Born in Adelaide, South Australia, Selena Cross grew up with a musical fami… Read Full Bio ↴Born in Adelaide, South Australia, Selena Cross grew up with a musical family and learned to play piano by ear at the age of 5. Practicing at 'Nana Annie's' house with the only piano around at the time, the weekend visits to Semaphore were some of the fondest memories Selena recalls. "I think the piano needs tuning!", Selena would exclaim every weekend. This was however an excuse to have the piano tuner come, just so she could hear him play at the end of the tuning session.

"I would watch him, look at his hands and posture, and notice how his fingers would dance like butterflies up and down the keys. I eagerly waited for the dramatic Low C, High C final chord! When he left, I would play frilly '5 year old' made up symphonies. It sounded awful, but I would always try to get the Low C, High C ending just right."

Selena's passion for music and drive never wavered and like many singer songwriters she hit the road in search of a listening ear. At 21, little did she know it would be many years later that the ever growing online community of music listeners would be the ones to discover her blissful blend of lush and powerful vocals with acoustic earthy pop.

With two self financed recording projects under her belt, it was the fresh ears of myspacers from near and far that would be the first to enjoy the offerings. Today, the 4000+ comments on on Selena’s myspace page say it all.

Paul Roger, Selena’s manager says, “I too came across Selena’s myspace profile. I knew straight away that I was listening to an unsigned and undiscovered treasure, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard of Selena Cross till then. That was a year ago.”

Down Under
Selena Cross Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Travelling in a fried-out combie
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"
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...
"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."
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

Overall Meaning

Selena Cross's "Down Under" is a song that tells the story of a traveler's adventures through different parts of the world. The song describes the traveler's encounters with different people and cultures, and how they differ from their homeland. The first verse talks about traveling in a "fried-out combie" (a type of van) on a "hippie trail" with their mind full of drugs. They meet a strange lady who makes them nervous, but she still gives them breakfast. The chorus then asks the question, "Do you come from a land down under?" and describes the stereotypical characteristics of Australia, such as glowing women and plundering men. The second verse talks about buying bread from a man in Brussels who is tall and muscular. The traveler asks him if he speaks their language, but he only smiles and gives them a Vegemite sandwich. The chorus repeats again, asking if the traveler is from a land down under. The bridge then describes the traveler lying in a den in Bombay with not much to say, and how they are from a land of plenty. The song ends with the chorus repeating several times, emphasizing the imagery of the thunder representing the excitement and adventure of being a traveler.

Overall, "Down Under" is a commentary on the differences and similarities between different cultures and places around the world. The traveler is fascinated and at times bewildered by the strange people they meet, but they still find a common ground in their humanity. The song also highlights the sense of adventure and freedom that comes with traveling and experiencing new things.

Line by Line Meaning

Travelling in a fried-out combie
Driving in a rundown Volkswagen bus

On a hippie trail, head full of zombie
Following a counterculture path while feeling out of it

I met a strange lady, she made me nervous
Encountering a mysterious woman who caused anxiety

She took me in and gave me breakfast
Inviting me into her home for food

And she said...
Continuing the conversation

"Do you come from a land down under?
Asking if I'm from Australia or New Zealand

Where women glow and men plunder?
Where the women are attractive and the men take advantage

Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
Do you not hear the warning signs?

You better run, you better take cover"
You should leave or protect yourself

Buying bread from a man in Brussels
Purchasing bread from a large man in Belgium

He was six-foot-four and full of muscles
He was tall and muscular

I said, "Do you speak-a my language?"
Asking if he understands me

He just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich
He responded with a Australian food item

And he said...
Continuing the conversation

"I come from a land down under
Explaining that he is from Australia or New Zealand

Where beer does flow and men chunder
Where there is a lot of drinking and vomiting

Yeah
An exclamation or expression of agreement

Lyin' in a den in Bombay
Relaxing in a room in Mumbai

With a slack jaw, and not much to say
Feeling speechless and unexpressive

I said to the man, "Are you trying to tempt me
Asking the man if he is trying to persuade me

Because I come from the land of plenty?"
Assuming that he wants something from me because of where I'm from

And he said...
Continuing the conversation

"Oh! Do you come from a land down under? (oh yeah yeah)
Asking if I'm from Australia or New Zealand again

Where women glow and men plunder?
Where the women are attractive and the men take advantage

Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
Do you not hear the warning signs?

You better run, you better take cover."
You should leave or protect yourself

Living in a land down under
Residing in Australia or New Zealand

Where women glow and men plunder
Where the women are attractive and the men take advantage

Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
Do you not hear the warning signs?

You better run, you better take cover
You should leave or protect yourself