Australia

The Shins

About Australia

"Australia" is a song by American indie rock band The Shins, and is the second track on their third album, Wincing the Night Away. The song was released as the second single from that album in the United Kingdom on 9 April 2007. All three versions of the single are currently available on the United Kingdom iTunes. It is one of the songs on the soundtrack of the Xbox 360 game Project Gotham Racing 4 and was also released as downloadable content for the Rock Band video game series initially through the Rock Band Network, then in 2018 as DLC for Rock Band 4. The lyrics of the song have many interpretations. Despite its name, the song's lyrics do not reference Australia at all. 


Year:
2007
3:56
144 

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Time to put the earphones on?
No!

La la la la
La la la la
Laaaaaaa
La la la la

(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 we come in doing cartwheels
We all crawl out by ourselves
And your shape on the dance floor
Will have me thinking such filth I'll gouge my eyes

You'd be damned to be one of us, girl
Faced with a dodo?s conundrum
I felt like I could just fly
But nothing happend every time I tried

Woo, ooh!

A duotone on the wall
The 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

Well, you'll be pulled from the ocean
But just a minute too late
Or changed by a potion
And find a handsome young mate for you to love

You'll be damned to pining through the windowpanes you know
You'd trade your life for any ordinary Joe's
Well, do it now or grow old
Your nightmares only need a year or two to unfold

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 la la la

Dare to be one of us, girl
Faced with the android's conundrum
I felt like I should just cry
But nothing happens every time I take one on the chin
You're 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 la la la
La la la la la
La la la la
La la la la la

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The Shins

The Shins are an American indie rock band from Albuquerque, New Mexico, formed in 1996. The band consists of James Mercer (vocals, guitar), Joe Plummer (drums), Jessica Dobson (guitar), Yuuki Matthews (bass) and Richard Swift (keyboards). The band is currently based in Portland, Oregon. more »

1 fan

Written by: James Mercer

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Origin
"Australia" is a song by American rock band The Shins, released as part of their third studio album called "Wincing the Night Away" in 2007.
Lyrics
This upbeat song features abstract and unique lyrics that are a trademark style of the band. The lyrics are open to interpretation, as they seem to lack a definitive storyline.
Charts
The song "Australia" became a success for the band, reaching number 21 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in the United States.
Music Video
The music video for the song is set in an office environment, featuring the band members as office workers. It was directed by Matt McCormick.
Unusual Instrumentation
The song features the usual rock instruments like guitars and drums but also utilizes percussion instruments like handclaps and piccolo for added texture.
Songwriting
The song was written by James Mercer, the band's lead vocalist, and guitarist. Mercer's lyrical focus is often on relationships, dreams, and mundane life, and "Australia" is no exception.
Inspiration
While the title of the song is "Australia", there isn't a direct reference or connection to Australia in the lyrics. The reason behind the title choice has yet to be definitively explained by the band.
Critic Response
Critics have praised "Australia" for its catchy melody and engaging hook. It's often listed as a highlight of "Wincing the Night Away."
Live Performances
"Australia" quickly became a staple in the band's live performances due to its popularity. Fans often sing along to its infectious chorus.
Album Success
Released as part of "Wincing the Night Away," which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, "Australia" played a substantial role in the album's success.

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    "Australia Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/9985145/The+Shins/Australia>.

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