Men At Work – Down Under (Official HD Video)
Inspiration Behind Down Under:
Colin Hay and Ron Strykert started writing Down Under in 1980, finishing this a year later. What began as an attempt to promote Australia to the world, ended in a loss of country spirit due to overdevelopment and exploitation of their beloved land. These lyrics highlight Colin’s travel abroad, including Brussels. Men at Work’s upbeat, reggae-infused anthem celebrates Australian identity, but takes a swipe at globalization and cultural preservation.
Biblical Application:
For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. 11 They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.”[c] 13 This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith, Titus 1:10-13.
Exegesis of Down Under:
Traveling in a fried-out Kombi
On a hippie trail, head full of zombie
I met a strange lady, she made me nervous
She took me in and gave me breakfast
And she said
Colin provides a vivid description of his travels abroad. He either tries to reveal who he met or embellishes. Despite the backwardness, she was hospitable.
“Do you come from a land down under
Where women glow and men plunder?
Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the thunder?
You better run, you better take cover”
The chorus elevate woman of Australia and take a swipe at men. The thunder could be a storm or a herd of animals coming quickly in your direction.
Buying bread from a man in Brussels
He was six-foot-four and full of muscle
I said, “Do you speak-a my language?”
He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich
And he said
Colin reveals a specific story about trying to overcome the language barrier, getting more than he asked for.
“I come from a land down under
Where beer does flow and men chunder
Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the thunder?
You better run, you better take cover, yeah”
A brief background of Australia.
Lying in a den in Bombay
With a slack jaw and not much to say
I said to the man, “Are you trying to tempt me?
Because I come from the land of plenty”
And he said
Another odd encounter, seems slightly embellished.
Oh, do you come from a land down under? (Ooh, yeah-yeah)
Where women glow and men plunder?
Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the thunder?
You better run, you better take cover, ’cause we are
Every where Colin went, he tried to describe what it is like in Australia.
Living in a land down under
Where women glow and men plunder (yeah)
Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the thunder? (Thunder)
You better-better run, you better take cover
The first repeat chorus, back-to-back, suggesting the end is near.
Living in a land down under
Where women glow and men plunder
Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the thunder? Ooh, yeah
You better run, you better take cover
Winding down, without a new stanza in sight.
(We are) living in a land down under (ooh, yeah)
Where women glow and men plunder
Can’t you, can’t you hear the thunder? (Can’t you, can’t you hear the thunder?)
You better run, you better take cover
The we point to Colin and Ron, with most of the chorus left unchanged except for the second warning of thunder.
Living in a land down under (living in a land down under)
Where women glow and men plunder
Can’t you, can’t you hear the thunder?
This is Men at Work’s brief glimpse of Australia.
Final Thoughts:
Men at Work arrived in America when I was in Junior High. Something about their unique sound made me a fan early on. I bought their first 2 albums, playing them almost every night before going to sleep. While my favorite songs are on the Blue for You album, 1983, Down Under has that classic summer sound with lyrics full of travel.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 