New wave (nueva ola) es un término global para varios estilos pop/rock de fines de la década de 1970 y mediados de la década de 1980, con vínculos con el punk y ciertos géneros del rock de los años 1970. Inicialmente, al igual que con el posterior rock gótico, la new wave se mantuvo prácticamente análogo al post-punk antes de ramificarse como un género distintamente identificado (aunque la new wave apareció primero que el post-punk), incorporando música electrónica, experimental, mod, disco y pop. Posteriormente engendró subgéneros y fusiones, incluyendo new romantic y rock gótico.
Se puede decir que son la banda australiana más famosa de todos los tiempos después de AC/DC. Más populares aún que INXS o la Little River Band, Men At Work es la única agrupación de esas tierras que ha logrado ocupar el primer lugar tanto en Estados Unidos con sencillos y con álbumes.
La historia de Men At Work empieza con el cantante Colin Hay, nacido y criado en Escocia. Su padre tenía una tienda de artículos musicales en Glasgow. Fue allí donde aprendió a tocar todos los instrumentos. En 1967, cuando tenía 14 años, su familia se muda a Australia. Para hacer la mudanza menos pesada, el padre le regala a Colin un amplificador de 15 vatios.
Wind is in the east
Stare at us eyes in wonder
Like beggars at a feast
We can't even, count the number
What you gonna do?
Send them table scraps we're leaving
One who care are few
Most spend there time, with useless meaning
Dear father,
Do you think that it will be alright?
Tell me mother,
Will we make it through?
We make it through the hungry night.
Somewhere in the west
Gold teeth, but sometime is gleaming
We know we are the best
Even know, the beasts lie screaming
We've got power to spare
A new clear day
Is dawning they say
But tell us, don't you dare
The piper has a price that we pay
Dear preacher,
Do you think that we'll see the light?
Tell me teacher,
Well we make it through?
We make it through the darkest night.
Two faces in the south
The first one has a look of
With fine words in his mouth
His heart is black,
As ghetto chimneys
What you gonna do?
To hide the shame,
Contain their anger.
What you gonna say?
You walk the line, of constant danger
Dear brother,
You think we'll have to stand and fight?
Tell me sister, Will we make it through?
We make it through the longest night.
Dear father,
Do you think it's gonna be alright?
Tell me teacher,
Do you think that we'll see the light?
Tell me brother,
You think we'll have to stand and fight?
Tell me sister,
Will we make it through?
Make it through the longest night.