Born in Kansas City, Missouri, he credited two influences with guiding him towards music: the first was composer Miklós Rózsa; the second his own Greek Orthodox heritage. Poledouris was raised in the Church, and he used to sit in services enthralled by the choir's sound. At the age of seven, Poledouris began piano lessons, and after graduation from Garden Grove High School, he enrolled at the University of Southern California to study both filmmaking and music. Several short films to which he contributed are still kept in the university's archives. At USC, Poledouris met movie directors John Milius and Randal Kleiser, with whom he would later collaborate as a music composer. He appeared as a background extra in several episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series. In 1985, Poledouris wrote the music for Paul Verhoeven's Flesh & Blood, establishing a durable collaboration.
Poledouris became renowned for his powerfully epic style of orchestral composition and his intricate thematic designs. He scored the soundtrack for The Blue Lagoon (1980; dir: Kleiser); Conan the Barbarian (1982; dir: Milius); Conan the Destroyer (1984); Red Dawn (1984; dir: Milius), Iron Eagle (1986); RoboCop (1987; dir: Verhoeven); The Hunt for Red October (1990); Quigley Down Under (1990 Simon Wincer); Free Willy (1993) and its first sequel Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home (1995); Starship Troopers (1997; dir: Verhoeven); and For Love of the Game (1999).
Poledouris' studio, "Blowtorch Flats", was located in Venice, California, and was a professional mixing facility specializing in film and media production.
Poledouris married his wife Bobbie in 1969; they had two daughters, Zoë and Alexis. His elder daughter, Zoë Poledouris, is an actress and film composer, who occasionally collaborated with her father in composing film soundtracks.
In 1996, Poledouris, alongside James Horner, composed "The Tradition of the Games" for the Atlanta Olympics opening ceremony that accompanied the memorable dance tribute to the athletes and goddesses of victory of the ancient Greek Olympics using silhouette imagery.
Poledouris spent the last four years of his life residing on Vashon Island, in Washington State. He died on November 8, 2006, in Los Angeles, California, aged 61, from cancer.
Down Under
Basil Poledouris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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?
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
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
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
Living in 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
Living in 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
Living in 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
Living in 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
The song Down Under by Basil Poledouris is a catchy tune that tells the tale of a man traveling through various locations around the world before being asked if he comes from a land down under. This term refers to Australia, where the women glow and the men plunder. The opening line mentions traveling in a fried-out combie, a reference to a popular van used by hippies in Australia during the 1960s and 1970s. The singer meets a strange lady who makes him nervous but takes him in for breakfast.
Later, the singer speaks to a man in Brussels who is selling bread and asks if he speaks his language. The man responds by giving him a Vegemite sandwich, a popular spread in Australia made from yeast extract. Finally, the singer finds himself in Bombay, lying in a den, and speaking to a man who appears to be trying to tempt him. The singer claims to come from a land of plenty and asks the man if he comes from a land down under.
The theme of the song seems to revolve around the idea of a journey or search for something, both physically and metaphorically. The use of the term "land down under" creates a sense of mystery and exoticism, while the references to Vegemite and combies give the song a distinctly Australian identity.
Line by Line Meaning
Traveling in a fried-out combie
Riding in a beat-up van
On a hippie trail, head full of zombie
Traveling on a route popular among hippies while feeling a bit out of it
I met a strange lady, she made me nervous
Encountering an unsettling woman
She took me in and gave me breakfast
Being invited into her home for food
And she said
Transition to next verse
Do you come from a land down under?
Asking if you're from Australia
Where women glow and men plunder?
Referring to the beauty of Australian women and rowdy behavior of Australian men
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
Indicating the impending storm
You better run, you better take cover
Urging action to avoid the storm
Buying bread from a man in Brussels
Purchasing bread from a Belgian vendor
He was six-foot-four and full of muscles
Commenting on his appearance
I said, 'Do you speak-a my language?'
Asking if he speaks the same language
He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich
Instead of answering, gave a typical Australian food item
And he said
Transition to next verse
Living in a land down under
Describing Australia
Where women glow and men plunder
Reiterating the earlier reference to Australian women and men
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
Repeating the earlier reference to the storm
You better run, you better take cover
Reiterating the earlier call to action
Lyin' in a den in Bombay
Relaxing in a room in India
With a slack jaw, and not much to say
Feeling a bit out of it and speechless
I said to the man, 'Are you trying to tempt me
Asking if he's trying to lure you into something
Because I come from the land of plenty?'
Referencing Australia's abundance of resources
And he said
Transition to next verse
Living in a land down under
Repeating the description of Australia
Where women glow and men plunder
Reiterating the earlier reference to Australian women and men
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
Repeating the earlier reference to the storm
You better run, you better take cover
Reiterating the earlier call to action
Living in a land down under
Repeating the description of Australia
Where women glow and men plunder
Reiterating the earlier reference to Australian women and men
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
Repeating the earlier reference to the storm
You better run, you better take cover
Reiterating the earlier call to action
Living in a land down under
Repeating the description of Australia once more
Where women glow and men plunder
And another nod to Australian women and men
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
Finally, a last warning about the impending storm
You better run, you better take cover
And one last call to action
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
hancock63
I always thought that Basil Poledouris was an underrated composer. He left his mark on so many great films.
derbuckeyetribe
One of my top 5 Favorites, Don't ask who my Top 5 are, I'm still sorting it out. Currently Basil comes in at #3 on my list.
david chaparro
12:00 is where it’s at for me. Beautiful
RoboGreek
Underrated??? GREATEST OF ALL TIME. Conan the barbarian/destroyer. RoboCop. Quigley down under. ( should of got sequels) Hunt for Red October. And MANY MANY MORE
Soundtrack Fred
Starring Tom Selleck and Alan Rickman “Quigley Down Under” is an enjoyable western but not that typical, as set in Australia. Although having a few silly moments the plot was partly more serious than one would expect from it. Basil Poledouris provided a wonderful score with a really fun main theme for Matthew Quigley, referring to the composition style of Elmer Bernstein. Enjoy!
Attila R
@Mr. Aldini Nooo swimming!
Alana Tolstad
One of my favorite westerns (after Silverado), and I so desperately want the soundtrack, but, starting prices begin at $50 & go up from there. Gotta listen here, since I'm too cheap to pay those prices...grr!
Mr. Aldini
Butch and Sundance would have done very well there. And Sundance could have learned to swim... If he wanted to.
Thomas Schneeberger
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Chris J
I've always thought that if Tom Selleck had been born 20 years earlier, he'd have made his name in TV Westerns, not as Thomas Magnum!