Midnight Oil – “Beds Are Burning” | Aussiesonganalysis

Beds Are Burning – Midnight Oil

“Beds are burning” by Midnight Oil is a political song which raises the issue of aboriginal land rights. Peter Garret, lead singer of Midnight Oil and political activist, sings the “Beds are burning” in such a way, so that connects with fellow Australians. To engage the audience, Garret uses a considerable number of metaphors, sings with a slightly frustrated tone, and performs abstract (to say the least) dance moves. He uses this frustrated tone to evoke frustrated emotions within the audience in the hope that they too will become frustrated at the unjust displacement of Australian aboriginals after white settlement.

 

 

 

Out where the river broke

The bloodwood and the desert oak

Holden wrecks and boiling diesels

Steam in forty five degrees

The first verse is setting the visual scene for the song, the scene being a typical Australian outback scene. The inclusion of Australian references (“Holden wrecks”, “desert oak”) draws attention from the Australian audience.

 

The time has come

To say fair’s fair

To pay the rent

To pay our share

The time has come

A fact’s a fact

It belongs to them

Let’s give it back

In the second verse there is an immediate sense of injustice, the sentences are short, and to the point. “The time has come” inclining that action is required immediately. “To say fairs fair” to admit that the displacement of Australian aboriginals is unjust. “To pay the rent” Australian society needs to accept the fact that Australian aboriginals are the original owners of this land, and we are not respecting their rights.  

 

How can we dance

When our earth is turning

How do we sleep

While our beds are burning

How can we dance

When our earth is turning

How do we sleep

While our beds are burning 

The use of metaphors is strong in the chorus, and the song as a whole. The metaphor “How can we dance when our earth is turning?” is implying how can we enjoy our life when the earth is changing so rapidly. “How can we sleep when our beds are burning?” this metaphorically suggest that we are able to sleep and ignore our problems when there is a major issue affecting ourselves personally and society as a whole.

 

The time has come

To say fair’s fair

To pay the rent

Now to pay our share

Compared to I was only 19, beds are burning includes more metaphors than straight down the line descriptive scenes, perhaps this is because it is more of a political song, and the issue of aboriginal land rights is more of a subjective issue for Australian society generally compared to the  Vietnam war.

 

Four wheels scare the cockatoos

From Kintore East to Yuendemu

The western desert lives and breathes

In forty five degrees

This verse not only brings up aboriginal place names, “Kintore East to Yuendemu”, but as the verse is less metaphorical, gives the audience time to mentally digest the complex metaphors mentioned previously. The mention of the iconic Australian cockatoo bird reinforces the geographical referance

 

The time has come

To say fair’s fair

To pay the rent

To pay our share

The time has come

A fact’s a fact

It belongs to them

Let’s give it back

The repetition of verses is a common technique in this song, perhaps Garret is able to repeat his verses so often in this song because he is trying to communicate in a simple way to the audience.

 

How can we dance

When our earth is turning

How do we sleep

While our beds are burning

How can we dance

When our earth is turning

How do we sleep

While our beds are burning 

This verse is repeated heavily throughout the song, the repetition increases its emphasis, and also gives the audience time to understand the metaphor. Understated metaphors are very typical of Australian outback songs, and their recognition helps Australian readers relate to the subject matter or ideas.

 

The time has come

To say fair’s fair

To pay the rent now

To pay our share

The time has come

A fact’s a fact

It belongs to them

We’re gonna give it back

 “a facts a fact”, “we’re gonna give it back” these short sentences seem more of an order rather than a suggestion, making it evident that Garret is desperate for change, to further this point, the song and this verse in particular is sung in a demanding tone.

 

How can we dance

When our earth is turning

How do we sleep

While our beds are burning

The song finishes on this verse to further solidify the metaphor in the audience. The constant repetition of the three key metaphors of the dancing natives, the turning earth, and the burning beds, help us as listeners to identify with the loss of a significant part of our national heritage. There is a sense of loss particularly reflected in the burning beds which captures the attention of people who haven’t thought about these ideas before, in a similar way to the personal lament captured in “I was  only 19”.

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