Underground
Men At Work攀 Lyrics

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Don't take the fire from your eyes
Must make them feel the heat
They build castles underground for the rich and politic elite

Keep all the home fires burning,
Don't let the lights go out
The streets are empty, and there's nobody about.

We'll be alright in the morning time
Yeah
We're doing fine, I'll see you on the night line

There's no need for you to fight, boys,
Hang up all your guns
Find your mask and asbestos you can, get ready to run

Keep all the food lines moving,
Don't come cry'n' for more
The signs were there, you should have bought connections before

We'll be alright in the morning time
Yeah
We're doing fine, I'll see you on the night line

It's such a big joke
It's the talk of the town
All the planets to whom I spoke
Are trying their best to play it down

Don't take the fire from your eyes
Must make them feel the heat
But my head's unsteady
I can't seem to keep my feet

Jump off the Eiffel Tower
Just have a look around
Move fast, in the tunnels of the underground
Move fast, in the tunnels of the underground

Let's go!

Overall Meaning

The Men at Work's song Under Ground, from their second album Cargo, has a political theme that talks about the underground activity of the rich and political elite. The first verse emphasizes the importance of maintaining a passionate, fighting spirit towards injustice and corruption. The line "They build castles underground for the rich and politic elite" could be interpreted as the elites creating secret hideaways or tunnels to escape public scrutiny or natural disasters, which means the rest of the population will have to fend for themselves when disaster strikes. The second verse mentions the need for people to be self-sufficient and responsible for themselves as the streets become deserted. It demonstrates the vulnerability and reliance on basic human necessities in times of trouble, "Keep all the food lines moving, don't come crying' for more / The signs were there, you should have bought connections before."

The chorus reassures that everything will be okay despite the chaos and confusion, "We'll be alright in the morning time, yeah / We're doing fine, I'll see you on the night line." The repetition of these lines at the end of the verse conveys a sense of optimism, perhaps suggesting that the situation they're in is temporary, and they will pass through it together. The third verse includes the sarcastic line "It's such a big joke, it's the talk of the town," which suggests that the issue is fundamental but not essential to the rich and powerful. The final lines of the song encourage defiance in the face of adversity, urging the listener to move quickly like they're underground.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't take the fire from your eyes
Don't lose your passion and determination

Must make them feel the heat
Make others realize the intensity of the situation

They build castles underground for the rich and politic elite
The wealthy and powerful have their own secret world

Keep all the home fires burning,
Keep hope and optimism alive

Don't let the lights go out
Stay proactive and alert

The streets are empty, and there's nobody about.
Everyone is hiding or avoiding reality

We'll be alright in the morning time
Stay hopeful for a better tomorrow

We're doing fine, I'll see you on the night line
Everything is under control for now

There's no need for you to fight, boys,
Avoid unnecessary conflicts

Hang up all your guns
Stop being aggressive or violent

Find your mask and asbestos you can, get ready to run
Protect yourself and flee if necessary