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".

Speed Demon
Dwarves Lyrics

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Los Angeles, city of eternal night
The dream of a girl thirteen
Swirling cherry vanilla
What this jungle be
Down is the skirt of a juvenile dream queen
Hot like an asphalt 7-11
Or maybe a suffragette
The hips sink ?

The orb ?
The face dripping Clearasil and cum
But by ?
I knew I'd seen that face before
She raced
Quite like a speed demon yeah
Off into the night
She went
Quite like a speed demon
But she ain't never coming back

She was a speed demon yeah
Talk about speed, baby

Overall Meaning

The song "Speed Demon" by Dwarves is a fast-paced, punk rock song that seems to allude to the dangers of youth and the allure of rebellion. The opening line "Los Angeles, city of eternal night" sets the tone for the rest of the song, painting a picture of a city shrouded in darkness, where danger lurks around every corner. The reference to a "dream of a girl thirteen" immediately brings to mind the image of a young, innocent girl who is being thrust into the dangers of the city at a very young age. The reference to "swirling cherry vanilla" is a metaphor for the girl's sweet and innocent nature, while the city is the jungle that is threatening to consume her.

The lyrics describe the girl's appearance in detail, with references to her short skirt, hot hips, and clearasil-covered face. The line "But by? I knew I'd seen that face before" suggests that the singer has encountered this girl before, and knows that she is trouble. The chorus of the song, which repeats the phrase "quite like a speed demon," suggests that the girl is reckless, and is willing to take great risks in order to escape her troubled life. The final line of the chorus, "but she ain't never coming back," is a nod to the dangers that come with living life in the fast lane.

Overall, "Speed Demon" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of youth and rebellion, and the ways in which young people can be consumed by the fast-paced, dangerous world around them.

Line by Line Meaning

Los Angeles, city of eternal night
Los Angeles, a city that never sleeps and stays up all night

The dream of a girl thirteen
The fantasy of a young girl who is 13 years old

Swirling cherry vanilla
The feeling of chaotic and exciting sensations, like cherry vanilla ice cream

What this jungle be
A comparison between the wild nature of the jungle and the liveliness of a city

Down is the skirt of a juvenile dream queen
The skirt of a young girl who represents the epitome of a dream queen has fallen down

Hot like an asphalt 7-11
The temperature is hot, like that of a convenience store on a hot day

Or maybe a suffragette
Possibly referring to a woman who fought for women’s rights

The hips sink ?
Unclear what this lyric refers to

The orb ?
Unclear what this lyric refers to

The face dripping Clearasil and cum
The face is covered in acne medication and semen

But by ?
Unclear what this lyric refers to