Cold Chisel: "Flame Trees" Trivia Quiz

Answer: Don Walker

Don Walker was the most prolific song writer in Cold Chisel. He was the keyboard player in the band but also did some vocals. "Flame Trees" is based on his memories of growing up in rural NSW and was one of the band's last hits.

Answer: Steve Prestwich

Steve Prestwich was the drummer in Cold Chisel. Whilst Don Walker wrote most of their songs, Steve also contributed, including penning two of their big hits "When the War is Over" and "Forever Now". Steve was also well known for his heated arguments and fights with the band's singer, Jimmy Barnes.

Answer: Grafton

Grafton, situated on the Clarence River in northern NSW, was Don Walker's home town for some time. Don was born in Ayr, Queensland but his family moved to a farm in the Grafton area, where he spent many of his formative years. The flame trees in the song were reportedly planted as a result of a television mini-series called "The Flame Trees of Thika" which starred Hayley Mills.

Answer: Oberon

Oberon is a small town in southern NSW. Oberon is situated about 100 km (60 miles) west of Sydney and has a population of about 2,700. "Flame Trees" is about Grafton, which is on the North Coast of NSW and has a population of around 20,000. Grafton is over 500 km (300 miles) north of Sydney and over 600 km (360 miles) from Oberon.

Answer: Just savouring familiar sights

The lyrics in the first verse are:
"Kids out driving Saturday afternoon pass me by
I'm just savouring familiar sights
We share some history, this town and I
And I can't stop that long forgotten feeling of her
Try to book a room to stay tonight"

Answer: To find some friends to say "You're doing well"

The lyrics in the second verse are:
"Number one is to find some friends to say 'You're doing well
After all this time you boys look just the same'
Number two is the happy hour at one of two hotels
Settle in to play 'Do you remember so and so?'
Number three is never say her name"

Answer: More than just a memory

The lyrics in the third verse include:
"Takes more than just a memory to make me cry
I'm happy just to sit here round a table with old friends
And see which one of us can tell the biggest lies"

Answer: Flame trees

The lyrics in the chorus include:
"Oh the flame trees will blind the weary driver
And there's nothing else could set fire to this town
There's no change, there's no pace
Everything within its place
Just makes it harder to believe that she won't be around"

Answer: All three

The Sacred Heart School Choir of Cabramatta covered the song for the 2005 Australian film "Little Fish". Sarah Blasko released a standalone, download only cover version of "Flame Trees" which was later included on the tribute album "Standing on the Outside: The Songs of Cold Chisel". The Killjoys covered the song for the 1994 compilation album "Earth Music".

Other covers include: Jimmy Barnes (lead singer of Cold Chisel) did an acoustic version for the 1993 album "Flesh and Wood"; The Choir of Hard Knocks for the ABC documentary "School of Hard Knocks"; and Tim Freedman of the Whitlams performed the song live on the TV show "The Panel".

Answer: Jacaranda

Grafton is known as the "Jacaranda City" and holds an annual "Jacaranda Festival" in October-November each year.