Peter Garrett has today unveiled a new single, a striking cover of World Party’s 1990 track “God On My Side”.
The former Midnight Oil frontman recorded the song during sessions for his latest solo album, The True North, but ultimately chose to release it separately due to its distinct thematic weight.
“When we were recording The True North, co-producer Tony Buchen and I talked about laying down a few extra tracks for fun,” Garrett explains. “I always rated this World Party song and it still made the grade for me, even though the subject matter was challenging to say the least, so we decided to throw it down super-fast. It didn’t really fit the themes of The True North though, so it made more sense to release it as a freestanding single.”
A song that critiques the ways religion can be co-opted to justify violence and division, “God On My Side” takes on new urgency in today’s fraught global climate. Garrett, a longtime advocate for social and environmental justice, sees the track as uncomfortably relevant.
“‘God On My Side’ has nothing specifically to do with my own beliefs – which are more non-doctrinal than ever – but when I read an Episcopal minister saying ‘… humans never behave more badly toward one another than when they believe they are protecting God,’ it reminded me of this song and a lot of what we are seeing in blood red,” he says. “The world seems like mayhem right now: wars and conflict raging; the rich and powerful wanting their own way and damn the consequences; unalloyed narcissism and escapism all over; so this track, unfortunately, feels very timely.”
Garrett has long used his platform to shine a light on political and humanitarian issues, both through his music and his tenure as a politician. With “God On My Side”, he challenges the contradictions of religious rhetoric and the dangers of extremism.
“Religious writings usually espouse love but, perversely, religious leaders often end up inciting hate. I happen to believe our survival depends on recognising that everyone is created with equal rights, none lesser than the other, and that disproportionate violence, especially to innocents and children, is a crime against humanity, irrespective of what is at stake or who commits that action.”
Garrett’s interpretation of “God On My Side” aligns with his belief in the necessity of respect, tolerance, and human rights, values that he sees as increasingly under threat. “Respect and tolerance are not merely words on a page. They are essential foundation blocks for a peaceful society, especially where people hold different religious beliefs.”
His take on the song carries an unmistakable urgency. “By my reading, it suggests that if there is just one God (as most religions proclaim), then she/he is everyone’s, not some coverall which justifies inflicting crazy violence. Love in action, truly supporting one another and being prepared to defend human rights and the planet is the only antidote to this madness.”
“God On My Side” arrives on the heels of The True North, Garrett’s second solo album, which Rolling Stone AU/NZ described as “serious stuff, as you’d expect.”
