Kosciusko
Midnight Oil · Essential Oils [2012]
Darwin down to Alice Springs
Dealers in the clearing house
The settlements explode
High up in the homelands
Miners drive across the land
Encounter no resistance
When the people block the road
Older than Kosciusko
Dry white seasons years ago
Darkness over Charleville
The fires begin to glow
No end to the hostility
Now they wanna be somewhere else
No stranger to brutality
Now they'd like to be someone else
Older than Kosciusko
Driven back to Alice Springs
Endless storm and struggle
Marks the spirit of the age
High up in the homelands
Celebration across the land
Built up like a cyclone
Fires begin to rage
No end to the hostility
Now they wanna be somewhere else
No stranger to brutality
Now they'd like to be someone else
Call off the ultimatum
No don't turn away
Call off the ultimatum until yesterday
Call off the ultimatum, no don't turn away
Bind up the broken hearted
No don't turn away
Call off the ultimatum until yesterday
No end to the hostility
Now they wanna be somewhere else
No stranger to brutality
Now they'd like to be someone else
No end to the hostility
Now they wanna be somewhere
Kosciusko
Midnight Oil's 'Kosciusko' stands as a potent anthem within their broader catalogue of political activism, reflecting the band's enduring commitment to Australian social justice. Released on the 2012 compilation 'Essential Oils', the track exemplifies the group's signature blend of hard-hitting punk energy and melodic rock, delivering urgent commentary on environmental degradation and indigenous rights. The song continues the legacy established by earlier works like 'Beds Are Burning', utilizing a driving rhythm and direct vocal delivery to galvanize listeners against systemic neglect. As a key component of their discography, 'Kosciusko' remains a defining recording that underscores the band's role in shaping the Australian political rock movement, translating complex socio-political issues into an accessible and emotionally resonant musical statement.