“Australia” is a song by American Indie Rock band The Shins. The song was released as the second single via Sub Pop from their third studio album Wincing the Night Away in the UK on April 9th, 2007.
Despite the name “Australia”, the song does not reference Australia at all.
“Australia” peaked at n...
[Intro]
"Time to put the ear covers on!"
"No!"
La-la-la-la!
La-la-la-la!
La-la-la-la!
[Verse 1]
(Born to) Born to multiply
Born to gaze into night skies
All you want's one more Saturday
Well, look here until then
They gonna buy your life's time
So keep your wick in the air and your feet in the fetters
Till the day
[Pre-Chorus 1]
We come in doing cartwheels
We all crawl out by ourselves
And your shape on a dance floor
Will have me thinking such filth to gouge my eyes
[Chorus 1]
You'll be damned to be one of us girl
Faced with the dodo's conundrum
I felt like I could just fly
But nothing happened every time I try, ooh-ooh!
[Verse 2]
A duotone on the wall
Selfless fool who hoped he'd save us all
Never dreamt of such sterile hands
You keep 'em folded in your lap
Or raise them up to beg for scraps
You know he's holding you down with the tips of his fingers
Just the same
[Pre-Chorus 2]
Will you be pulled from the ocean
A-just a minute too late?
Or changed by a potion
To find a handsome young mate for you to love?
[Chorus 2]
You'll be damned to pining through the windowpanes
You know you'd trade your life for any ordinary Joe
Well, do it now or grow old
Your nightmares only need a year or two to unfold
[Guitar solo]
[Bridge]
Been alone since you were twenty-one
You haven't laughed since January
You try and make like this is so much fun
But we know it to be quite contrary
La-la-la-la
[Chorus 3]
Dare to be one of us, girl
Facing the android's conundrum
I felt like I should just cry
But nothing happens every time I take one on the chin
You Himmler in your coat, you don't know how long I've been
Watching the lantern dim
Starved of oxygen
So give me your hand and let's jump out the window
La, la, la, la, la!
La, la, la, la, la!
La-la, la, la, la!
Australia was written by James Mercer.
Australia was produced by Phil Ek & Joe Chiccarelli.
In an interview James Mercer says:
’Australia.’ Well that song isn’t about Australia, first of all. That’s from my memories of working in offices. I’ve had a hundred different jobs, and there is a special kind of sickness doing a job in an office. I was a bookkeeper and a secretary, and there is s...
Yes, “Australia” was certified gold by the RIAA on April 12, 2023.