21/1/13

Men at Work. DOWN UNDER (1981)


Down Under by Men at Work on Grooveshark   

DOWN UNDER

Men at Work sing about travelling the world and what it means to come 'from a land down under’.



The term Down Under is a colloquialism which is variously construed to refer either to Australia and New Zealand, or to Australia or New Zealand alone. The term comes from the fact that these countries are in the Southern Hemisphere, 'below' many other countries on the globe.
The persistence of the media use of the term has led to its wide embrace and usage. The Men at Work song "Down Under" became an instantly recognisable, patriotic rallying song. 


Songwriters: Strykert, Ronald Graham / Hay, Colin James
Traveling in a fried-out combie
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,

"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."

Buying bread from a man in Brussels
He was six-foot-four and full of muscles
I said, "Do you speak-a my language?"
He just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich
And he said,

"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."



Down Under (1981)

Released in 1981, this catchy pop song was written as a light ‘tongue-in-cheek’ dig at Australian values. It became a number one hit in Australia, the UK and US and is still played regularly today as an unofficial Australian national anthem.