Alvin and his older brother Phil Alvin grew up loving Americana, country and blues. In 1979 they formed The Blasters with friends Bill Bateman and John Bazz.
Shortly after leaving the Blasters, Alvin joined X as lead guitarist after the departure of Billy Zoom. Alvin amicably left the group to work on a solo project shortly after the recording sessions for their album See How We Are. Alvin is also a member of country band The Knitters (composed mainly of members of X), appearing on 1987's Poor Little Critter on the Road and the 2005 follow-up, The Modern Sounds of The Knitters.
In the early 1980s Alvin, along with fellow Blasters members Bill Bateman and Steve Berlin, performed on several albums with the Los Angeles punk band The Flesh Eaters. These albums are considered precursors to what is now called "deathrock". Alvin also played with the band The Gun Club briefly, playing guitar on "Eternally Is Here" & "The Stranger in Our Town" from the 1984 album, The Las Vegas Story.
Alvin's first solo album, entitled Romeo's Escape (1987) in the United States and Every Night About This Time in England, added a purer country influence along with a larger side-portion of the blues; while the album was critically well received, it didn't fare well in the marketplace, and Alvin was dropped by his American record label, Columbia. Alvin suffered health problems which sidelined him for a while, except for a wild tour with friends Mojo Nixon and Country Dick Montana as the Pleasure Barons, which was described as "a Las Vegas revue from acts who aren't going to be asked to play Vegas." (A live album was released of a second Pleasure Barons tour in 1993.)
In 1989, Dwight Yoakam scored a hit on the country charts with Alvin's song "Long White Cadillac," and Alvin used the royalties to start work on his second solo set, Blue Blvd. Released by the California-based roots-music label Hightone Records in 1991, Blue Blvd received enthusiastic reviews and sold well enough to re-establish Alvin as a significant artist in the roots rock scene.
After releasing Museum of Heart in 1993, Alvin began to turn his attention to acoustic music with 1994's King of California, and over the next several years Alvin moved back and forth between hard-edged roots rock and more introspective acoustic material that still honored his influences (and allowed him to display a greater range as a vocalist).
In 2000, Alvin recorded a collection of traditional folk and blues classics, Public Domain: Songs From the Wild Land, which earned him a Grammy award for Best Contemporary Folk Album.
In 2011, Alvin released the album Eleven Eleven on Yep Roc Records. The album was a return to Alvin's rock roots. According to Rolling Stone, "Though Alvin has often switched between electric and acoustic, almost everything here is plugged in – above all Alvin, an under-recognized guitar hero."
www.davealvin.net
Dry River
Dave Alvin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah I was born by a river, but it was paved with cement
Still I stand out in that old dry river, and wish that I was soaking wet
Someday it's gonna rain, someday it's gonna pour
Someday this old dry river, it well, won't be dry anymore
I played in the orange groves, 'til they bulldozed the trees
Now I stand out in those dead stumps, and I smell the blossoms on the leaves
Someday it's gonna rain, someday it's gonna pour
Someday those old dead trees, won't be dead anymore
I fell in love with a woman, but she did not love me
Well, I fell in love with you baby, but you did not love me
Now I'm as dry as that old river, and I'm as dead as those old trees
Someday it's gonna rain, someday it's gonna pour
Someday this old heart of mine's gonna fall in love once more
Someday it's gonna rain, someday it's gonna pour
Someday this old dry river, it won't be dry anymore
The lyrics of Dave Alvin's "Dry River" convey a sense of longing and nostalgia for a time and place long gone. Alvin talks about being born by a river, but it was paved with cement, suggesting he grew up in an urban area where the natural beauty of the river was destroyed for development. Despite this, he nostalgically remembers the river and the feeling of being soaked wet, wishing he could experience that once again.
Alvin then moves on to talk about how he used to play in the orange groves until they were bulldozed down. This highlights the theme of suburban expansion and the destruction of nature that often comes with it. It's clear that Alvin misses the way things used to be and makes a further reference to the scent of the blossoms on the leaves, wishing for that sense of peace and innocence back.
Finally, the singer addresses a woman who did not love him, leaving him feeling empty and alone, just like the dry riverbed and the dead trees. While it's a somber note to end on, it's still a reminder that there is still hope for the future, as he concludes on the idea that someday it's going to rain, and the dry riverbed will no longer be dry, and perhaps his heart will fall in love once more.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born by a river, but it was paved with cement
Although I was born by a river, it was no longer a symbol of life and nature, but a modern structure made of concrete.
Still I stand out in that old dry river, and wish that I was soaking wet
Emotionally, I feel as though I am standing in a dry riverbed, but long for the invigorating sensation of being replenished with water.
Someday it's gonna rain, someday it's gonna pour
I hold onto hope that there will be a change in my circumstances, and things will eventually improve.
Someday this old dry river, it well, won't be dry anymore
I anticipate that the hardships I currently face will eventually come to an end, and my situation will be revitalized.
I played in the orange groves, 'til they bulldozed down all the trees
As a child, I enjoyed playing amongst fruitful orchards, but eventually those sources of life were destroyed.
Now I stand out in those dead stumps, and I smell the blossoms on the leaves
Despite the physical destruction I see, I still have positive memories of those trees, and can almost smell the fragrant blooms of the past.
Well, I fell in love with you baby, but you did not love me
I experienced unrequited love for someone who did not reciprocate my feelings.
Now I'm as dry as that old river, and I'm as dead as those old trees
The unreturned love has left me feeling emotionally barren and lifeless.
Someday this old heart of mine's gonna fall in love once more
Despite heartbreak, I hold onto hope that I will have another chance at love.
Contributed by Gabriel I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Khumbu0609
That ol' dry river is roaring right now. "Someday" is here!
@josephlemko3027
I have stated this before & I will state it again Dave Alvin's is terrific. PEACE
@kellykirsch8770
Just saw Dave Alvin and the Guilty ones here in Dayton, Ohio. One of the best live shows I have ever seen in my 65 years.
@kellykirsch8770
I just saw this band in Dayton, Ohio. They did a slamming show for us!
@kathygetty3022
Honor of a lifetime hearing Dave the most underrated musician on the planet
@stuwerb
I think I'd give a left I-tooth to see him live at this point. Incredible singer songwriter, incredible guitar player, incredible musical arranger -- it's just not fair.
@vinnyallen3513
I've seen Dave 30+ times: never disappointed, Love him and his band, This is one of his favorite songs.
Fell in love with a woman, but she did not fall for me......... no better line ever written about Love.
@therussiandragon616
Dave Alvin is a rare and remarkable talent.
@guitarhack007
This is music.
@akersk42
YES!