Land Down Under is a popular song by the Australian band Men at Work, released in 1981.
The song was written by the band’s lead singer, Colin Hay, and it quickly became a hit, reaching the top of the charts in Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
The song is widely regarded as an anthem of Australian culture and has been used in various movies, television shows, and advertisements around the world.
Men At Work Land Down Under Lyrics
Verse 1
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
Chorus
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
Verse 2
Buying bread from a man in Brussels
He was six-foot-four and full of muscle
I said, “Do you speak-a my language?”
And he just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich
And he said
Chorus
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
Verse 3
Lyin’ 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
Chorus
Oh! 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? Ah
You better run, you better take cover
(‘Cause we are) Living in a land down under
Where women glow and men plunder
(Hear, thunder) Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the thunder?
You better, 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? Oh, yeah
You better run, you better take cover
(We are) Living in a land down under, oh
Where women glow and men plunder
(Yeah, yeah) Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the thunder? (Yeah, yeah, thunder)
You better run, you better take cover
Living in a land down under (Living in a land down under)
Where women glow and men plunder
(Oh) Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the thunder?
You better run, you better take cover
Facts About Land Down Under Lyrics
| Fact | Description |
|---|---|
| Song title | Down Under |
| Artist | Men at Work |
| Year of release | 1981 |
| Album | Business as Usual |
| Songwriters | Colin Hay and Ron Strykert |
| Genre | Pop rock |
| Length | 3:42 |
| Chart performance | #1 in Australia, United States, and United Kingdom |
| Awards and recognition | – Won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1983 |
| – Included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of “500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll” | |
| – Featured in the opening ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia | |
| Lyrics and meaning | – The song celebrates Australian culture and references various landmarks and stereotypes of the country |
| – The lyrics also touch on themes of travel, home, and national identity | |
| Music video | – Features the band performing in various Australian locations, including a pub and a beach |
| – The video also includes animated elements and references to Australian culture | |
| Legacy | – “Down Under” continues to be an iconic song in Australian and international popular culture |
| – The song has been covered and sampled by various artists in a variety of genres |
If you enjoyed learning about the lyrics of this iconic hit, be sure to check out more of my content about song lyrics for other timeless classics and modern favorites
