Don't Go Near The Water
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Original Album
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Surf's Up
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Single
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Surf's Up / Don't Go Near The Water
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Written By
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Mike Love/Al Jardine
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Produced By
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Al Jardine/Carl Wilson
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Lead Vocals
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Mike and Al
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Recorded On
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1971
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Length
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2:35
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Notes
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- Prodded by then-manager Jack Reiley, the Beach Boys started writing socially relevent lyrics to connect with the predominant "hippie" audiences. DGNTW is a good example of this type of song.
- Environmental theme would be a precursor to the infamous "Summer In Paradise"..
- Although the lyrics make this song quite dated, the track does feature a "Bluebirds Over the Mountain"-type vocal ending.
- Lyrics
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Don't go near the water
Don't you think it's sad
What's happened to the water
Our water's going bad
Oceans, rivers, lakes and streams
Have all been touched by man
The poison floating out to sea
Now threatens life on land
Don't go near the water
Ain't it sad
What's happened to the water
It's going bad
Don't go near the water
Don't go near the water
Toothpaste and soap will make our oceans a bubble bath
So let's avoid an ecological aftermath
Beginning with me
Beginning with you
Don't go near the water
To do it any wrong
To be cool with the water
Is the message of this song
Let's all help the water
Right away
Do what we can and ought to
Let's start today
- Chords
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(original key: Eb)
D.........................................G...........................D
Don't go near the water, don't you think it's sad
D.................................................G..................A.......D
What's happened to the water, our water's going bad
D............D/C#....D/B..........D/A
Oceans, rivers, lakes and streams
G...........................................D
Have all been touched by man
D.................D/C#....D/B....D/A
The poison floating out to sea
G........................A..........D
Now threatens life on land
D........................................G.......D
Don't go near the water, ain't it sad
D.................................................G..............D
What's happened to the water, it's going bad
G.........................................D.......................Bm
Don't go near the water, don't go near the water
D.........................................................Bm
Toothpaste and soap will make our oceans a bubble bath
D.................................Bm
So let's avoid an ecological aftermath
D.......................Bm.............................D
Beginning with me, beginning with you
D.............D/C#......D/B...D/A
Don't go near the water
G.......................D
To do it any wrong
D................D/C#.......D/B...D/A
To be cool with the water
....G....................A..........D
Is the message of this song
D.......................................G.........D
Let's all help the water, right away
D............................................... G..................D
Do what we can and ought to, let's start today
C#(+2)..C#..C(+2)..C..B(+2)..B
E..E/D#..E/C#..E/B..A..A/B..E
E..E/D#..E/C#..E/B..A..A/B..C#m....A..A/B..E
Chart prepared by Francis Greene