Fantastic, this next song is coming out very soon
It's five minutes, perhaps even longer
It's a song about a place that we all come from
Oh, look out, Australians in the audience
Yes, I thought as much
Filthy and two podium people in the audience
This is a song called- anyone know what this song's called?
(What's it called) maybe you do know what it's called
It's called, it's called
I think that this is a pretty good town
They call this place the Big Apple, right?
(Why is that?) what does that make all you?
Not apples, worms! That's right
Anyway, we feel at home with all people, we're worms too, you know
I reckon if they haven't got the tape together now
It's all happening, okay, without further ado, it's on the show
Traveling in a fried-out Kombi
On a hippie trail, head full of zombie
I met a strange lady, she made me real nervous
She took me in and gave me breakfast
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
Six foot four, full of muscle
I said, "Hey, do you speak-a my language, buck?"
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, better run, you better take cover"
Get down
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:
"Do you come from a land down under, oh 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
Living in 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
Now you try it, 'cause we are
Living in 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
Just once more, c'mon, for me
Living in 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
Oh don't stop now, 'cause we are
Living in 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
Living in 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
'Cause we are living in a land down under
Where women glow and men plunder
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
You better, better run, you better take cover
A big hand for Big Han, he plays the flute
And he's also so cute
Hey, he's my best friend!
Not accepting this
About This Song
"Down Under" is an exuberant celebration of Australian identity that became the country's unofficial anthem, capturing the adventurous spirit of young Australians traveling abroad in the early 1980s. The song follows a backpacker's journey through various encounters that highlight cultural differences and stereotypes, with the iconic chorus serving as both a proud declaration of Australian heritage and a playful challenge to outsiders' perceptions. Musically, it features an infectious pop-rock melody driven by Colin Hay's distinctive vocals and a memorable flute riff that gives it a uniquely Australian folk-rock flavor. The lyrics blend humor with national pride, touching on themes of wanderlust, cultural identity, and the Australian experience of being far from home yet carrying one's heritage wherever they go. Its massive global success helped put Australian rock on the international map and remains one of the most recognizable songs associated with Australia, though it later sparked some debate about certain lyrical interpretations.
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