Bring Me Some Water

"Bring Me Some Water" is the debut single of American singer Melissa Etheridge. It was released in 1988 and became a hit in several countries, reaching the top 20 in Australia, New Zealand, and on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.

"Bring Me Some Water"
Single by Melissa Etheridge
from the album Melissa Etheridge
B-side"Occasionally"
Released1988
StudioCherokee I (Los Angeles)
GenreRock
Length3:52
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)Melissa Etheridge
Producer(s)
  • Craig Krampf
  • Kevin McCormick
  • Melissa Etheridge
  • Niko Bolas
Melissa Etheridge singles chronology
"Bring Me Some Water"
(1988)		 "Don't You Need"
(1988)
Alternative covers
Cassette single cover

Song information

Melissa Etheridge wrote the song after the initial version of her debut album was rejected by the recording company, which left her only four days to provide new material and a modified edition of the album. At the time, she was residing in Los Angeles while her girlfriend, Kathleen, lived elsewhere, so Etheridge had reluctantly agreed to make theirs a non-monogamous relationship. The song tells about the pain and jealousy arising from thoughts of her lover being intimate with someone else. There are many metaphors in the lyrics describing her emotional state, principally the chorus line: "Somebody bring me some water – can't you see I'm burning alive." Many other songs on the album deal with the same subject.

Musically, "Bring Me Some Water" is a classic rock song with some blues themes. During an interview featured on the bonus DVD of Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled, Etheridge says:

"I remember sitting in my living room and I loved the blues. I am of the rock 'n' roll school where it comes from the rhythm and blues based music, and so there was this kind of beat that I wanted."[1]

Furthermore, she states that, of all the songs she has written, "Bring Me Some Water" is the one with the highest recognition value and that wherever she plays the song in the world, everybody at her concerts knows the song after the first seconds of the intro.[2]

Etheridge has collaborated with contemporary pop musicians on two notable recorded-live television performances of this song: Joan Osborne, who appeared as one of several guest artists on the inaugural November 22, 1995, episode of the VH1 Duets series;[3] and Kelly Clarkson on the September 17, 2009 VH1 Divas concert special.[4]

"Bring Me Some Water" was remade by American blues artist Koko Taylor and recorded on her 2000 album, Royal Blue.[5]

Track listings

All songs were written by Melissa Etheridge.

7-inch and Australian cassette single[6][7]

A. "Bring Me Some Water" – 3:52
B. "Occasionally" – 2:36

UK 12-inch and CD single[8][9]

  1. "Bring Me Some Water" – 3:52
  2. "Occasionally" – 2:36
  3. "I Want You" – 4:07

Australian 12-inch single[10]

A1. "Bring Me Some Water"
B1. "Occasionally"
B2. "Similar Features" (live)

Credits and personnel
  • Melissa Etheridge – acoustic guitar, guitar, vocals
  • Wally Badarou – keyboard
  • Craig Krampf – percussion, drums
  • Kevin McCormick – bass
  • Johnny Lee Schell – guitar
  • Scott Thurston – keyboard
  • Waddy Wachtel – guitar
  • Producers: Melissa Etheridge, Niko Bolas, Craig Krampf, Kevin McCormick
  • Executive producers: Chris Blackwell, Rob Fraboni
  • Engineers: Allan Blazek, Jim Nipar
  • Assistant engineer: David Kane
  • Mixing assistants: Duane Seykora, Bob Vogt
  • Mastering: Stephen Marcussen
  • Arrangers: Melissa Etheridge, Craig Krampf
  • Photography: George DuBose
  • Cover design: Tony Wright

Charts

References
  1. Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled at 15:30
  2. Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled at 17:30
  3. "Bring Me Some Water". Archived from the original on December 12, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  4. "Show Performance | VH1 Divas (2009) | VH1 Divas 2009: Kelly Clarkson and Melissa Etheridge Perform "Bring Me Some Water"". February 15, 2010. Archived from the original on February 15, 2010.
  5. "Royal Blue - Koko Taylor | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  6. Bring Me Some Water (US 7-inch single sleeve). Melissa Etheridge. Island Records. 1988. 7-99287.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. Bring Me Some Water (Australian cassette single sleeve). Melissa Etheridge. Island Records. 1988. C 645.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. Bring Me Some Water (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Melissa Etheridge. Island Records. 1988. 12 IS 393.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. Bring Me Some Water (UK CD single liner notes). Melissa Etheridge. Island Records. 1988. CID 393.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. Bring Me Some Water (Australian 12-inch single sleeve). Melissa Etheridge. Island Records. 1988. X 14669.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. "Melissa Etheridge – Bring Me Some Water". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  12. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8683." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  13. "Melissa Etheridge – Bring Me Some Water". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  14. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  15. "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  16. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
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