Eighties Archive Song Number
Highest Chart Position
Date Released
Date Of UK Top 40 Entry
Genre
Label
Catalogue Number
Story Behind The Song
Few songs are as instantly evocative as Men At Work’s “Down Under”, a spirited celebration of Australian identity wrapped in an irresistibly catchy pop-rock arrangement. Written by Colin Hay and Ron Strykert, the song grew from a simple guitar idea and became one of the defining recordings from the band’s debut album, Business As Usual.
The track combines bright guitars, bass and drums with keyboards and one of its most distinctive ingredients: Greg Ham’s wonderfully memorable flute part. Hay’s relaxed, slightly conversational vocal follows an Australian traveller encountering people and situations overseas, while the lyrics are filled with references to Australian culture, food, language and national character. Beneath the humour, however, the song also contains a gentle commentary on how Australia was perceived and presented to the outside world.
The rhythm gives “Down Under” its unmistakable bounce, shifting between relaxed verses and an infectious chorus. Hay’s vocal delivery adds to the song’s conversational quality, making the recording feel almost like a musical travel diary.
The video reinforces that sense of Australian character, following Hay through a series of surreal and colourful encounters. With its combination of humour, strong melody, unusual instrumentation and unmistakable sense of place, “Down Under” remains one of Men At Work’s most enduring recordings.
The song peaked at No. 01 in the UK charts on 29th January 1983.
UK 7'' SLEEVE COVERS
Shown below are the picture sleeve covers (front and back) for the UK release of this single. If no cover sleeve was issued in the UK, we will display another country’s picture sleeve.
UK 7'' TRACK LISTING
| A-Side | Down Under (3:43) (Hay, Strykert) Produced By Peter McIan |
| B-Side | Crazy (2:36) (Strykert) Produced By Peter McIan |
CHART PERFORMANCE
| UK Top 40 Chart Run [10 Weeks] – 8th January 1983 – 12th March 1983 |
OFFICIALLY RELEASED VERSIONS
All officially released versions that appeared in the 80s:-
- Down Under (Single Version) (3:43)
- Down Under (Extended Version) (5:24)
To hear the FULL version of the songs below, you will need an active Spotify account (Free one). Just log in on your desktop/tablet or phone to hear the FULL versions.
OFFICIAL VIDEO
SONG LYRICS
Travelling 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
“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”
Buyin’ 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
“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
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
“Oh, 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? Oh
You better run, you better take cover”
‘Cause we are living in a land down under
Where women glow and men plunder
(Yeah, thunder, 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? Ooh yeah
You better run, you better take cover
We are living in a land down under, ooh yeah
Where women glow and men plunder
(Can you, can you hear the thunder?) Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the 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, hear) Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the thunder?
Written By Colin Hay, Ron Strykert
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