The Dwarves are an American punk rock band, formed in Chicago, Illinois in … Read Full Bio ↴The Dwarves are an American punk rock band, formed in Chicago, Illinois in the mid-1980s. They are currently based in San Francisco, California.

They are known for their nuanced punk repertoire, and controversial lyrics. Since the hardcore punk and scum punk sounds of their early days, they have recently developed more of a pop-punk influence. Their shows have been notable for some aggressive fights on stage (with the audience and even a cop), and because "He Who Cannot Be Named" performs either in nothing but a jockstrap or totally nude, and makes no attempt to hide behind his guitar.

Their album covers are unusual - naked women, and a naked dwarf sodomizing a rabbit covered in blood, for their 1990 album "Blood Guts & Pussy" - followed up a decade later, with a similar theme, this time covered in soap suds, for "Come Clean". The band was sacked from their previous label, Sub Pop over pranks such as the long-lasting hoax contending that guitarist "He Who Cannot Be Named" had died. They have recorded on several labels and recently joined Sympathy for the Record Industry. They also have a track listed on the Punk you compilation album.

The original members of the Dwarves began making music together in the mid 80's as teenagers in the Chicago garage rock outfit Suburban Nightmare. The group's original Paisley underground sound was evident on the band's 1986 Voxx Records debut Horror Stories, an album which, like many of its Paisley underground contemporaries, contained a number of mid 60's Pebbles-inspired garage rock covers, including The Avengers' "Be a Cave man", and Shag's "Stop and Listen".

Down By The River
Dwarves Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Luke you wanna
Hey you wanna
Go out for a drive

Teen romance
In sonic
Hyperdrive

Tees and blues and
Bad tattoos
And nothing much to do

Drunken lips
Pronouncing
I love you

It was down by the river
That they laid her down
It was down by the river
That they laid her body down

Casanova
Oh king cobra
Down there by the sand

Luke was mad
And could not
Be a man

Yeah she's gone
Well she's gone
Ah she's gone
Gone gone gone gone

Junior high was
Not surprised
Why (you in?) lies the bones

Life goes on but

Luke hangs
All alone

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Dwarves' "Down By The River" paint a picture of teenage desire and restlessness. Luke and his love interest are eager to escape their mundane lives and embark on a wild adventure. The "sonic hyperdrive" referenced here can be interpreted as a metaphor for the intense feelings of excitement and anticipation that young love can bring.

As the song progresses, we learn that this romance is destined to end quite tragically. The lyrics "it was down by the river that they laid her down, it was down by the river that they laid her body down" suggest that Luke's love interest has died. The image of laying her body down by the river evokes a sense of finality and mourning.

The final lines of the song suggest that Luke is left to grapple with his loss alone. His inability to "be a man" and process his emotions reinforces the theme of youthful vulnerability and the harsh realities of growing up too fast.

Line by Line Meaning

Luke you wanna
Luke, do you want to?

Hey you wanna
Hey, do you want to?

Go out for a drive
Go for a drive.

Teen romance
Adolescent infatuation.

In Sonic
In hyperactive speed.

Hyperdrive
Speeding without control.

Tees and blues and
Casual clothes and melancholic music.

Bad tattoos
Unsuccessful attempts at art.

And nothing much to do
And no purpose in their lives.

Drunken lips
Intoxicated mouths.

Pronouncing
Saying.