Colin Hay: Waiting For My Real Life | Full Music Documentary | The Men At Work Story 

I grew up in a family where the words "I love you" were never spoken, and hugs were never given. We just carried on. I was 11 in '81, and just getting into music after finally being gifted my own portable radio for Christmas. (Pre Sony Walkman.) That's when I discovered Men At Work, and instantly fell in love. When Cargo came out, and Overkill was in constant rotation, my dad and I somehow bonded over it. Decades went by, and he'd call me whenever he heard it on the radio so that I could listen too. He'd joke about how the poor guy still can't sleep after 20, 30, 40 years. It just became our thing. We had tickets to see Colin in 2020, but it was postponed due to Covid. And eventually I had to sell them because I needed the money. I regret that so much. My dad passed away last month, and now Overkill - and all of Colin Hay's music - means so much more. It's a connection made that will never die. I remember in one of our last conversations over the phone, he had told me how he couldn't sleep the night before. I had asked him if it was because he was thinking of implications, and he had a good laugh. I hope Colin knows how important his music is to so many, and how much we all appreciate that he's still out there doing it. He and his music will always have my heart.

Thank God there are people who do documentaries of people that deserve to have their story told.

Dear Colin Hay. Just to confirm. You connect and always will. Thanks for giving you. 🤝

Truly, one of my favorite soul singers. Colins music is magical, and beautiful!

Colin is one of the great troubadours. Do yourself a favour and attend his next concert where you live.

"I had nothing to look back to. I wasn't walking in my old footsteps. I wasn't walking past all of these places that had my history. I was walking toward something, and I wasn't sure what that was - but it was exciting." I absolutely love that.

What they don’t tell you is that Every pub in the country had live bands at least 4 nights a week. Literally thousands of gigs across every city and country town in Australia. And every band was paid. Actual money that was enough to pay some rent and buy some food. Wtf happened? No gigs left. Venues have no patrons of their own. Young people,don’t go out to gigs. Bands rarely make any money at all. Instruments were very expensive. We used to play on cheap gear but still had tonnes of gigs. This is the context of all these bands. They had opportunity to develop a career because the audience was there. Try doing that now. The first question a venue asks now is how many people YOU can bring along. 30 years ago this was never asked because there used to be this thing called customers and patrons. Bands today have access to everything except the most important thing - a ready and willing audience.

Him, Knopfler and Sting should all get together, collaborate and tour. That would be unreal!

I opened for Colin a good while ago, and I'll never forget how kind he was to me. Tiny club in Philly, and his between stage banter was about playing arenas. No ego, no animosity, just love. He saw me holding a bunch of CDs, and smiled, "I hope you sell a boatload of em."

"Waiting for my Real Life to Begin" will be played at my funeral. I've known that since I graduated from Audio Engineering School the same year that song was released. THANK YOU COLIN!

Not many can slip from Scottish to Aussie as smoothly as Colin. Thanks for the music

I love his voice so much ever since I was 12 in 1982 I got cable & MTV He's a legend in my life I grew up in Seattle

I saw Men at Work open for Fleetwood Mac at the Scope in Norfolk, VA in 1982 and I will never forget it. I've been a Colin Hay fan since then. Thanks, Colin! Peace&Love be with you!

One word to describe Colin Hay? Inspirational.

Overkill is an absolute masterpiece. I’ve re-discovered Men at Work, now that I just turned 50, the song makes complete sense now. I’m so glad @ProfessorofRock did a video on them and helped me re-discover them!

I've been a fan of Colin's music since I bought Men at Work's first album as a financially strapped college freshman in '83. I actually got to meet him years later at a solo show he did. Colin just came out into the lobby after the show and hung out. Very down-to-earth guy. Meeting him was like connecting with an old friend. My son took the picture I have of us together.

I can't stop watching this, even though I planned on doing other things. As a big Men At Work fan way back in the 80s, and beyond, it is soooooooo wonderful to see Colin Hay this way. So funny, so down to earth, so gorgeous as a singer, songwriter and musician. Keep on giving the world some quality, Colin 💕

Never get tired of Colin Hays. His music strikes a chord and transcends us in our emotions. Thank you Colin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇦🇺

I love this guy; he's so incredibley underrated.

Fantastic. Massive respect for Colin Hay. I love that he also plays in Ringo Starr's 'All Starr Band'. He's globally respected and rightfully so.

I was a TEXAS Heavy Metal head when my friend asked me if I wanted to go see a free concert. Free for me away. It was MEN AT WORK on their Cargo tour. I liked them enough and now that I’m much older, I’m really glad I got to see them live even if it was only just once.

What a Fantastic documentary! This is what passion of music is all about.

So glad I got to see this documentary!!! I loved "Men at Work" in the 80's and 90's. This documentary presented Colin in such an intimate light. He is such an awesome entertainer!!! He is so humble and appreciative of his fans and has no fear of exposing the real Colin Hay!!!! That's why we love him!!!! He writes some awesome songs!!! I hope some day I can shake his hand and thank him for giving so much of himself for us!!! He is a true ICON!!!!!! Thank you Colin Hay!!!!!

My god!! There is a lesson on life to be learned from this. Don’t look back on the past, you’ll miss what’s coming!! I was there when Men at Work were just about to break. I saw them one lazy day at the Cricketers Arms. Small, intimate, unique, but there was a vibe in the room, something unspoken and you could feel that this was the place to be, to experience a moment, a catharsis of sorts. Yes, they went on to be huge and they got what they deserved at the time. Fame, recognition, money but that isn’t all life has to offer. Colin has a voice and a talent that money just can’t buy. He has been down, been up, been down again but he is an inspiration, a journeyman and if I was to even remotely compare him to anyone I would mention his name in the same sentence as Bob Dylan. Hope he doesn’t mind!! Thank you Colin for the chance to be along for the ride!!

Saw Colin in Concert last night at Hamer hall 30th June 2024. His humour, love and talent came through strongly. I waited an hour after the show to get his autograph on my Ringo Starr All Starr Band DVD. His friends came out before him and were warm and friendly to the 3 of us who were waiting. It as was obvious that Colin has a lovely group of friends and that you can see his strength of character reflected in the friends he has. This documentary also demonstrates the love he has for others.

Men at work had a sound that ive never heard since. I liked everything on carg and business. It was sax heavy and catchy. 😊

I remember when Men at Work had a couple of video`s in rotation on Mtv. I liked the catchy tunes and even more, the humor in the band, as they put it into their vids. Colin is a great songwriter, story teller, poet and a very smart, wise man. Love the man.

My parents completed the paperwork to go to Aus, in the "£10 pomm" scheme and then my Ma decided she couldn't leave her mum. She regretted it later in life. If they had asked my opinion, I would have said, Lets go! My son and fam took the leap...and I will join them permanently, eventually, all being well. Beats the UK hands down

I wish everyone who went through the shooting star of commercial success and died in depression, never making it to other side like Hay, could have had the benefit of his story. His fellow Scot Stuart Adamson for one.

I did sound for Colin and the tears from the emotion in his music like him would not stop....He is a Great Man I will never forget those nights and days. Bless You Brother

Colin is a genius...I'm so glad I found out more about him. Men at work will always be in my heart...❤

A beautiful story about a beautiful man

Business as usual was one of the best albums to come out of the 80s!!!!

I met him about three years ago after a show in LA. Super nice guy. I absolutely love his music. It’s kind of special having this kind of musician all to yourself. In the sense that he’s not mainstream but that he should be so it’s like a secret you wanna share. Anyhow, after the show it turned out his wife was also Peruvian and she invited me over for some Peruvian sometime and gave me their number. Like an idiot I never took them up on the offer, but just the same, an amazing couple, and this guy is a national treasurer, anddeserves his own star on the walk of fame and an induction in the Hall of Fame for music because there is no one like him. We’re lucky to be in a time where his music can be recorded and saved.

I found Colin Hay's solo stuff because of Zach Braff's brilliant film Garden State. "I just don't think I'll ever get over you" tore out my heart, wrapped it in beauty and light, and shoved it back in my chest with a Scotsman's hug and a warm cup of lapsang souchong. Thank you. Thank you.

I can't imagine this master of lyrics, not having a packed house to entertain.

Colin Hay was off my radar until I saw him and his massively talented wife perform at the Crossroads School in Santa Monica Canyon some years ago. Their performance made me a life-long fan. Storyteller. Poet. Charisma. Sense of humor. Legend. They all fit.

Tears for Fears, Duran Duran and Men at Work were my favorite bands growing up. I still listen to them often to this day.

Love this, what a talent! The version of “Overkill” that he did with a choir brings tears to my eyes with its beauty. Thank you for the music, Colin! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Nice line. "The key is not to think, I think that thinking is a highly overrated activity. Great documentary on real legend, thank you.

I saw Colin in Carbondale CO in 2009. Only 40 ppl in a school building. He gave it 100% and stayed to meet with fans afterwards. I then saw him in 2019 to over 1000 ppl, again he gave 100% and was most gracious. Legend.

It also helped a lot that his voice was reminiscent of Sting & Rod Stewart and their (Men at Work) songs were so radio friendly and well produced. Their songs have aged very well. I LOVE this documentary.

Fantastic tale of a very talented and brutally honest man. Colin's wife seems like a gorgeous human being and they seem so good together. Thank you

I loved this doc. "Business As Usual" came out my sophomore year at Ohio University and it blew me away. MTV made them superstars. "Cargo" is a good album, too. It was sad how Men at Work broke up, but their music will endure.

I was born in 1971. In so many ways, the perfect year to start a very interesting life. I saw the start and end of Van Halen and countless other bands but NO band had the complete attention of the world like Men at Work, the SPLASH they made coming in was like a meteor hitting the ocean. That was also when Australia won the America's Cup which was a HUGE deal and they used "Down Under" as their theme song. I have to say, it is just incredible to remember and relive in documentaries and testimonies or others.

Saw him at Red Rocks as a warm up to Big Head Todd and the Monsters. I didn't know who he was and his singing just caught my ear. Enjoyed his solo songs more than the main act.

This had me captured form the first minute. Colin has one of the most incredible voices ever. To be able to share such raw, honest, stories and sing with that voice totally touches the heart. Authenticity, vulnerability, humility and an indominable will; only life can teach that, and he had some incredible highs and lows. He is a true superstar...rare today.

Boy did you connect with me Master Colin. Your the fucking best mate

thank you Collin , for huge contribution to the soundtrack of my life .

This couplet (plus the choice of vocal harmonies and chords) from Overkill "Night after night my heartbeat shows the fear Ghosts appear and fade away" always moved me.

Maggie makes me cry like a baby. I’m 72 and a cry baby.

Colin is another incredibly talented musician who lit a candle of creativity a long time ago and refused to snuff it out. Getting past the heights is one thing, surviving the lows is quite another. REally enjoyed this... more power to you, Colin.

This was so superb I immediately watched it twice. I’m sure I’ll watch it a few more times. Colin Hay you’re such an enormous talent.

A very powerful story of the music business of fame, success, recovery and personal discovery. A lesson in love and life and a gift of peace.

what a voice

Love you Colin,love and respect from Glasgow ❤

I love Men At Work, first album I ever bought with my own money was Business as Usual. Colin is an inspiration, and a wonderful human.

What a wonderful documentary about an incredible artist and human being!

Absolutely AMAZING. After watching this brilliant story of this brilliant man, all I want is silence. I don’t want anything disturbing the thoughts this has left me with. I just want to sit and think about life and about the two times I was lucky enough to see him in concert. I come away really feeling something… about the true value of life. ✌️

Stumbled across this documentary - loved it! Mentally reliving my high school years all over again. I'm a metal-head at heart but even headbangers know quality songwriting when we hear it. Would love to see Colin live - he's pure entertainment that warms the soul. 1:18:42 the start of a real life Spinal Tap moment.

Love this man

Great story,great story teller thank you Colin❤

Fascinating stuff! I love watching stuff like this that tells us about how things happen or where they come from. I've always loved the origins of things. It's fascinating to me that Colin didn't consider himself an expert at anything or really good at anything prior to starting being in bands. That's inspiring. It says you don't have to be great to start with, you just have to have the drive to become the best version of yourself and you have to pick something and obsessive over it. That's what I'd say Colin did. I love their music videos! Many of my favorite bands have great videos from this time frame including Huey Lewis and the News and Peter Gabriel. I just love the Who Can It Be Now song and the music video! It really speaks to me. There's such a bleak, stark, weird, manic sense to both the song and the video that I really understand. Some wierd touches in it that I wonder how many people notice such as the Safeway grocery store bag hanging on the hook in the opening of the video. I can't tell you how many times I've kept stuff handy in a shopping bag hanging around my apartments like that over the years. When they show the close up of Colin looking all around franticly with what looks like one of his eyes being a lazy eye that doesn't quite track with the other one, I was watching this as a kid going "Hey, look! A singer on TV who has messed up eyes like me. He's not really handsome which I'm not either, but he's still got this presence that makes up for it and he's doing something with this weird idea for a song he's got. I've got weird ideas too. Maybe I can do something with them." You can tell that Colin is both a singer and an actor in these videos as his acting is brilliant. Yeah, I'd agree that Men At Work was the first really 80's band of the 80's. Before them, most of the bands who were doing well in the late 70's and early 80's were 60's and 70's bands who were still doing well or late 70's bands who were emulating them. Men At Work came along and were like 'Nope, we're not a 70's band. We're something new.' It's sad what happened to the band in the end. Sometimes, leads to egos that cause failure. It happens so often.

Is there a more down to earth, connected to reality, artist that Colin? Few and far between for sure. One artist that hasn't, and will never, forget where he came from.

Loved Men at Work, love Oor Colin. He is real and plays from his heart and soul. Lang May yer lum reek, Colin 👍

This is a really special and touching documentary. Ive heard a little of Colins music over the years and will be listening to much much more. and that nursury rhyme that they supposedly ripped off ,theres a about two notes in that are used from a common scale or cadence that generally pays no resemblance to that piece of music. Greedy A holes always want to reap because they cant create anything for themselves. Colin is a deeply motivated songwriter and performer and a great human being.

i've been wanting to rewatch this on my journey of getting sober but i didn't know where :D thank you for uploading. this man is a treasure.

The men at work phenom was really all that. I experienced it firsthand through 1st mtv then the live shows in rochester hills michigan. Life changing concert. That good. When it goes that way it imploded. Im a forever fan of colin hay

I kind of remember Down under on the radio when I was a kid, it was only when I accidently found acoustic Overkill on RU-vid that I got it. Amazing singer songwriter very under rated. Keep it lit Colin

What a tremendously moving film.

Hes been to a summit that many dream about but very few ever attain. Ringo only plays with the best.

What a brilliant artist

I was fortunate enough to meet Colin a few times. He gave me such great vibe, he seems a lovely guy, and shared a few laughs together, particularly when I told him I thought he was Australian, he said “no mate, Scottish”. Loved Men At Work too, he was the heart and soul of that band in my opinion, so glad he was touring with Ringo Starr. Want to see him next time in LA.

Man… I saw him last year in NH. Pretty sure some of these clips came from there. He was Phenomenal! I’m telling you, he’s funny as hell, he sings like he’s 25 and his songs are Brilliant. Praying he comes back!

I have nothing but love for Colin. To rise above it all from the ashes of what once was is inspiring and nothing short of amazing.

What a wonderful song down under is the world knows who's who play it loud play it proud

I can empathize that struggle. hitting the top of your game and falling to the bottom. at least he survived that. many don't

After watching this, he is in my heart as my father, as my brother, and so many others that have made a difference in my life. Colin and I share one thing...we never got to say goodbye to our fathers. Colin, brother...our fathers are in our hearts and minds always. Love you man.

Colin Hay and Men at Work where a huge part of my teenager years. I played the cassettes for "business as usual" and "cargo" non stop. The lyrics, the vocals, and the intrumentation gave me something different that was missing from pop music. I still listen to Men at Work "upstairs in my house", no sign of yesterday,and blue for you. Men at work thanks for the memories from high school (1985).

A genuine man living a genuine life! Oh how fortunate we could be. Love you Colin!

Xcellant Film...what a fine man...Love Colin Hay.

Colin Hay and City and Colour. Not just music, an emotional experience. What a true legend Colin is

So much to love about the music of Men at Work, and if you're an Mtv generation tween or teen, who can forget their fun videos, jumping in the sand with a stuffie Koala toy chained to their ankle. lol As a kid in America, loved their gorgeous melody, their lyrics, and their videos. It's wonderful to know Hays had a plan to be successful, found some musicians with whom he could collaborate, and made his dream a reality. The walking on eggshells his wife describes, the alcohol abuse, seemed more like Borderline Personality Disorder to me.

AWESOME TRIBUTE TO A STELLAR MAN⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you for the upload 👌

The pub scene in Melbourne was fantastic in those days.. l was so grateful for being brought up in the true era of music.. So much better then the stadium music concerts of today

WORE THOSE TAPES OUT IN MY ALPINE ... THANK YOU, CECILIA IS LOVELY VERY LUCKY MAN!

One of my favorite artists. A great lyricist. ❤

You are, indeed, useful. thanks Colin. Now, enough begging, come to South Africa!

Wow, thank you for this treasure of a music documentary! My heart is FULL :)

Best documentary I have seen in a long time. I saw him last year in Arizona. Great show. One of the best.

I’m so glad I watched this! Thank you!

i was 10 in 82 and it was somewhere around that time or 83 i remember the "Who Can It Be Now" video in pretty heavy rotation on MTV and i just loved Colins voice and rgose videos, just a few years later i was never hearing about them any more and always wondered why. it was around 2000 give or take a year or so that "Men At Work" played a show here down town in Oklahoma City outside in a parking lot behind some buildings sponsored by a local radio station, it was Colin and Greg and i believe the rest of the band were some touring guys. and yes Colin and /grag were both hilarious, there is a local Strip Club here in town that has been around since at east the 70s and it is rather infamous locally. it is the type of place that everybody has heard stories about. so the guys played a few songs the they were talking to the audience and they said they had been in a Dennys or something and some local guys recognized them and they were chatting with the local guys and asked them if there were any hood places in town that they should visit and the guys told them "The Red Dog Cafe" and of course the entire audience burst out in laughter because we all know about the Red Dog. there is actually a documentary about The Red Dog that you can watch on HULU, any way they talked a little about going to the Red Dog and had us all laughing, wish i could have a copy of that show.

Wow! Great documentary about a great musician.

*_Wow. I just stumbled upon this. What a GREAT documentary! Colin comes from a great family. I'll now forever think of this movie when I now hear his (& M.A.W.) music. Thanks for posting this!_*

Love Colin Hay, one of my favourite entertainers. His music is unique, those songs...classic. Love listening to his voice ...fantastic 🤩

Very inspirational, what a class act. Bravo!

I couldn't stand these guys at 15 years old when they dominated radio and MTV, I thought how uncool is this? After spending a big part of my life listening, studying, and playing music I recognize all the hooks in their songs which are nearly impossible to control. You either have that infectious vibe or you don't..Its likr magic ✨

Great doc. I never realized Cecilia Noel married Colin Hay. I used to see her perform around LA in the early 90s. She was amazing.

Colin Hay is an International treasure. Like Freddie Mercury, there will never be another one.