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Men at Work — Land Down Under
Album: Business As Usual
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1897









Released: 1982
Length: 3:27
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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."

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."

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:

"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?
You better run, you better take cover."

"I 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."

"I 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."

"I 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."
Comments (244)add comment
 skuzzfud wrote:


Also linked to the term "watch under" (chunder), referring to vomiting from the top bunk on a sailing ship.



Down under?
 GingerandMe wrote:

Vegemite.. Any good?



As a rule if you're an Aussie / Kiwi - then yes, if not - then no. 

There are always exceptions ofc - in this case they just prove the rule 
 On_The_Beach wrote:
"I come from a land down under
Where beer does flow and men chunder."


In case you were wondering . . .

chunder 
informal, chiefly Australian/NZ 

verb:
vomit.

noun:
vomit.

ORIGIN 1950s: probably from rhyming slang Chunder Loo ‘spew’, from the name of a cartoon character Chunder Loo of Akim Foo, who appeared in advertisements for Cobra boot polish in the Sydney Bulletinin the early 20th century.


Also linked to the term "watch under" (chunder), referring to vomiting from the top bunk on a sailing ship.
 Proclivities wrote:

This song was written as a sarcastic denunciation of Australia's history, not as something they were "boasting about".  If memory serves me correctly, I recall hearing about some Australian officials and citizens condemning this song when it came out, for its being "unpatriotic".   So, no, the lyrics are not necessarily as "ignorant and vapid" as you assert.  Apparently, sarcasm gets lost with some people.


Americans are inherently not well informed or they know everything and understand nothing.
This gets a 10 because music doesn't get much more fun and satisfying than this.
 GingerandMe wrote:

Vegemite.. Any good?


If you really really like salt.
"I come from a land down under
Where beer does flow and men chunder."


In case you were wondering . . .

chunder 
informal, chiefly Australian/NZ 

verb:
vomit.

noun:
vomit.

ORIGIN 1950s: probably from rhyming slang Chunder Loo ‘spew’, from the name of a cartoon character Chunder Loo of Akim Foo, who appeared in advertisements for Cobra boot polish in the Sydney Bulletinin the early 20th century.
Vegemite.. Any good?
Nice to see Colin Hay pop up on Lime Cordiale's latest single Colin.

Daughter: Who's Colin Hay?
Dad: Who's Lime Cordiale?

Colin is a fun little summer song (maybe not so much for RP listeners). It does have some charm.


 drsteevo wrote:

Men at Work didn't steal it.  A court ruled that the flute line was lifted from an old Australian campfire song.  The song was written by Colin Hay and Ron Strykert.  Greg Ham, the flutist, improvised the flute line during recording, after the song had been written. 

I listened to the Kookaburra song they supposedly plagiarized, but I don't think it sounds exactly like the flute riff in Down Under.

Men at Work did not steal this song.


Worse than that - the universally well-known Kookaburra campfire song was given to the Girl Guides  Association, and Larrikin Music (appropriate name for appropriators!) acquired the copyright when the author died and made a mint by chasing Men At Work https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/_(song). I know who I consider to be the thieves!

Down Under GIFs - Get the best GIF on GIPHY
Memories of watching England vs Australia in the Rugby Union at a Walkabout (a chain of Aussie bars) on London's Embankment.

England lost the game in the dying seconds), and this instantly comes on, at full volume. Beers in the air, cheers everywhere.

Bad times as a man wearing a red rose, but great memories.
 sirdroseph wrote:
It's funny, I never get tired of this song no matter how many times I hear it! Not one of their best and I actually prefer Colin Hay's solo stuff, but still a fun song!{#Cheers}


Say it like it is!
 SeriousLee wrote:

Can't say i know this band at all. But this song caught my attention. Worth an 8.



And now i feel old...
Can't say i know this band at all. But this song caught my attention. Worth an 8.
I love this group. A lot of really catchy tunes, a sense of humor. It's really good stuff.
 cuatrot wrote:
I wish ugly people still made music. 
 
I think a lot of artists seem uglier on the inside, these days.
 countyman wrote:
Down By The Sea from the same album is a mesmerizing piece.

 
Wow, I had forgotten about that mellow little gem, just went to YouTube to give it the first listen in decades. Nice, thanks for the reminder.
Fire up the barbie and crack open a tinnie. 11/10
 TLynneHenry wrote:

Too busy glowing.
 
And afraid of the men.

Down By The Sea from the same album is a mesmerizing piece.

 hubcapsally wrote:
Why don't the women plunder?

 
Too busy glowing.
 umhausen wrote:
And btw Men at Work stole it ...
 
Men at Work didn't steal it.  A court ruled that the flute line was lifted from an old Australian campfire song.  The song was written by Colin Hay and Ron Strykert.  Greg Ham, the flutist, improvised the flute line during recording, after the song had been written. 

I listened to the Kookaburra song they supposedly plagiarized, but I don't think it sounds exactly like the flute riff in Down Under.

Men at Work did not steal this song.


You must be kidding. Awful
 hubcapsally wrote:
Why don't the women plunder?

 
You'd have to ask an Australian about that.


Fun!  Flock of Seagulls next, perhaps? (just kidding)
Why don't the women plunder?

Can't hear it any more ! And btw Men at Work stole it ...
 Lrobby99 wrote:
One play per year, plenty for this one.
 
One play too many.
Aussie reggae doesn't do it for me
Still a great rocker.  So good for the feet as romeo says and a delight for the ears. 

Childhood bonus +5
I still love this song, and every single time I hear it, I want to visit Australia.
ahhhh  what?? when??


nostalgia! {#Dance}
Aussie reggae{#Tongue}
A re-mix with less echo and the backline not in repeat,,and..well,forget it! #4
News flash:
Judge ruled on Tuesday that Men must pay 5 percent of the royalties they earned on this song to the company that holds the rights to "Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree."

This just in:
Men seek place to chunder.

I'm like Jerry Seinfeld - I hate to chunder so much, that it's been years since I have chundered.  

According to Urban Dictionary, it's Australian slang for "vomiting".

I do like the song - sort of a guilty pleasure, windows-up kind of song.  


It's funny, I never get tired of this song no matter how many times I hear it! Not one of their best and I actually prefer Colin Hay's solo stuff, but still a fun song!{#Cheers}
God-like for a home-sick Aussie! Shame about the law suit though. Really sucks. The Music-Mafia just keeps on rockin don't they.
 Stingray wrote:
ONE OF THE BEST SONGS EVER, I REPEAT
EVER-EVER WRITTEN....

10? haaaaaaaaaaa....a 12!


 
Hold on big fella, no need to shout.  We hear ya!

 ehtiyot wrote:
Lawsuit against the band was absurd. Best to Colin Hay and gang.
 
From what I understand, the author of the Kookabura song did NOT complain about the flute bit.

But she's passed on and the current copyright holder sued.  M@W may have to give up 60% of the royalties!  Sounds like corporate greed to me, even if it is technical violation.


 Lrobby99 wrote:
One play per year, plenty for this one.
 
Sorry, we need to air this tune 1/day to help M@W pay their lawyer fees ...

Lawsuit against the band was absurd. Best to Colin Hay and gang.
 Grammarcop wrote:

Then by the Stephen Colbert Rule of Transitive Logic, my kids first heard "Land Down Under" on "Barney"! 
 
:-)

 Pieter wrote:
And now they're in trouble for stealing the riff from the children's song "Kookaburra Sits In The Old Gum Tree."
 
Then by the Stephen Colbert Rule of Transitive Logic, my kids first heard "Land Down Under" on "Barney"! 
Wow, that has to be a world record mute for me - barely a second after the first two notes. No bother to 'beat the intro' on this severely overplayed (on FM) number. And if Vegemite is the Oz equivalent of Marmite, I absolutely loathe that with an unquenchable ferocity.
One play per year, plenty for this one.
Stingray has quite the fetish regarding the freaking size of the FONTS WHEN HE YAPS...Jeez, lighten up.
 Aegean wrote:

In contrast, consider Madrugada.  They come from the land of the Vikings.  Norwegians have grown up since then.  I don't hear Madrugada boasting about the Norwegians' days of plunder!


 

Indeed.  It has gotten to the point where a recent PBS show I saw waxed eloquent on the "Viking way of peace". 


Ahh, 80's top 40 Gold!
 cochlear wrote:
I heard this tune shortly after it first hit the air, circa '83.  I was basking on the lawn at the great Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.  Where one was and what one was doing for certain events are indelible - and, in this case, delicious - memories.  {#Cool} 

I know what you mean about location and events becoming indelible and delicious memories.  My brief visit to the gorgeous, 5-star Mauna Kea Hotel (1980? 1981?) is deliciously memorable.  My new bride and I were taking a brisk walk around the property just after sunup and noticed a pink thong in the shrubbery.  We were joking about the party that must have produced that sight when, three steps later, we came across a pair of men's white cotton briefs.
Lately Bill is releasing songs on the playlist before they got actually played, and up to 2!! Kinda confusing {#Stupid}

I heard this tune shortly after it first hit the air, circa '83.  I was basking on the lawn at the great Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.  Where one was and what one was doing for certain events are indelible - and, in this case, delicious - memories.  {#Cool} 



And now they're in trouble for stealing the riff from the children's song "Kookaburra Sits In The Old Gum Tree."
 Aegean wrote:

It does have a catchy tune, but the lyrics are ignorant and vapid:

     "Do you come from a land down under?
      Where women glow and men plunder?
"

The last time I checked, plunder means to take goods by force (as in war);  to take by force or wrongfully;  steal.  This is something people should be proud of, and dancing to?

In contrast, consider Madrugada.  They come from the land of the Vikings.  Norwegians have grown up since then.  I don't hear Madrugada boasting about the Norwegians' days of plunder!

 
This song was written as a sarcastic denunciation of Australia's history, not as something they were "boasting about".  If memory serves me correctly, I recall hearing about some Australian officials and citizens condemning this song when it came out, for its being "unpatriotic".   So, no, the lyrics are not necessarily as "ignorant and vapid" as you assert.  Apparently, sarcasm gets lost with some people.
I really prefer Colin Hay´s Solo-material. This song is OK but the rest of the CD is sub-par.
always a great pleasure 2 here them{#Dancingbanana}
 cirruss wrote:

I never really liked this and also do not understand why this is being played here... pure and utterly despisable pop.
 

It's nice to hear old hits every now and then.  I hate the idea that songs should be excluded on RP based solely on the grounds that they were popular.  I don't think that is the case at all.  
Holy 80's Batman!!!
just plain goofy
Fun song - love Colin Hay's voice.
Having owned a fried out Kombi, or the close equivalent, I admit to a soft spot for this tune. A big 8.


I'm demoting to 1: Sucko-barfo in an attempt to skew the average rating more towards where it needs to be for this clunker.
cirruss wrote:

I never really liked this and also do not understand why this is being played here... pure and utterly despisable pop.


You mean like Smashing Pumpkins' 1979 (you gave that a 10)? Or how about Pearl Jam's Daughter (an 8) or Red Hill Mining town by U2 (another 8!)? Pop is pop, but despisable is subjective and is cancelled out by the "eclectic" label that so much stuff I consider crap on this station gets put under. So even though I like this song I feel your pain.

 Aegean wrote:

It does have a catchy tune, but the lyrics are ignorant and vapid:

     "Do you come from a land down under?
      Where women glow and men plunder?
"

...

Most Australians have grown up, too.  Their government recently issued a public apology "
for years of mistreatment that inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on the country's Aboriginal people...  for the 'Stolen Generations' of children who were taken from their families...  and for the indignity and degradation on a proud people and a proud culture."
...



 
Notwithstanding the validity of your analysis, I don't see much point into hearing and seeing so much into this song.

It's a silly, mostly nonsensical, fun song.
Much of Monthy Pyton's is actually quite heartless and hurtful, if we look at it from the perspective of sheer political correcteness, for example.
But this rhymes, and it's silly, and the video is utterly idiotic, and that's quite allright by me.
Plenty of good, deep, thoughtful songs here, too, to balance things out.


 lily34 wrote:
oooh. i'm in the minority. yuck!
 
i, too
never liked this song
a rare "3" on RP

Why this ad nauseum and no Go-Betweens?
i love this song.. but i find it hilarious how its so hard to make out every single word he's saying
A very nice surprise! I'm likin' it.

This sounds slow to me. Maybe I'm used to sped up version on '80's radio
oooh. i'm in the minority. yuck!
Excellent & the later version by solo Colin Hay is just class {#Bananajam}
YAY!!!!!! When I was a kid and first heard these guys I bought the cassette and the record since I loved it so much.
I love this song.
mandolin wrote:
ewewewewewewew! ...wash out my brain from that comment...
/me passes the mind bleach.
I if I recall correctly, this was the 2nd tape I ever owned. Not as old as some on this site, but older than a few :)
amb599 wrote:
It's not that I think I'm the funniest. In fact humor doesn't rate on a scale of 1 to 10, its more in the scale of color like from purple to brown. I guess my humor is browniest.
Bravo!!
It's better now then when it came out, way ahead of their time.
Australian band fantastic from 80's years... Colin Hay vocals... Wonderful!!!!
This song (and Men At Work in general) is coming back around for me. Haven't heard them much for ten years. Might be worth re-acquiring.
rtrudeau wrote:
Life's little conundrum: Why is it that people with the grossest / worst senses of humor think they're the funniest?
It's not that I think I'm the funniest. In fact humor doesn't rate on a scale of 1 to 10, its more in the scale of color like from purple to brown. I guess my humor is browniest.
amb599 wrote:
NOOOOOOOO!!!!!! This isn't eclectic, its just crusty. In case of problems with AU/NZ, my bunghole can be used as an emergency vegemite factory.
Life's little conundrum: Why is it that people with the grossest / worst senses of humor think they're the funniest?
maxmox wrote:
And, wait a minute, we also have Promite!! Even better, zippyer, saltier than all the others.
Not sure how I forgot about Promite! Also very zesty. Getting warm here, might have to go raid the specialty grocery store for some Vegemite tonight. Mmmmmm!
ewewewewewewew! ...wash out my brain from that comment...
NOOOOOOOO!!!!!! This isn't eclectic, its just crusty. In case of problems with AU/NZ, my bunghole can be used as an emergency vegemite factory.
d00kie wrote:
Yah I liked this the first 100,000 times I heard it over the last 25 years or so...Still a classic, but not something I expected to hear here i guess
I never really liked this and also do not understand why this is being played here... pure and utterly despisable pop.
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. zibbiddy doo!
The greatest bonus with having Vegemite on toast is that if you burn the toast the flavour of Vegemite will hide that burnt taste.....
Best vegemite sandwiches - vegemite and lettuce, vegemite and cheese. Always spread vegemite THINLY! Truly bonza, cobbers! As is Colin Hayes......
Candela wrote:
Sorry OZ, i love your country and some of your music, but you can keep the vegemite to yourselfs :P:) X :D
Vegemite, ooh buddy! I went to a musican friend's house once years ago (he was Aussie). I asked him jokingly, just how was that vegemite. He replied that I could sample it myself. I did and DO NOT care for it. Salted salty brown stuff!
Rock on!
Candela wrote:
Sorry OZ, i love your country and some of your music, but you can keep the vegemite to yourselfs :P:) X :D
They feed the leftovers of beer brewing to their children -vegemite. What a country!!!! I love it and I will go back there some day for a really long time (last time it were only 7 months). But: I'll chew my right hand off before I eat a vegemite sandwich again. No worries, mates, she'll be right.
for you Gteg McHugh....happy new year
I must have worn out three cassette copies of Business as Usual when I was a yonker...
Ya, It is such a "bummer" when that happens.fredriley wrote:
I hit the mute button after the first few bars, so recognisable and cliched is this song. It was refreshing when it hit the charts back in the 80s (can't remember exactly when) and I quite enjoyed it then, but it's been sooooo overplayed on the radio since that it's really irritating now.
Sorry OZ, i love your country and some of your music, but you can keep the vegemite to yourselfs :P:) X :D
Vegemite on toast. NOTHING in this world beats it! Great breakfast that is :D sirrus wrote:
OK, the biggest mistake in trying the venerable Vegemite is to try too much at once. Try spreading it very sparingly maybe with a bit of butter on a muffin. Or maybe with something you might use peanut butter with. After a while, you will start spreading a bit more on and eventually you will start craving the stuff.... Or maybe that's just me (and most of Australia) !
This song reminds me of coworkers...blazing heat in the mojave desert sun... i.e. once a year is enough.
OK, the biggest mistake in trying the venerable Vegemite is to try too much at once. Try spreading it very sparingly maybe with a bit of butter on a muffin. Or maybe with something you might use peanut butter with. After a while, you will start spreading a bit more on and eventually you will start craving the stuff.... Or maybe that's just me (and most of Australia) !
Darkmatter wrote:
I have to try vegemite someday, curiosity is killing me. But it seems scarce in this part of the world.
In a pinch, fresh road tar will suffice.
I tried a vegemite sandwich once. I had just moved to New Zealand, and our postman dropped in to welcome us. He gave us a jar of vegemite and said, "It's great, try it on toast." (This was 1977, years before this song.) It tastes like wiping dog crap off your shoes with a brillo pad, and eating it. Damn that postman...
Yah I liked this the first 100,000 times I heard it over the last 25 years or so...Still a classic, but not something I expected to hear here i guess
Zep wrote:
1. Don't listen to the radio. 2. Take a long walk every now and then. 3. Make yourself a vegemite sandwich.
A just punishment.
Man I haven't Heard this in Years!!! EXCELLENT JAM
When I was a kid in Sydney (a thousand years ago), a friend and I made up a whole dance routine for this song which involved a real live Vegemite sandwich. We thought we were just sooo cool!
coccyx wrote:
Easy to do at home, kids. 1/ toast a piece of bread to hard, dry consistency. Burnt is fine 2/ spoon table salt and yeast on to the toast in equal parts. 3/ serve with salt
Although that would probably taste better than actual Vegimite.
Probably my favorite song of the very fertile early 80's. They were an awesome band!!
Darkmatter wrote:
I have to try vegemite someday, curiosity is killing me. But it seems scarce in this part of the world.
Easy to do at home, kids. 1/ toast a piece of bread to hard, dry consistency. Burnt is fine 2/ spoon table salt and yeast on to the toast in equal parts. 3/ serve with salt
bokey wrote:
I'm trying to figure the segue from Alison Krause to this. I guess Under and Union Station both begin with the same letters . Glad I figured that out.
Ok,I don't really think that was it. Still wonderin'
bokey wrote:
I'm trying to figure the segue from Alison Krause to this. I guess Under and Union Station both begin with the same letters . Glad I figured that out.
Ok,I don't really think that was it. Still wonderin'
Land_Shark wrote:
I have a hard time regarding "Who Can It Be Now?" as being a rare Men at Work track. I would rather hear "It's a Mistake" or "Overkill."
Well, it is in the Netherlands... As is overkill, all were small hits, but the only one still played is "downunder"
Happygirl wrote:
I'd say Vegemite is way more hardcore than marmite. Much more zesty. ;)
And, wait a minute, we also have Promite!! Even better, zippyer, saltier than all the others.
there's no place like home... *click click*.... *faint* and followed by the Oils!!!
This song is just such *fun* to listen to! *bops away*
Those Finn brothers are awesome, arent' they? Oh, that's right- this is Split Enz...
fredriley wrote:
I hit the mute button after the first few bars, so recognisable and cliched is this song. It was refreshing when it hit the charts back in the 80s (can't remember exactly when) and I quite enjoyed it then, but it's been sooooo overplayed on the radio since that it's really irritating now.
1. Don't listen to the radio. 2. Take a long walk every now and then. 3. Make yourself a vegemite sandwich.
Darkmatter wrote:
I have to try vegemite someday, curiosity is killing me. But it seems scarce in this part of the world.
Vegemite was an acquired taste for me. Tough to get beyond the very yeasty/salty flavor at first, but now I flappin' love it on a good sourdough toast! I find it where I live (Morro Bay, CA), in a British novelty market. I'm sure these guys'll mail to Sweden. (click here) Try it!