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|Australia (])<ref>{{cite book|first= David |last= Kent |authorlink= David Kent (historian) |year= 1993 |title= Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |edition= Illustrated |publisher= Australian Chart Book |location= ] |page= 200 |isbn= 0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
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{{singlechart|Flanders|2|artist=Midnight Oil|song=Beds Are Burning|accessdate=3 May 2014}}
{{singlechart|Flanders|2|artist=Midnight Oil|song=Beds Are Burning|accessdate=3 May 2014}}
In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time, "Beds Are Burning" was ranked number 9.
Composition
After Midnight Oil toured through the Outback in 1986, playing to remote Aboriginal communities and seeing first hand the seriousness of the issues in health and living standards, Peter Garrett wrote "Beds Are Burning" to criticize how said populations were often forcibly removed from their lands, highlighted by the pre-chorus lines "it belongs to them, let's give it back". Considering such a local affair inspired a worldwide hit, Garrett commented "Who would have thought an Aboriginal land rights song would travel that far?" There are specific references to certain Australian places and politics, such as Kintore Ranges and the town of Yuendumu, vehicles produced by the Holden company, the "It's Time" slogan and the notion of "fair go".
Sales figures based on certification alone. Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Other appearances
Live at the 2000 Summer Olympics closing ceremony (the band performed in black suits bearing the word "sorry", in response to Prime Minister John Howard's unwillingness to offer a public apology for the removal of Aboriginal Australian peoples)
In 2001, a cover of "Beds Are Burning" was included on the eponymous Underground Moon album, a one-off modern rock project by former War & Peace band mates, Jeff Pilson (Foreigner, Dokken), using the pseudonym Dominic Moon, and Tommy Henriksen (Alice Cooper, Warlock).
On 18 February 2020, Australian Julia Stone released a version of the song. The song is the lead single from the forthcoming album Songs for Australia.
Australian seven-inch vinyl single
