1972 to 2002, with reunions in 2005 and 2009; they reformed in 2016, are currently still performing. They have released 13 studio albums between 1978 and 2022. Beds Are Burning was released as a single in 1987, along with The Dead Heart; some other great singles were Blue Sky Mine, Forgotten Years, Power And Passion and One Country.
Midnight Oil are worth a deep dive. Good Aussie rock right there. Peace Out ✌️
First saw Midnight Oil perform in 1976 in Canberra Australia, their messages were clear, yes they became our national protest band and they rocked the establishment. By the early to mid 1980's they really started pumping the message. Diesel and dust
I have seen Peter Garrett up close and personal in concert at a uni bar, and met him in person when he was a politician in Canberra. He is very tall, dances like a demon, and has a heart of gold.
Me and my friend, Alison, saw them at the Bondi Lifesavers in the 80's - we were right up the front we got covered in his sweat - Alison's hubby didn't want her to shower because he was a huge Oils fan 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Midnight Oil performed a "guerilla"gig on the Avenue of the Americas in downtown Manhattan in front of the Exxon Mobil building after the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska. I have it on VCR somewhere. They have always been very political, and environmentally conscious. Peter Garrett, the lead singer, is also a lawyer, and a former member of the Australian Federal government.
His dance moves are iconic. Loved them even more after the Olympics performance.
Great reaction BP, you’re right it’s about reparations for taking the land and attempting to destroy the indigenous people of Australia. Music is such a great way to get people thinking about social, historical, or environmental issues.
The Oils!!! So great. And yes - this is about recognising indigenous land rights and giving the land back.
The Oils are one of the great rock bands of the last 30 years. I saw there last live concert!!
You figured it out, absolutely. He was most definitely, 100% saying they need to give land back to the Indigenous Australians.
Two interesting points, since you brought up the environment:
1) Peter Garrett, the lead singer, eventually served as the Australian Environment Minister.
2) since Australians use Celsius to measure temperature, the 45° he mentioned is 113° in our terms. That's not because of climate change though. That's just how crazy the conditions in the Western Desert get.
After their greatest successes, the singer was Australia's Minister for the Environment for several years. He was elected because he has always been very committed to Australia's environment and indigenous people. This song here is just one of their several protest songs.
"U.S. forces give the nod"
Another thing is that Peter Garrett is like 6’7” and asthmatic. He loved to dance on stage and would get carried away with his dancing that he would need to run off stage between songs and get some oxygen. They had it ready for him. I just thought that was interesting because he was so involved in what he was singing about. When people would see him dance they started dancing and for at least a little while they would feel a little better I assume. But I believe that he did succeed in getting at least some of their land back.
I am so glad that you added this Midnight Oil song to your viewers. This song changed my life. Released in the late 80’s when I was in college and yes political as well as environmental. This song influenced me beyond words. Peter Garrett who is singing went on to become Minister Of Environmental And Waters in Australia retired now. I haven’t seen this video for well over 20 years and admit to tearing watching it and seeing you tear up too. I love that these words still resonate. I met Peter Garett years ago I was so awe struck by him for so long I couldn’t talk. He was so kind a truly sweet human being. Thank you for reminding me of those times.
I feel you are about to go down an Aussie music rabbit hole
Australia has produced some really great rock bands. AC/DC, INXS, Air Supply, Little River Band, Crowded House, and Midnight Oil are just the tip of the iceburg.
Don't forget hoodoo gurus, and hunters and collectors
Cold Chisel…
Need to introduce this man to John Farnham!!!
The Church!!!
Paul Kelly, Australia's answer to Bob Dylan.
The leader of this band: Peter Garrett, is, in addition to being a musician, a political activist and was part of the Australian Congress and was Minister of the Environment for the Labor Party, an active defender of ecology.
You forgot to mention the dancing
Also, we don’t have a Congress in Australia. I think you mean he was a member of parliament, more specifically the Member of the House of Representatives for the Sydney seat of Kingsford Smith. He went on to become the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts and later he was made Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth. Peter resigned from parliament in 2013.
We don't have congress. He was the minister for plastic bags.
An activist who protested for years about nuclear power - until he became a Labour minister and then approved the expansion of two uranium mines - what a sell out !! 😡😡😡
And a douchebag.
YES, this is about the natives of Australia. Both the video and song are EPIC.
You just reviewed my favourite song by my favourite band. I'm glad the song had such a profound impact on you, it's been deeply influential for a lot of us who care about land rights. Thankyou for getting it
You’re one smart dude! Yep, exactly what the song’s about. Midnight Oil was such a unique, amazing band… thanks for reviewing this song! Great job!❤
Is, not was...still touring
8:30 you got it. The indigenous peoples of Australia were not recognized as being people by the law until the 1960’s. Everything was taken from them. No treaties ever signed. It was really bad, not much better now.
Considering we just had a referendum to change the constitution to acknowledge our first nations people as the original inhabitants of this land and to have an indigenous led advisory board who will liaise with government around indigenous social issues (a non-binding advisory committee meaning the government does not have to act on any advice given by the board if they don't want to) and that the "No" vote won by a landslide, I say you're about spot on there.... Not much better now, at all. Tragic, shameful and confirmed to me that this country really does have a really deeply ingrained racism (and misogynistic, but that's for another day) problem. People get offended by that opinion but time and time again they just keep confirming the validity and truth behind it.
@@Ezzaroonie ❤️💔🙏
@@Ezzaroonie "not much better" gtfoh, they get preferential treatment in EVERY facet of life already, what would the Yes vote have done to make things better, do you even know?
And "give what back" barren land?
There is still 90% of Australia undeveloped if they want to go back living their "traditional" way.
It’s worse. The defeat of The Voice has made everything worse.
I still get emotional when I hear this song as it reminds me that there are really good people that give us hope in these polarizing times. Peter Garrett, the lead singer is the real deal and this song is always on my playlist.
I was 15 when this got released here in Belgium. It didn't sound like an 80's song to me, so refreshing. I also like Blue Sky Mine. I think the singer went into politics later on in life, fighting for aboriginal' rights.
Midnight Oil were the first live band I seen when I was 16, I’m 52 now and still love their music.
Beds are Burning donate the majority, if not all their royalties to the causes they write, and sing about. They put their money where their mouth is! Wish we had politicians like that.
Yep you hit it 👍🏻🙌
And Thankyou for your great reaction & kind words for one of our Great bands
A phrase that is circulating, 'you can't discover a country that's already occupied', particularly where indigenous people are fighting for the culture and rights.
Sounds like your talking about Europe
@@brettanthonypalmer2956 Only as the colonial powers 🤭
@@RO-vh8ln Yet it sticks to current day Europe like shit to a blanket
Of course you can, what a ridiculous phrase that is.
@@rheel6747 not in the context it's intended.
This was huge back in the 80's.
This song always gives me goosebumps. 🇦🇺
I love the oils and their message.
This one takes me back, and is still a banger to this day!! And still relevant AF! This is 💯 about all of the damage done to the land and giving it back to the natives!
You can no longer ignore the raging social fires when your own bed is burning.
Midnight Oil has a whole catalogue of hits, well worth diving into. The lead singer, Peter Garrett entered politics for a time to try to make a difference.
Loved this song as a child, without knowing what it was about. Listening to it now, word by word, I realised it's meaning and am so moved by it 😲❤
A great band with great messages
Beds are burning and they are talking about the damage done to the land. If you look at the lyrics - everything he's talking about is the damage done to the land. And the land belong to the natives. We came in and built up on it. He's talking about ALL of that.
Listen to 10,9,8,,7,6,5,,4,3,2,1.. which I think was the album before this album but all Oils music rocks they are the bomb and ye they are singing about the mistreatment of Native Australians, Aboriginals.
Its strange how the aboriginals did not believe in personal property, they beleived they did not own the land.
So how can you steal something if they dont own it?
Suddenly after learning what ownership can get you, and what personal property is, do they change their tune and claim the land as theirs.
@@cypherglitch No matter how you look at it, it's still taking something, without permission.
Yep, big emphasis is "#PayTheRent" cos there's never been a Treaty with #FirstNations, just genocide & War
@@cypherglitch what are you talking about? The Indigenous people's of Australia had treaties and agreements between them about land usage. They may not have had the exact same concepts of ownership as others but the idea that they had none is clearly wrong.
What makes you think no Indigenous Australian had any ideas about things like personal property? Where did you hear that?
Yes to more Midnight Oil.
You should see their performance of THIS SONG at the 2000 olympics in Sydney.
I'm an Australian and absolutely love your reaction! You certainly got it, mate!
I am Australian. Watch Yuthu Yindi's 'Treaty.' The British stole the indigenous people's land and never even gave them a treaty. It's a big political issue in Australia, still unresolved.
Yeah, and we couldn't even give the Indigenous a Voice.
'The British'??? That ended in 1830 mate, after we'd dropped our last lot of convicts.
Australians stole their land, Australians gave no treaty, and up to the 1980s you stole their children as, apparently, they weren't 'fit' to look after them.
It's not resolved because you will never acknowledge what you did... bill would be too high.
@@Mirrorgirl492 Even the aboriginal people voted against it. And good that they did. Stupid that a small group of the population gets to have a say that affects australians as a whole.
@@Mirrorgirl492 Every Australian has a voice. The 1967 referendum still stands as Australia's most successful. Lets thank those 90% of white Australians who voted to allow ALL Australians to be treated equally because they were sick of the racism and segregation instilled on our First Nations people. We can now be ONE if people like you allow it.
@@Mirrorgirl492 The bigger issue with the voice that no one was talking about was the fact that they would lose the sovereignty that was granted to them in the 1970's. We do not have sovereignty under the constitution and one day in the not too distant future, our indigenous folk will be able to claim us as theirs and protect us from the tyranny that is slapping us in the face.
Super cool to hear this from your POV with no context. I'm always amazed how much you pick up on with music you've never heard. ❤
Aussie rock formed in the crucible of pub music
Yes, you called it right. I’m lucky enough to have seen these guys, danced my heart out. The lead singer, Peter Garrett, became a politician for a while. (I promise Australia won’t bite you if you have a holiday here 😂)
The story behind this song is interesting. ❤
It is all about giving back what “we” stole. The Aboriginals were forced to leave their traditional nomadic life behind, kids were actually “stolen” by the government and put in re-education schools. There is a fascinating movie called Rabbit Proof Fence about some kids travelling back to where they came from by following the rabbitt fence that apparently exists across a vast stretch of Australia.
Thanks for that! Just added the DVD to my Amazon cart.
Rabbit Proof Fence is based on a true story as well, making it even more powerful.
Fence is still there.
As an Aussie I haven’t even been able to bring myself to watch Rabbit Proof Fence because I know it will tear me apart. I know I should but knowing so many stories already……ugh, our history is……..
One of the first bands to broach the question of giving back what the British has taken all we have taken from the Aboriginals. Just for your info, Australia was invaded by the British where they sent the so-called criminals (some were, some weren't - "stealing a loaf of bread" was enough to be sent to Australia).
Exactly the same as America, the poms sent the criminals there until they set the crims free and the now free ex crims decided not to pay 2% tax on the tea.
Twice they have dumped their petty crims in paradise while keeping the shit islands in the Arctic. lol
There’s a good 30 min documentary called “Blackfella/Whitefella” from 1987 which follows Midnight Oil and the band Warumpi (Indigenous Australians) on a tour of Australia.
Aussie here. 56 years old.. one of the greatest most powerful amd iconic protest songs of gen X I listened to this as a teenager..
Another one... "let the Franklin flow" preceded it I believe and stopped the damming of the franklin river in Tasmania...
People were chaining themselves to trees at this time..
I'm traditional amd this struck a chord when I was 14... ..
Try some others... redgum "I was only 19" simmilar thing different focus... I cried with this one...
Indigenous "treaty" which went global as well... songs with meaning that tell stories of a time or acted to precipitate in change become iconic... there are more... Australia is a beautiful open wide place... I have lived in the bush alone.... you are never alone spirit of the place is there. I'm not indigenous... but love it... ❤️
Check out the video for the song by the band Yothu Yindi, "Treaty" 1991 it was partly written by Midnight Oil. Great song !!! Regards from Australia. Midnight Oil rule , lead singer is Peter Garrett. He also became a politician and then left parliament and tours again with Midnight Oil. Glad you liked Midnight Oil.
Yes absolutely agree. He needs to do Treaty. I think I need to listen to it now.
The song is about Indigenous rights and activism, The song is still a great song with a message that carries on into today's times. Thanks for another great reaction video!
Always loved this tune. 80's bangers. We all should learn from all native peoples. Their wisdom is deep.
Another GREAT song from the 80s. I still love this song, it just grabs you by the throat and won't let go, perfect for a true protest song. It's also memorable, and gets you moving and pumped up every time. And decades later this song is still relevant because nothing has changed. My 20s really had a fantastic soundtrack.
He is a awesome singer they are a good band.
The oils are legendary down under, killer beats and profound themes make them singular artists.
Great to see them getting well deserved attention and praise decades after their reign because the message is eternal ❤
I had forgotten how much i like this song! I was 13 in 1987, and for me at the time, it was just a great vibe.
Peter Garrett the leadsinger was Australias Minister for Eco and Cultural Affairs! Another great song by Midnight Oil is "Truganini"