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Midnight Oil — Blue Sky Mine (live acoustic)
Album: The Real Thing
Avg rating:
7

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Total ratings: 1186









Released: 2000
Length: 4:18
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Hey, hey, hey, hey
(There'll be food on the table tonight)
Hey, hey, hey
(There'll be pay in your pocket tonight)

My gut is wrenched out, it is crunched up and broken
My life that is lived is no more than a token
Who'll strike the flint upon the stone and tell me why?

If I yell out at night there's a reply of blue silence
The screen is no comfort, I can't speak my sentence
They blew the lights at heaven's gate and I don't know why

But if I work all day on the blue sky mine
(There'll be food on the table tonight)
Still I walk up and down on the blue sky mine
(There'll be pay in your pocket tonight)

The candy store paupers lie to the shareholders
They're crossing their fingers, they pay the truth makers
The balance sheet is breaking up the sky

So I'm caught at the junction, still waiting for medicine
The sweat of my brow keeps on feeding the engine
Hope the crumbs in my pocket can keep me for another night

And if the blue sky mining company won't come to my rescue
If the sugar refining company won't save me
Who's gonna save me?
Who's gonna save me?
Who's gonna save me?

But if I work all day on the blue sky mine
(There'll be food on the table tonight)
And if walk up and down on the blue sky mine
(There'll be pay in your pocket tonight)
And some have sailed from a distant shore
(And the company takes what the company wants)
And nothing's as precious as a hole in the ground

Who's gonna save me?
Who's gonna save me?
I pray that sense and reason brings us in
Who's gonna save me?
Who's gonna save me?
We got nothing to fear

In the end the rain comes down
In the end the rain comes down
Washes clean the streets of the blue sky town
Comments (78)add comment
my first ever
Posted 1 year ago by ddbz    [ Reply ]
Gosh darn, goose bumps every time i hear this - it throws me so far back :D
Posted 1 year ago by boothefox    [ Reply ]
Eternal props to my bassist friend Bones Hillman aka Wayne Stevens.  I was honored to be  his roadie briefly in the DC area.  Your 95 pound Ampeg SVT tube amp tested my limits ;-}  

RIP brother.  You are missed.
Posted 2 years ago by DW4554    [ Reply ]
Great guitar riffs, socially aware lyrics, great that they have reunited.
Posted 2 years ago by taswegian    [ Reply ]
It's October 4th, 2022. The day after 'the gig of all gigs'. No more Oils live. No more screaming along with this and many other gems.
Except now, with the radio...
Posted 2 years ago by edwinsluis    [ Reply ]


Memories of Minecrafting in 2012.
Posted 2 years ago by timmus    [ Reply ]
 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:

they have started touring again btw... 



...and again. Fortunately! 
Posted 2 years ago by edwinsluis    [ Reply ]
OI OI OI

Ticket to the Sydney gig in my pocket, when I hear this.  Can't wait for April to come around and see the Oils live again. 
Posted 2 years ago by edwinsluis    [ Reply ]
 radioparadise9 wrote:

The song is about a miner dying from asbestosis.


I was going to correct you, to say it was about Uranium mining. 
And then I checked, and I was wrong, and you are correct.
So, yah. Well done. 
Posted 3 years ago by daiv    [ Reply ]
 Sasha2001 wrote:

If by disgrace you mean dedicating your life to honorable political ideals through activism and art than, I guess he's king of the disgraces. I'm certainly no expert on Australian politics but it appears that as a politician he's tried to remain true to his ideals, while balancing the economic needs of citizens and corporations with attempts at environmentally sound practices. It's all well-and-good to say you're against Uranium mining because of the environmental costs, but than you have to face the people who's livelihoods depend on the weight of your decisions. I give him credit for walking the walk his entire life, even if it means adapting to new political realities and alienating some old supporters.

 
 
I’m surprised you could even interpret the comment you responded to. That’s pretty impressive.
Posted 3 years ago by jukes1    [ Reply ]
You do realize that I now must go and listen to the whole album?
This means I'm gonna miss the 12 next songs here!

What an awful dilemma...
 
Posted 3 years ago by Mannick    [ Reply ]
 Piranga wrote:
This version lacks the crack and pop of the original.
 
Yeah... but for a live recording it is excellent.

Don't listen to me; I did not even realize that this cut was live.
Posted 4 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
This version lacks the crack and pop of the original.
Posted 4 years ago by Piranga    [ Reply ]
 fran_tarkenton wrote:
Saw em at clayquot.  These guys are awsome!
 
Saw them this summer in Paris. Finally, after some 30 years. Best concert of my life! They still get their message across, packed in fantastic tunes.
Posted 4 years ago by eyeyeye    [ Reply ]
 radioparadise9 wrote:

The song is about a miner dying from asbestosis.
 

Suddenly, the room became very quiet.  Many of the people looked nervously at one another.  A couple of blokes looked down at their plates and half-heartedly nudged the chicken wings and potato crisps.  After a few moments, the DJ sighed and began to switch off his equipment and pack up his things...
Posted 5 years ago by jvalatka    [ Reply ]
 ick wrote:
Who's gonna shave me?

 
The song is about a miner dying from asbestosis.
Posted 6 years ago by radioparadise9    [ Reply ]
they have started touring again btw... 
Posted 7 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
 Azrica wrote:
wow ! they are fantastic live !

 
Yes they are. So happy I got to see them when they toured California back in... June 1990 (had to look that up, LOL).
Posted 8 years ago by poetdancer    [ Reply ]
They sound as awful live as they do canned.
Posted 8 years ago by aelfheld    [ Reply ]
Parliamentarian Peter Garrett

 
Posted 8 years ago by melzabutch    [ Reply ]
Great band. Not one of their best songs.
Posted 8 years ago by nutrod42    [ Reply ]
I thank RP immensely for introducing me to this and other Aussie bands (such as Boy & Bear), so that my musical knowledge of Oz isn't restricted to the cliched Men at Work. I don't know if yer man sold out after Midnight Oil or not, but for sure the band wears its political heart on its sleeve, and consciousness-raising is half of the work of political and social change. I'll bet they got some hostile receptions in Oz, so kudos to them for keeping going.
Posted 9 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
wow ! they are fantastic live !
Posted 9 years ago by Azrica    [ Reply ]
Much prefer them live.  I don't like his studio voice.
Posted 9 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
I hadn't heard this version. Cool.
Posted 9 years ago by jmkate    [ Reply ]
M.O. kiks butt{#Dancingbanana}
Posted 11 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
Outstanding quality and lyrics, have always enjoyed this group's artistry, but especially that this is live. Thanks a lot, Radio Paradise, keep it up.
Posted 11 years ago by kdarwish    [ Reply ]
First time hearing his version, love it, does anyone out there have any advice on buying tracks or cd from the provided links? bought a couple the quality of the mp3s leavees me wanting, is that just the way it is with mp3 downloads ?
Posted 11 years ago by Papa_Smurf    [ Reply ]
Thanks Bill, {#Dancingbanana}
Posted 11 years ago by Euskadita    [ Reply ]
 Jlennon wrote:
I can't believe rp is playing MO again, politically speaking garret latched on to these talented musos through his political alignment and left them in the same manner PG is a political and misical disgrace.
 
If by disgrace you mean dedicating your life to honorable political ideals through activism and art than, I guess he's king of the disgraces. I'm certainly no expert on Australian politics but it appears that as a politician he's tried to remain true to his ideals, while balancing the economic needs of citizens and corporations with attempts at environmentally sound practices. It's all well-and-good to say you're against Uranium mining because of the environmental costs, but than you have to face the people who's livelihoods depend on the weight of your decisions. I give him credit for walking the walk his entire life, even if it means adapting to new political realities and alienating some old supporters.

 
Posted 12 years ago by Sasha2001    [ Reply ]
I can't believe rp is playing MO again, politically speaking garret latched on to these talented musos through his political alignment and left them in the same manner PG is a political and misical disgrace.
Posted 12 years ago by Jlennon    [ Reply ]
...this may be live, but it's not entirely acoustic...
Posted 13 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
 ick wrote:
Who's gonna shave me?

 
rotfl {#Lol}
Posted 13 years ago by Helchat    [ Reply ]
I saw MO once during the big arena days post-beds-are-burning.  They stopped the show two songs in and Peter went to the edge of the stage to talk to a young girl who was there with her dad.  By young, I mean six years old.  Peter asked her if she had earplugs in, and he told her how precious her hearing was and had a roadie run some earplugs out for her.  I was a fan before that, and have been one ever since.
Posted 14 years ago by satp    [ Reply ]
I'd never heard them acoustic before - that lead singer drives me bugf*ck, but the band as a whole is solid. And I like the passion and power in the music and lyrics. They care about what they sing and play about, and that's a big deal. Upon listening to this one, I think I like them better acoustic. More earthy. Except, lose the harmonica. Geez - my worst nightmare is Neil Young, Bob Dylan and  Bruce Springsteen all onstage, playing harmonicas to "Jokerman." Guh...
Posted 14 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
I saw the Oils many,many times through the 1980s on the Sydney pub circuit, they were always great live, Peter Garret was always so energetic on stage.  Pity as our environment minister he does not have some of that old energy he had on stage.  I still love their music.   {#Wave}
Posted 15 years ago by Spud    [ Reply ]
Who's gonna shave me?

Posted 15 years ago by ick    [ Reply ]
 denbear wrote:
They never were a live band. Much better in the studio. Can't sing to save his life.
 
Jeepers, when did you see them? They f**king rock live.

Posted 15 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
 denbear wrote:
They never were a live band. Much better in the studio. Can't sing to save his life.
 
"Live" recordings of theirs don't begin to capture the live experience.  If we're talking recordings, I'd probably choose the studio versions over the handful of live recordings I've heard.  But, they are something else in person.

Posted 15 years ago by silvergirl    [ Reply ]
 Bridieboo wrote:
Aw yes, Midnight Oil...before Peter Garrett became a politician and his balls fell off... {#Arghhh}
 
Yes he's been a major disappointment as a politician {#Cry} (hope Obama doesn't mimic him). But at least we have the music.
Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
 denbear wrote:
They never were a live band. Much better in the studio. Can't sing to save his life.
 
Have you ever seen them live?  
Posted 15 years ago by randomprime    [ Reply ]
Aw yes, Midnight Oil...before Peter Garrett became a politician and his balls fell off... {#Arghhh}


Posted 15 years ago by Bridieboo    [ Reply ]
Saw em at clayquot.  These guys are awsome!
Posted 16 years ago by fran_tarkenton    [ Reply ]
They never were a live band. Much better in the studio. Can't sing to save his life.
Posted 16 years ago by denbear    [ Reply ]
Grates

Like vegemite

my ears, my ears

(yes, I've had vegemite in my ears.  Don't ask....)
Posted 16 years ago by coccyx    [ Reply ]
Hi it's just for the begin very very good......
So lovely
Posted 16 years ago by vicmicric    [ Reply ]
 nigelr wrote:
Infinitely better to experience live.
The Oils cut their teeth in the 'pub rock' circuit where a live performance made or broke an act........these guys were pretty much top of tree.

 

ditto ditto ditto

f**king awesome power.

best Australasian act back in the day - period.

Posted 16 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
Infinitely better to experience live.
The Oils cut their teeth in the 'pub rock' circuit where a live performance made or broke an act........these guys were pretty much top of tree.

Posted 16 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
Can't stand this...
Posted 16 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
 Excelsior wrote:
Incredibly horrible lead vocals.
 

Agreed
Posted 16 years ago by tony99    [ Reply ]
true...the vocals are a little ragged.  but it IS live.
AND it's a MONSTER cool song.
Posted 16 years ago by buck-arkansas    [ Reply ]
Incredibly horrible lead vocals.
Posted 16 years ago by Excelsior    [ Reply ]
Posted 16 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
mefrombrazil wrote:
Great. The Oils are better live.
Damn straight. Hands down one of the best live acts I've ever seen.
Posted 16 years ago by rockasaurus    [ Reply ]
Good timing - as we listen to this, general election in Aus, with Garrett running!
Posted 17 years ago by MM_Oz    [ Reply ]
Great. The Oils are better live.
Posted 17 years ago by mefrombrazil    [ Reply ]
teapot wrote:
..coming from Australia does not help your career prospects. And now they are no more.
I'd say they had a pretty good career. Its just our loss that they're no longer around as the 'Oils.
Posted 17 years ago by sirrus    [ Reply ]
sniff! I miss the Oils. Saw them live 3 times, including once in a tiny drunken pub in Sydney's western suburbs. Those guys put on some amazing shows.
Posted 17 years ago by Johng    [ Reply ]
Boosiewolf wrote:
Oh, what a KICKASS version of this!!! Wish they'd get back together so I could see them perform it.
Sing it Sistah!!
Posted 17 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
One of the best bands in the whole world. I think they are better than U2, but coming from Australia does not help your career prospects. And now they are no more.
Posted 17 years ago by teapot    [ Reply ]
jsjacob wrote:
Sounds good. The description "live acoustic" is incorrect, though. "Live" yes. But not "acoustic". The acoustic guitar is in the original. Then again, I think the "acoustic" description for many live performances is mistaken. The PA system is powered. The recording equipment is powered. Does it really just mean acoustic guitars instead of electric guitars?
I clearly hear an acoustic guitar in this recording and an audience applauding....
Posted 17 years ago by Martino    [ Reply ]
Sounds good. The description "live acoustic" is incorrect, though. "Live" yes. But not "acoustic". The acoustic guitar is in the original. Then again, I think the "acoustic" description for many live performances is mistaken. The PA system is powered. The recording equipment is powered. Does it really just mean acoustic guitars instead of electric guitars?
Posted 17 years ago by jsjacob    [ Reply ]
The perfect opening song for their act. Saw them do it electric in a 1000 person venue. Blown away.
Posted 17 years ago by kjf06    [ Reply ]
Good song, but the original has much more fervor. 7
Posted 17 years ago by pherthyl    [ Reply ]
slickskater52 wrote:
I mean I wouldn't want the singing to change so much that you couldn't recognize it, but would it be so much to ask for a little variation?
Ageed....i think its a well written song but needs alittle variety.
Posted 17 years ago by davidcs1992    [ Reply ]
leathepea wrote:
Thats a good thing, right? I never liked it when the singing changed so much that you can't even recognize it.
I mean I wouldn't want the singing to change so much that you couldn't recognize it, but would it be so much to ask for a little variation?
Posted 17 years ago by slickskater52    [ Reply ]
Oh, what a KICKASS version of this!!! Wish they'd get back together so I could see them perform it.
Posted 17 years ago by Alexandra    [ Reply ]
BillnDollarBaby wrote:
Such a great song... this version doesn't sound too different from the original though.
Thats a good thing, right? I never liked it when the singing changed so much that you can't even recognize it.
Posted 17 years ago by leathepea    [ Reply ]
coloradojohn wrote:
Oh, baby -- tears in my eyes, and it ain't just the onions! Thanks a mill, Bill!
... make that a bill Bill! Love this live acoustic version!
Posted 17 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
Pete is an Aussie MP these days, and doing quite well. Maybe a future minister.... https://www.theage.com.au/news/management/g-force/2007/04/17/1176696814782.html
Posted 17 years ago by Mozart    [ Reply ]
wonderful to hear some local stuff... GO THE OILS!!!!!
Posted 17 years ago by a-m    [ Reply ]
Oh, baby -- tears in my eyes, and it ain't just the onions! Thanks a mill, Bill!
Posted 17 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
My upload. Great band, great song -- there are other excellent tunes on this CD, so check it out.
Posted 17 years ago by NeilBlanchard    [ Reply ]
Wow! This has some real zip! It's a conspiracy, you know - every evening it comes to going home time, and RP decides to play tracks right up my street and the only way I can get home is to wrench the phones from my bonce. Gimme a break, guys
Posted 17 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
excellent song and an excellent version to boot. :)
Posted 17 years ago by harmaton    [ Reply ]
there will pay in your pocket tooonniiiiight! These guys bring it.
Posted 17 years ago by obzidian    [ Reply ]