Down by the Water (PJ Harvey song)
| "Down by the Water" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by PJ Harvey | ||||
| from the album To Bring You My Love | ||||
| B-side |
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| Released | 2 February 1995 | |||
| Studio | Townhouse (London) | |||
| Length | 3:15 | |||
| Label | Island | |||
| Songwriter(s) | PJ Harvey | |||
| Producer(s) |
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| PJ Harvey singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Down by the Water" on YouTube | ||||
"Down by the Water" is a song by English alternative rock musician PJ Harvey. It is the seventh track and the lead single from her third studio album, To Bring You My Love, released in February 1995 on Island Records. The song was written by Harvey, and self-produced with Flood and John Parish.
The song diverged significantly from Harvey's former indie rock and punk blues influence, opting to use electronic instruments such as a synthesized organ and an orchestral ensemble. The lyrics narrate the story of a woman drowning her daughter and reference the traditional American folk song "Salty Dog Blues".
"Down by the Water" received critical acclaim upon its release, charting in Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The song was Harvey's mainstream breakthrough in the US, where the song reached number 2 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart, making it her highest-charting single in the US, and received extensive rotation on MTV and college radio stations.