Drive Like Jehu were an American post-hardcore band from San Diego, Califor… Read Full Bio ↴Drive Like Jehu were an American post-hardcore band from San Diego, California founded in 1990 by Rick Froberg (guitar, vocals), John Reis (guitar), Mike Kennedy (bass), and Mark Trombino (drums).

Froberg and Reis had originally played in Pitchfork, but despite musical similarities, there were some significant changes in the lineup of Drive Like Jehu. Froberg, no longer just a vocalist, picked up a guitar, while Kennedy and Trombino formed the rhythm section of the new band after having played together in Night Soil Man, a prog-influenced punk outfit.

The group released their self-titled debut album on Cargo in 1991. The following year, they released the double a-side single, Hand Over Fist/Bullet Train To Vegas on Merge Records, and released the original recorded version of Sinews on the Headstart to Purgatory compilation of San Diego bands.

Drive Like Jehu and Rocket From the Crypt (a garage-punk band fronted by Reis) were signed to Interscope Records as a pair, with the label releasing Drive Like Jehu's second album, Yank Crime, in 1994 after which the band embarked on tours of the United States and Europe.

Drive Like Jehu played their final shows in 1995 with little fanfare. While John Reis concentrated on Rocket From the Crypt full-time, Froberg and Trombino would both eventually leave San Diego. Froberg briefly played in Thingy with Rob Crow (of Pinback) before moving to New York City to work as an illustrator. Kennedy went back to school and became a chemist, while Trombino, who engineered most of the band's recordings, became a audio engineer and producer for the likes of Blink 182 and Jimmy Eat World, among others.

Since the breakup, Reis continued to front Rocket From The Crypt until 2005, whilst working on other projects including Back Off Cupids, Sultans, and starting his own record label, Swami Records.

In 2000, Froberg and Reis reunited to form Hot Snakes, who released three full-lengths on Swami before retiring in the summer of 2005.

In 2007, Reis formed The Night Marchers with former Hot Snakes bandmates Gar Wood and Jason Kourkounis, releasing their debut album, See You In Magic earlier this year.

Here Come The Rome Plows
Drive Like Jehu Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sad to say its over now
Here come the huns
Pick a side or pick a spot
Here come, here come the rome plows

Why waste your time?
Here come the huns
Be my date tonight

Here come, here come the rome plows

Cal state, no fun
Stay put, here comes
To clean the slate, to pass the time
To erase, yank crime

Yeah, we're on the receiving end
I never been
Dear heart, dear friend
I never been on the receiving end

Not a scratch, not a dent
I never been on the receiving end, I never been

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Drive Like Jehu's song Here Come The Rome Plows is a commentary on our society's tendency to glamorize and glorify violence, particularly in the form of war. The first verse, "Sad to say it's over now, here come the huns," suggests that the conflict is already over and the winning side, the Huns, have arrived. The next line, "pick a side or pick a spot," implies that there is no escape from the violence; you have to join the winning team or become its victim.

The chorus, "here come, here come the Rome plows," references the military machines used to clear landmines and other obstacles during war. It can also be interpreted as the arrival of the conquerors, who will "clean the slate" and "erase yank crime," suggesting that the victors will rewrite history to justify their actions.

The second verse, "why waste your time? Here come the huns, be my date tonight," is a cynical interpretation of the wartime tradition of soldiers taking women out on dates before leaving for battle. It suggests that this is a meaningless act, as the war has already been won by the Huns.

The final verse, "yeah, we're on the receiving end, I never been, dear heart, dear friend, I never been on the receiving end, not a scratch, not a dent, I never been on the receiving end, I never been," emphasizes the detachment and disconnection that many people feel towards war and violence. The singer has never been a victim of violence ("not a scratch, not a dent"), but also has never experienced the empathy and compassion that comes with being on the "receiving end."

Line by Line Meaning

Sad to say its over now
Regretfully, the situation has come to an end

Here come the huns
A group of invaders is approaching

Pick a side or pick a spot
Make a decision about which direction to take

Here come, here come the rome plows
The invading forces are here with their equipment to destroy

Why waste your time?
Do not bother with useless activities

Be my date tonight
Join me in this impending conflict

Cal state, no fun
The state of California is currently not a pleasant place to be

Stay put, here comes
Remain in your current location because something dangerous is incoming

To clean the slate, to pass the time
The invaders are here to wipe out all existing structures and kill time

To erase, yank crime
Their goal is to eliminate all signs of criminality

Yeah, we're on the receiving end
We are the ones being attacked