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.

Details

ISBN13: 9781923390362
Format: Hardback
Number of Pages: 408
Edition:
Publication Date: 27 Oct 2026
Publisher: Pantera Press
Publication City, Country: Seaforth, NSW, Australia
Dimensions (cm): 21.5(H)x17.5(L)1118
Weight (gm): 1118

Author Biography

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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