Men At Work: Down Under Meaning

Song Released: 1981

Down Under Lyrics

Traveling in a fried-out combi
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?...

1. anonymous

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   Feb 10th 2009 !⃝

   One interpretation of the lines "Can't you hear the thunder/you better take cover" may involve Cold War tensions contemporary with the song's release.
   
   The song was recorded in 1981, shortly after the USSR's invasion of Afghanistan (1979), the boycott of the Summer Olympic games (1980), and the implementation of Martial Law in Poland (1981). These were all symptoms of the growing tensions between NATO and the USSR. Brussels, Belgium was strongly tied to the NATO alliance, while Bombay, India was loosely federated with the USSR. Australia during this time was a NATO member, but had stayed relatively aloof during earlier Cold War conflicts.
   
   The personalities the Australian meets in his wide travels all seem disconcerted about the growing global tensions, and warn our narrator of future conflict. By extension, this would include Australia if global war would have broken out.
2. anony5

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   Feb 4th 2009 !⃝

   I agree with everything the Jamaican dude said except the piece about rolling tourists. Sounds more sexual, to me (offers to get stoned and have sex), but with the last request (a dude) he turns it down.
   
   Minivan/"combi"
   Eurasia travel/"hippie trail"
   Pothead/"zombie"
   Brussels/Bombay Opium den
   People are nice/interested
   He's nervous because he can't figure out why they want to give it up, but then is told the rumor... and he starts believing it...
   So they feed him, prolong his high, because he's built and hung, like they've heard Aussies are.
   
   Oh... and thunder/run for cover... come on...
   That's all about the big "O"...
3. anony5

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   Feb 4th 2009 !⃝

   I agree with everything the Jamaican dude said except the piece about rolling tourists. Sounds more sexual, to me (offers to get stoned and have sex), but with the last request (a dude) he turns it down.
   
   Minivan/"combi"
   Eurasia travel/"hippie trail"
   Pothead/"zombie"
   Brussels/Bombay Opium den
   People are nice/interested
   He's nervous because he can't figure out why they want to give it up, but then is told the rumor... and he starts believing it...
   So they feed him, prolong his high, because he's built and hung, like they've heard Aussies are.
4. anonymous

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   Jan 11th 2009 !⃝

   My interpretation goes so:
   
   This person, a hippie if you prefer to label, is traveling to different parts of the world. His vehicle breaks down and finds a caring soul to help him and feed him. He refers to her as making him "nervous" which is understandable because some of the side effects of marijuana(the term for the slang 'Zombie') are distorted senses and anxiety. The woman asks him if he's "from the land down under where women glow and men plunder.."; in the music video they portray this woman as a fortune teller. Not refering to the video the woman could be asking him this because she is curious and may have heard rumors about life in Australia.
   The man that he meets in Brussels is also from Australia as the "hippie" finds out when he's trying to order food. This shows that there are many different people in the world that you can meet and sometimes they're from where you're from. Kind of like a "its a small world" cliche.
   
   The third verse is a little more difficult. There is a man who is trying to offer the "hippie" something. Most likely trying to sell it to him as if its 'just what he needs'; perhaphs saying that his good is the best in the world. Whichever the reason is, the "hippie" declines in a way telling the man that he comes from a land that gives him everything he needs and he doesn't need this foregin good. The man then realizes that the "hippie" is from Australia and asks him if he is "from the land down under..." and continues as if he had heard rumors just as the woman had. Which could be very reasonable because there were rebellions and civil war in Bombay which could have a citizen looking for a place of serenity, in this case Australia.
   
   The thunder is also a little confusing, but if not taken too complex then its a little better. Australia does have thunderstorms which could be very dangerous. Making sense as to wanting to run and hide. It seems very like simple analysis of the reason for thunder, but it perplexes myself.
5. anonymous

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   Jan 8th 2009 !⃝

   The singer is in a minivan (a "combi") traveling in Eurasia (on "the hippie trail"). He smokes pot ("zombie"), goes to Brussels and visits an opium den in Bombay.
   
   Everywhere he goes, he meets people (the lady, the huge Belgian, the opium seller) who are super nice to him. He can't figure out why, and he's nervous. (Maybe he's worried they want to roll him or something-- rob the tourist while he's stoned?)
   
   But every time, it turns out they're making him breakfast, pulling out the Vegemite, and getting him extra-special stoned because they just love Australians! They all go on and on about how robust Aussies are-- the women are so pretty and the men are so strong!
   
   The one thing I can't figure out is the "thunder." Why must he run and take cover?
   
   [On a personal note, I've always loved this song, and I can totally relate. I'm Jamaican, and I've travelled to many countries. And the same thing happens to me! When people find out I'm Jamaican, I always get a big smile, no matter what country.]
6. anonymous

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   Jan 3rd 2009 !⃝

   Not every damn song is about god you twat.
   It's clearly about Auzzies who're in another bloody country that isn't Auzzie country.
   
   You're an idiot.
   So shut up.
7. mikelaurence

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   Dec 17th 2008 !⃝

   I think the land down under is a allagory to hell. the question about do you hear the thunder is god calling. the line "are you trying to temp me?"is satan temping jesus to join him in ruling the land downunder."because I come from the land of plenty."is heaven. That is what the song says to me. but I hear a story about god in most music.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
8. anonymous

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   Nov 23rd 2008 !⃝

   that's pretty close...i think it's that these guys, who are Australians, are traveling the globe, meeting other people, and these other people are asking the guys "are you from the land down under?" it's a bit of an Australian patriotic song...hope that made sense! :)
9. JohnDMcClane

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   Sep 2nd 2007 !⃝

   I saw someone request this song, so I'll do my best to explain it as I see it.
   
   I think it is, that they're in another country, and asks people if their from "A land down under" (which is Australia). Then, at the end of the song, they find another man who's from Australia. PLEASE do correct me if you thinks something else

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