Water is a vital resource, but there are serious concerns about the contamination of drinking water with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals.” With that in mind, this week’s song is PJ Harvey’s dark and ominous 1995 classic “Down by the Water.”
The song is the first single from Harvey’s third album, To Bring You My Love, which marks a departure from the raw, stripped-down punk-blues sound of her first two albums. Harvey used many more electronic instruments on “Down by the Water,” including synthesizers and a string ensemble, to color the story of a disturbed woman on the verge of drowning her child.
The whispered chorus “Little fish, big fish swimming in the water/Come back, man, give me my daughter” is based on blues legend Leadbelly’s version of the traditional American folk song “Salt Dog Blues”.
Supported by a striking video that received frequent play on MTV, the song became a modern rock radio hit, reaching number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart and number 2 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The album was also a hit, reaching number 40 on the Billboard 200.
Harvey has had a successful career as a musical chameleon, constantly changing her sound and remaining an interesting and vibrant artist. Her last album was 2023’s “I Inside the Old Year Dying.”
