“Blue Sky Mine” by Midnight Oil is a politically charged rock song released in February 1990 as the lead single from their album Blue Sky Mining.
Written by Midnight Oil members, Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie, Peter Garrett, Martin Rotsey and Bones Hillmant, it’s one of the band’s most powerful statements—mixing sharp social commentary with catchy, driving rock energy.
The song takes aim at the Wittenoom asbestos mines in Western Australia, where workers were exposed to deadly blue asbestos without proper safety measures. The title “Blue Sky Mine” is a bitter twist—“blue sky” usually evokes freedom or beauty, but here it’s tied to a toxic industry and corporate indifference. The lyrics are poetic yet cutting, with lines like “The candy store paupers lie to the share holders” and “If I work all day on the Blue Sky Mine / There’ll be food on the table tonight.” It captures the desperation of laborers working under dangerous conditions just to survive.
Musically, it blends jangly guitars, steady percussion, and Peter Garrett’s passionate vocals, creating a sound that’s both urgent and melodic. There’s a kind of restrained fury in the performance—it’s not a rant, but a rallying cry wrapped in a killer hook.
The song was a major success, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and gaining international acclaim, peaking at number 2 in New Zealand, No.7 in Canada and No.8 in Australia. It helped solidify Midnight Oil’s reputation as a band that never shied away from activism, particularly around environmental and workers’ rights issues.
“Blue Sky Mine” is more than a song—it’s a protest in motion, and a perfect example of how rock music can be both powerful and meaningful. It’s catchy, yes, but it’s also meant to make you think—and maybe even act.