Australia Only Has One Song, And Men At Work Ripped It Off

Everything I know about Australia comes from the band Men at Work’s early eighties hit “Down Under.” Now it turns out the whole thing was based on a TISSUE OF LIES AND THIEVERY: “Australian band Men at Work copied a well-known children’s campfire song for the flute melody in its 1980s hit ‘Down Under’ and owes the owner years of royalties, a court ruled Thursday. ‘Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree’ was written more than 70 years ago by Australian teacher Marion Sinclair for a Girl Guides competition, and the song has been a favorite around campfires from New Zealand to Canada.” I feel so betrayed. I think I’m going to go home and throw out my Young Einstein DVD just to be safe.