PJ Harvey – “Down by the Water” (1995)
PJ Harvey – “Down by the Water” (1995)
Released in 1995 as the lead single from To Bring You My Love, “Down by the Water” marked a dramatic shift in PJ Harvey’s sound and image—and catapulted her into alt-rock icon status.
The song is a haunting, swampy tale laced with dark blues, eerie synths, and a chilling narrative of loss and murder. With lyrics like “I lost my heart under the bridge / To that little girl so much to me”, 
Harvey created something that felt like a Southern Gothic fever dream—a murder ballad turned rock anthem.
Harvey created something that felt like a Southern Gothic fever dream—a murder ballad turned rock anthem.Musically, it blends gritty guitar lines with creepy string arrangements and industrial pulses. Her voice—equal parts
desperate and hypnotic—drives the track’s tension to the edge. And when she whispers “little fish, big fish, swimming in the water…” like a ghost lullaby, it leaves you chilled to the bone.
desperate and hypnotic—drives the track’s tension to the edge. And when she whispers “little fish, big fish, swimming in the water…” like a ghost lullaby, it leaves you chilled to the bone.The song became her biggest U.S. hit and earned her a Grammy nomination, while the surreal, red-lipped, glam-gone-wrong music video became a defining visual of 1990s alternative.
“Down by the Water” isn’t just a song—it’s a spell.
A twisted lullaby. A warning. A masterpiece.
