It’s really more about Sunday morning than Saturday night- Saturday nights already old at the start of the song. And yes, Don Walker (band member, keyboards) wrote this and he’s known for his brilliant lyrics but also unconventional song structures as seen here and also Khe Sanh, a song without a chorus. Two amazing lead vocalists in Ian Moss and Jimmy Barnes really bring this song to another level.
This.. is it.. This is peak Cold Chisel.. The performance (recording), the feel, the vibe of 80s Sydney's Kings Cross (red light/entertainment strip), the sound, the arrangement.. This song is faultless, and should have been HUGE in the late 80s/early 90s.. This SHOULD have cracked the US market.. and this was basically their last blast at it. Kings Cross was still the same until about 10 years ago, and some of those "bouncers" you heard still worked the SAME strip clubs!!! (and probably some of the ladies too!!) haha The "parade" they are walking through is our Sydney Gay Mardi Gras.. (In Oz, filming in public requires no consent, just a Council permit. The premise of "privacy" is negated by the fact you are "in public". We generally try to not show faces using framing and MUST blur kids etc.. but you can always get something on video)
This is a terrific song. The arrangement is just immaculate, starting off quiet and thoughtful and then it explodes briefly, before falling away again. Mossy's vocals are top drawer too. And yes, it's King's Cross in Sydney - a renowned night spot, though some would say infamous.
It's more of Saturday night is over, the clubs are either closed or quiet, and everyone is heading home, and in this case, contemplating life along the way. As we do, half drunk, and wondering why we do it week after week.
Great song, excellent video.. As a teenager I wasa regular at The Cross in Sydney.... Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights... I remember the old guy who played harmonica... You got the vibe right, we often just wandered the streets.. (In between drinking & visiting strip clubs, of course)
I have a love/hate relationship with this song. It's a great song but you can't say (or hear someone say) Saturday night without wanting to sing "Do do do do do do do" and once you sing that line, that loop "Saturday Night do do do do do do do" is stuck in your head for the rest of the night, if you're lucky... usually the next couple of days...
Lyrics here (the falsetto at the start you liked was Jimmy, but Ian does take the lead on this one) Saturday night Saturday night Saturday night Saturday night (oo oo oo, oo) Saturday night (do do do, do do, do do do, do do) Saturday night (do do do, do do, do do do, do do) Saturday night (do do do, do do, do do do, do do) Saturday night (do do do, do do, do do do, do do) Saturday night (yeah yeah) Saturday night (oh) Saturday night (woo, oo) Saturday night Saturday night already old I can feel, the same old cold Cigarettes to ease my mind Tell me what you like, no I don't mind Show me a light, your company Goes a little way to help me see The path on which I'm bound Rather than the things I leave behind I got the keys to the city Baby I can feel my luck I've got two days' money If you light me up This heart will shine on "L'esclavage D'amour (It) will be ours forevermore" Words we both recall Either from a lover, or the law And Saturday night, my prayers (steps) have shown I can walk away from all I've known Goodnight, my friend, goodbye Remember (you know) what they say When you're alone, laugh or die Saturday night Saturday night Saturday night Saturday night Saturday night Saturday night Saturday night Saturday night, yeah
I remember this song was out around the time I started listening to music as a kid and sadly Cold Chisel had already broken up so it was on an album which was basically heard after they were gone as a band so never heard a live version of most of songs from the album until two decades later when they reformed for some tours. The Twentieth Century album is so interesting as a result as many fans of Cold Chisel do not mention many of songs from the album. But It a brilliant album to listen to and so many of the songs are quite different. Some of songs are very short it almost like the album had a few quick songs added just to release it as a full album.
Yep, a typical saturday night in Kings Cross in Sydney in the 80's featuring the many interesting sights and legendary venues such as the Bourbon & Beef and multitude of strip clubs on Darlinghurst Road. Some seriously, sleezy dives back then. Chisel were at the their best in the 80's & 90's and always better live.
Great reaction to one of my favourite chisel songs ..thankyou Aussies don't necessarily conform to standard song structure. Just about going with the flow 🤟
Loving the Aussie stuff! Can you please check out The Drones - Oh My (Live in Sydney) | Moshcam. The lead singer is an old work buddy of mine. We worked as roadies for a company in Perth. One of the most awe inspiring guitarists ever.
You really need to listen to Kevin Bloody Wilson !!! Lol !!! He’s an Australian Icon !!! His latest song is called: International DILLIGAF Day !!! Lol !!!
Australians don't really like being put in boxes when it comes to most things. 😁😁 The lyrics are a bit muffled. I'm only catching one or two words in parts of it. It was the eighties, probably no consent forms. People would be GLAD to be in it. I would say Kings Cross in Sydney for sure.
LOL... consent forms? If Cold Chisel had advertised the fact of this filming they would not have been able to move! Us Aussies a bit more chill with public filming... unless you are actually a focus of it. But then again, most would've still done it for free entry to their next gig, and a chance to brag about being in the clip!!
![Americans' Reaction to "Cold Chisel - Saturday Night [Official]" THE WOLF HUNTERZ Jon and Dolly](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
