Soundtrack of 'Australia': Every Song Featured in Baz Luhrmann's Epic

Baz Luhrmann’s 2008 sweeping romance Australia weaves a tapestry of music as vast as the Outback itself. The film blends period-appropriate classics, indigenous sounds, and original score cues to evoke 1930s–40s Australia. Below is a curated list of the notable tracks heard throughout the movie.

Featured Songs

• “By the Sleepy Lagoon” – Les Paul & Mary Ford
• “Down Under” – Men At Work
• “Greensleeves” – Instrumental (Renaissance lute arrangement)
• “I Still Call Australia Home” – Peter Allen
• “La Cucaracha” – Los Machucambos
• “Little Boy Lost” – Bing Crosby
• “Love Theme from The Godfather Part III” – Carmine Coppola
• “Night and Day” – Willie Nelson with Wynton Marsalis
• “Over the Rainbow” – The King’s Singers
• “Singin’ in the Rain” – Instrumental
• “Something’s Gotta Give” – Benny Goodman Quartet
• “Tahitian Lullaby” – Instrumental (Renaissance lute arrangement)
• “Waltzing Matilda” – The Seekers

Musical Texture

The soundtrack juxtaposes jaunty jazz standards (“Something’s Gotta Give”) with soaring orchestral themes and distinctly Australian folk anthems (“Waltzing Matilda”). Luhrmann uses music not just as background but as narrative shorthand—signaling cultural collision, romance, and the rugged beauty of the land.

Original Score

Beyond the licensed tracks, composer David Hirschfelder crafted an original score that incorporates didgeridoo, Aboriginal chants, and sweeping strings, reinforcing the film’s themes of connection to country.