The band's name derives from banjoist Leonard Podolak's earlier band Scruj MacDuhk (pronounced Scrugg MachDuke). MacDuhk was a warrior chieftain who fought with William Wallace, resisting English occupation of Scotland, during the reign of King Edward I. The entire name is a wordplay on the Disney character Scrooge McDuck created by Carl Barks.
In March of 2007 lead singer and budding songwriter Jessee Havey left the band to pursue other interests. Singer Sarah Dugas joined the band in July of 2007 and is on the road with The Duhks.
In late 2007, percussionist Scott Senior left the band to spend more time with his family, as his partner, Tara Beckta, was expecting their second child. Christian Dugas, Sarah's brother and a former bandmate of Leonard Podolak, has since joined The Duhks. Other members are fiddler Tania Elizabeth and guitarist Jordan McConnell.
In October 2007 The Duhks Sustainability Project http://www.greenduhks.com was launched to raise awareness about ways to live a more economically-viable and ecologically-sustainable lifestyle. In April 2008, The Duhks performed a post Earth Day benefit in Nederland, Colorado.
In spring 2016, the band announced that they would no longer be touring. They have not released any new music since 2014.
http://www.duhks.com
Down To The River
The Duhks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the river was dry
I went down to the sea
But it was not the place to be
So I climbed the highest mountain
And I climbed to the mountaintop
Girl, I found me a home
And I don't have to roam
Au bord de la riviére
Mais la riviére était sèche
Au bord de la mer gras
n'était pas la place pour moi
Je trouve la plus haute montagne
Mais la montagne était trop haute
Oh j'ai trouvé mon foyer
Il faut plus me promener
Well I went down to the river
But the river was dry
I went down to the sea
But it was not the place to be
So I climbed the highest mountain
And I climbed to the mountaintop
Girl, I found me a home
And you know I can't stop
Oh je chante ma p'tit chanson
Avec l'esprit de la Louisiane
Oh je viens des grandes prairies
Les grandes prairies de Manitoba
Oh la langue est tout la même
Mais la culture un p'tit peu différent
Oh c'est toute une grande famille
Je chante pour toi, je chante por moi!
The lyrics of "Down To The River" by The Duhks tell a story of a person searching for a place to belong. The first two stanzas describe the singer's failed attempts to find a home at the river and the sea. The third stanza talks about climbing the highest mountain and finding a place to call home. The song is ultimately about finding a sense of belonging and purpose in life.
The song has a strong connection to various cultural traditions. The first verse is in French, and the song acknowledges the spirit of Louisiana and the Great Plains of Manitoba. The lyrics capture the diversity of cultural experiences that exist in North America. Despite linguistic and cultural differences, the singer feels a sense of belonging to a larger family of people.
Line by Line Meaning
I went down to the river
The singer visited the river.
But the river was dry
The river had no water in it.
I went down to the sea
The singer visited the sea.
But it was not the place to be
The sea was not a suitable place to be.
So I climbed the highest mountain
The artist climbed the highest mountain.
And I climbed to the mountaintop
The singer reached the top of the mountain.
Girl, I found me a home
The singer found a place they belong.
And I don't have to roam
The artist no longer needs to wander or travel.
Contributed by William V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.