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World is Almost at Peace
A lifetime of songwriting, for Midnight Oil and more
Brief Description
Over almost 50 years, Midnight Oil's Rob Hirst wrote and co-wrote some of Australia's best known songs: 'Beds Are Burning', 'The Dead Heart', 'Best of Both Worlds', 'Kosciusko', 'King of the Mountain', 'Read About It', 'Forgotten Years' and many more. Here for the first time is Rob's...
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September 2026
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Description
Over almost 50 years, Midnight Oil's Rob Hirst wrote and co-wrote some of Australia's best known songs: 'Beds Are Burning', 'The Dead Heart', 'Best of Both Worlds', 'Kosciusko', 'King of the Mountain', 'Read About It', 'Forgotten Years' and many more.
Here for the first time is Rob's entire lyric catalogue from his myriad musical collaborations, including early-version scribbles and unseen photos, plus behind-the-scenes stories from the author and his peers which place the songs in context.
From activist anthems through to the intimacy of his later works, Rob Hirst was one of our greatest wordsmiths, the singing drummer whose lyrics helped shape the soundtrack to this nation.
Poignant and deeply nostalgic, World Is Almost At Peace is a celebration of a life in music.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781923390362
Publisher: Pantera Press
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 27 October 2026
Country: Australia
Imprint: Pantera Press
Illustration: Full colour throughout
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 175.0mm
Height: 215.0mm
Weight: 0g
Pages: 408
About the Author
Rob Hirstwas born in Camden, New South Wales. As a founding member of internationally successful band Midnight Oil, he wrote and co-wrote the words and melodies of numerous classic Australian songs, including 'Beds Are Burning', 'The Dead Heart', 'Best of Both Worlds', 'Forgotten Years', 'Kosciusko' and many more. Rob's singing, songwriting, drumming and guitar can also be heard on his many collaborations – with The Backsliders, The Ghostwriters and The Break, Paul Greene, Jay O'Shea, Lez Karski, Sean Sennett, Jim Moginie and Hamish Stuart. He was also a published author: Willie's Bar and Grill (Picador) tells the story of his band touring a shell-shocked America in the months after 9/11. Rob lived, wrote and recorded in Sydney before his death in early 2026.
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