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".
Salt Lake City
Dwarves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We went across the mighty Rio Grande and saw Disneyland and the sea you and me
But there's one thing I'll never do not even for you
I'm not going to Salt Lake City
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you except to walk among the Osmond crew
I know you're planning for a latter day and you can't betray what you know in Provo
But there's one less town on the globe and if you must go there you're going alone
I'm not going to Salt Lake City even if they tell me I can stay
I'm not pure and I'm not pretty and I'm not going to Salt Lake City
I'm not living in Hello Kitty and I'm not going to Salt Lake City
In the Dwarves' song "Salt Lake City", the singer expresses his unwavering commitment and devotion to his lover, except for one thing that she wants him to do - go to Salt Lake City. He lists off all the things he's willing to do for her, like crossing the Rio Grande to see Disneyland with her, but going to Salt Lake City is out of the question for him. Even if she tells him he can stay or if they resurrect his brain, he still refuses to go. He claims that he's not pure or pretty, and doesn't want to go there and become insane. The Osmond family, who famously hail from Salt Lake City, are also mentioned as a group he's unwilling to walk among.
The song could be interpreted as a commentary on the strict, conservative culture associated with Salt Lake City and the Mormon faith. The singer may see the city as a symbol of conformity and mindless adherence to traditional values, which he's unwilling to participate in. By refusing to go, he's asserting his independence and rejecting the pressures of social norms.
Line by Line Meaning
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you except the one thing that you want me to
The singer is willing to do anything for the person they are addressing, except for one thing that the person specifically wants.
We went across the mighty Rio Grande and saw Disneyland and the sea you and me
The singer and the person they are addressing have gone on a trip to see Disneyland and the ocean together.
But there's one thing I'll never do not even for you
Despite the singer's willingness to do anything for the person they are addressing, there is one thing they will not do.
I'm not going to Salt Lake City
The one thing the artist refuses to do is go to Salt Lake City.
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you except to walk among the Osmond crew
The artist is willing to do anything for the person they are addressing, except for walking among members of the Osmond family.
I know you're planning for a latter day and you can't betray what you know in Provo
The singer understands that the person they are addressing has religious beliefs (likely tied to the Latter-day Saints) that they cannot betray, especially in Provo, Utah.
But there's one less town on the globe and if you must go there you're going alone
The singer's refusal to go to Salt Lake City means that there is one less town they will visit together. If the person they are addressing insists on going, they will go alone.
I'm not going to Salt Lake City even if they tell me I can stay
Even if there were an offer for the artist to stay in Salt Lake City, they still refuse to go.
Even if they resurrect my brain I don't wanna go there I don't wanna go insane
Even in a hypothetical situation where the artist's brain was restored to life, they still do not want to go to Salt Lake City as it could drive them crazy.
I'm not pure and I'm not pretty and I'm not going to Salt Lake City
The artist doesn't hold themselves to a specific standard of purity or beauty, but they still refuse to go to Salt Lake City.
I'm not living in Hello Kitty and I'm not going to Salt Lake City
The singer doesn't want to live in a bubble of happiness and cuteness, nor do they want to go to Salt Lake City.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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@davidwise9897
Still the best band ever
@EthanDarke
A few years ago when I was a long-haul trucker I had a delivery into SLC. Less than an hour from city limits I got a message from dispatch that I had to hand the trailer off to another driver and take theirs elsewhere. Soon as I learned I wasn't going into the city this song immediately came to mind XD
@taren178
Best Dwarves show I saw was in Portland Ore. with the Murder Junkies and Cosmic Cycos Fucking amazing
@johnelis7770
Love this song. Very romantic. I hope he gives in and does go to Salt Lake a city, walks among the Osmond crew.
@KingofIrelandsSon
Well, they played this song live in Salt lake City for the Punk's Dead shoot last month...so i guess you can say they did indeed go to Salt Lake City!
@MichaelWellsMW
The Osmonds are in Provo, not Salt Lake. Utah County is to Utah what Utah is to the rest of the country, so people in that region tend to stay in their little kingdom and don't mess with us cool folks here in SLC.
@darthtrader7605
This song played at the end of SLC Punk 2 what a fitting song and i love it so much
@Madadict
i knew i recognized Dexter Hollands voice in the song
@MichaeldeFilippi
lol came across this after listening to the beach boys salt lake city on spotify....so funny...its actually pretty good compared to any 'modern' music
@cuchuloholic
That’s because they are a punk band and aren’t commercialized for radio by any goofy record executives. One of the best things about true punk bands and why it’s one of my favorite genres. I only like punk bands that can play their instruments though. 40 years old I need melody!