☝️ Key Points
- The song 'Down Under' by Men at Work reflects Australian stereotypes and national identity.
- The song tells the story of an Australian backpacker who collects various experiences on his journey through different countries.
- The chorus refers to Australia as the 'Land Down Under' and alludes to Australian culture and way of life.
- The line 'He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich' is a reference to the typical Australian food Vegemite.
- The line 'Lying in a den in Bombay, With a slack jaw, and not much to say' could allude to cultural differences and language barriers that the traveler experiences in India.
Interpretation
The song 'Down Under' by
Men at Work is an iconic song that represents Australian stereotypes and national identity. It tells the story of an Australian traveler who experiences different things on his journey through different countries.
The line 'Traveling in a fried-out kombi, On a hippie trail, head full of zombie' refers to the Australian experience of backpacking or traveling, often in an old, worn-out van. 'Head full of Zombie' could refer to the experience of burnout that many backpackers experience during their long journeys.
'Do you come from a land down under? Where women glow and men plunder?' - Here, Australia is referred to as the 'Land Down Under', indicating its location in the southern hemisphere. The phrase 'Where women glow and men plunder' could suggest that women in Australia are considered beautiful (glow) and men are hardworking and rough (plunder).
'Do you speak-a my language? He just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich' - This line refers to the Australian specialty Vegemite, a spread that is very popular in Australia but often considered unpleasant by non-Australians.
'Lying in a den in Bombay, With a slack jaw, and not much to say' - This could refer to the cultural differences and language barrier that the traveler experiences in India (Bombay).
Overall, the song is a humorous and affectionate portrayal of Australian culture and identity, based on stereotypes and clichés, but also on real experiences of Australians abroad.