down by the river 

A reference to a series of Saturday Night Live (SNL) skits by comedian Chris Farley in which he plays an overweight, out of work, motivational speaker who lives in a van down by the river. He is routinely hired by concerned parents to speak to their children about the dangers of gangs or drugs. In response, he overstays his welcome, trashes the house with his physical, slapstick humor and scares the kids by using his life as an example of what not to do.

"If you do drugs, you'll end up like me... living in a VAN, DOWN BY THE RIVER!"

its much funnier when he says it, trust me.

down by the river by scoobydoo July 28, 2006

down by the river 

Awesome song by Neil Young with one of the greatest guitar solos I have ever heard.

If you need proof that Neil Young is one of the greatest guitarists, listen to Down by the River.

down by the river by Blake February 8, 2005

living in a van down by the river 

A figurative expression meaning being a complete failure at life, a drain on society. Originates from the SNL skit featuring Chris Farley as Matt Foley, motivational speaker.

"You kids are probably saying to yourself, "Now, I'm gonna go out, and I'm gonna get the world by the tail and wrap it around and put it in my pocket!" Well, I'm here to tell you that you're probably gonna find out, as you go out there, that you're not gonna amount to jack squat!" You're gonna end up eating a steady diet of government cheese and living in a van down by the river!" -Matt Foley

Dad: "You made it, son! Congratulations on graduating from Harvard Summa Cum Laude and getting that great job at Goldman Sachs, the world's #1 investment bank."
Son: "Thanks, dad. But actually I only got Magna Cum Laude and will be working at Morgan Stanley, the #2 investment bank in the world."
Dad: "WHAAAAAAT?!?! How have I raised such a worthless, good-for-nothing slacker? You couldn't even finish in the top 10% of your Harvard class with your 3 point..."
Son: "3.76."
Dad: "3.76? A monkey with down syndrome could get a better GPA than that! You miserable failure!"
Son: "Dad, seriously, I worked really hard!"
Dad: "I bet you did! I bet you worked your ass off playing beer pong and chasing the coeds! Well sonny, you're going to have plenty of time to drink beer and chase trashy women when you're LIVING IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!!!"

living in a van down by the river by Nick D June 21, 2006

Living in a van down by the river 

A feeling of being a total failure or wanting to just give up on life. Can be seen a a passing depressed period of time. Where you just want to check out of life's Bull shit for a while.

Hey how are you Doing....
....right now? Living in a van down by the river.

Living in a van down by the river by Jmvlam June 29, 2022

Living in a van down by the river 

Living in a way personally decides without the pressures of Society or Social Agenda !!!

Living FREE of the BINDS of a Socially Inept & Unstable Society under a Racist n Fascist Regime !!
FREE THOUGHT, FREE LOVING, FREE LIVING, LIVING THE LIFE ,

A community of Intelligent, Woken, Aware, Unified, Community , Welcoming, All Invited , Old Skool Ethix n Morals - UNITY & INCLUSION

I have decided to go and start Living in a Van down by the River with the Folk whom share a like-minded Old Skool Ethix n Morals of Unity & Freedom to Live as You alone Choose!!!

Living in a van down by the river by chaos girl February 5, 2018