Bauhaus first broke up in 1983. Peter Murphy began a solo career while the other members continued as Tones on Tail and later as Love and Rockets. Both enjoyed greater commercial success in the United States than Bauhaus had, but disappeared from the charts in their homeland. The band reunited for a 1998 tour and on a more permanent basis in 2005. The group announced plans to disband again following the release of their final album Go Away White in 2008.
The release of Go Away White signaled the end of the band and there was no supporting tour. Drummer Kevin Haskins said in an interview that they “were getting along really well, but there was an incident that occurred.” As a result, “some of us just felt that we didn’t want to carry on as a working unit.” In an interview with SuicideGirls, bassist David J said about the breakup: “You have a test tube, and you pour in one chemical, and you pour in another chemical, and something happens. It starts to bubble. Pour in another chemical, and it starts to bubble a bit more. You pour in a fourth chemical, and it bubbles really violently, and then explodes. That’s my answer.” Peter Murphy claimed in another interview that he “he was most satisfied with the bonding on an emotional level. It was good to be working together and to put the past behind us and it was very positive. The result was coming out really fast, so it was exciting and it was very enjoyable,” but in the end “That rocky character worked and I think it was a bit right to finish it, really.”
Murphy also stated in his MySpace blog that “there’s a lot more to it than this ‘incident’ that I’ve heard bandied about. In any group’s business there are constant incidents, so what? Committing to being in a band takes tolerance, love, and a massive commitment. I’ve walked on that stage at times when I could emotionally barely manage to and give it all just the same. If I’d let some disagreement or bad word distract me from that goal, then I’d need to question my integrity. Anton Corbijn once related to me how Bono of U2 talked about one of the reasons that U2 had survived was that they’re unlike many English bands; there was a kinship and priority given to each other as family. I personally sympathize with that. ‘There is no love where there is no Love.’”
A Bauhaus reunion was aborted in 2022 after Peter Murphy forced the band to cancel the tour as he entered rehab.
(2) Bauhaus was also the name of an Italian jazz rock band. They made recordings in 1974 but they weren’t released until almost thirty years later.
Dive
Bauhaus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're going down
We're going down
To the kamikaze dive
Fishnet leatherette
Pussy Galore
Pseudo Sumo wrestler
On the door
Dangerous dances
The dragon's claw
K-Tel Oriental
The monkey's paw
You're a dead ringer
For Madame Butterfly
Snappy little fingers
Stitch my thigh
You're so necromantic
Venomous and vain
Mixing molotov cocktails
In the subterrain
We're going down to the kamikazi dive
Like insects in a Chinese lantern now
We're feeling so alive, what's showing?
We're going down to the kamikaze dive
Like manic moths in Chinese lanterns now
We're feeling so alive, what's showing?
The lyrics of Bauhaus's "Dive" describe an underground dive bar that is both seedy and dangerous. The repetition of the phrase "we're going down" throughout the song suggests a descent into a darker place, both literally and metaphorically. The "kamikaze dive" mentioned in the chorus is a reference to the risky and daring nature of the place they are visiting.
The second verse describes the various characters and activities that can be found in this dive bar. The fishnet leatherette and Pussy Galore are references to provocative clothing worn by women, while the pseudo sumo wrestler and dangerous dances suggest that violence and aggression are present. The K-Tel Oriental and monkey's paw are objects that may be found in this type of establishment, adding to its exotic and unsettling vibe.
The third verse focuses on one particular person in the bar who embodies the dangerous and necromantic atmosphere. The singer compares them to Madame Butterfly, a tragic Japanese opera character, and describes their actions as venomous and vain. The line "mixing molotov cocktails in the subterrain" further emphasizes the potentially explosive and deadly nature of this environment.
Overall, "Dive" is a vivid and unnerving portrayal of a place where danger and excitement exist together. Its lyrics paint a clear picture of the characters and atmosphere in this underground bar, making it a unique and memorable song.
Line by Line Meaning
We're going down
We are descending
We're going down
We are descending
We're going down
We are descending
To the kamikaze dive
We are going to a dangerous, risky place
Fishnet leatherette
Clothing made of fishnet material and artificial leather
Pussy Galore
A reference to the Bond girl from Goldfinger
Pseudo Sumo wrestler
Someone who is pretending to be a sumo wrestler
On the door
At the entrance
Dangerous dances
Risk-taking, possibly erotic dancing
The dragon's claw
A sharp, dangerous instrument or symbol
K-Tel Oriental
A reference to a line of products sold on TV
The monkey's paw
A reference to a story about a cursed object
You're a dead ringer
You look exactly like someone else
For Madame Butterfly
A reference to the opera by Puccini
Snappy little fingers
Quick, nimble fingers
Stitch my thigh
Sew my wound
You're so necromantic
You are fascinated by death and the dead
Venomous and vain
Spiteful and self-centered
Mixing molotov cocktails
Preparing explosive devices
In the subterrain
Below ground level, possibly in a basement or cave
We're going down to the kamikazi dive
We are descending to a dangerous, risky place
Like insects in a Chinese lantern now
Moving quickly and erratically, like insects caught in a lantern
We're feeling so alive, what's showing?
We are experiencing intense sensations and emotions
We're going down to the kamikaze dive
We are descending to a dangerous, risky place
Like manic moths in Chinese lanterns now
Moving quickly and erratically, like moths caught in a lantern
We're feeling so alive, what's showing?
We are experiencing intense sensations and emotions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL GASTON ASH, DAVID JAY, KEVIN HASKINS, PETER JOHN MURPHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@android72
Wish this song was longer
@Leon-ss2uj
Love this album
@claygraphics1
Love this track and what a bassline!
@connormchugh8456
Sounds a bit like if you took a song from Unknown Pleasures and whipped it and injected it full of stimulants. Fucking glorious.
@sharklostworld
interzone on steroids
@derekmoody1358
Great album... terrific song
@mhrz9036
The Spy In The Cab is better than this one in my opinion, but I love this one too
@s1owpu1seboy
That bass
@ram29jackson
wow
@MadMan731
🤘