Discover the story of the song > Australia – Peter Bjorn and John

The song is about the pressures of life and society weighing down on the protagonist, who is just trying to enjoy his weekends without worrying about the future. He laments the fact that people are judged by how much they can contribute to society, and that sometimes they are even reduced to begging for scraps. The chorus repeats that the protagonist (who is male) and his romantic partner (who is female) would both be "damned to be one of us" - stuck in this cycle of trying to keep up and fulfill societal expectations. The bridge reveals that the protagonist has been feeling lonely and depressed, with his last genuine laugh happening in January, and the chorus repeats that both he and his partner are trapped in this way of life.