Dive

Bauhaus' song "Dive" takes listeners on a surreal and dark journey into an underground world filled with vivid and often unsettling imagery. The repeated phrase "We're going down" sets the tone for a descent into a chaotic and dangerous environment, referred to as the "kamikaze dive." This place is depicted as a hub of bizarre and eclectic characters, such as a "pseudo sumo wrestler" and references to "Pussy Galore," a character from the James Bond series, adding a layer of pop culture to the mix. The use of terms like "fishnet leatherette" and "dangerous dances" evokes a sense of edgy, underground nightlife, where the boundaries of normalcy are blurred and anything can happen.

The lyrics also delve into themes of identity and transformation. The line "You're a dead ringer for Madame Butterfly" references the tragic heroine of Puccini's opera, suggesting a sense of doomed beauty and fatalism. The mention of "necromantic" and "venomous and vain" further emphasizes a fascination with death and the macabre, common themes in Bauhaus' gothic rock style. The imagery of "mixing molotov cocktails in the subterrain" conjures a sense of rebellion and danger, as if the characters are preparing for some form of anarchic uprising.

The chorus, with its comparison of the characters to "insects in a Chinese lantern" and "manic moths," suggests a sense of being drawn to something destructive yet mesmerizing. This metaphor highlights the allure of the dangerous and the forbidden, a recurring theme in Bauhaus' music. The repeated question "what's showing?" implies a search for meaning or revelation in this chaotic descent. Overall, "Dive" encapsulates Bauhaus' signature blend of dark, poetic lyrics and haunting, atmospheric music, creating a vivid portrait of a nightmarish yet captivating world.