Prior to their eponymous 2001 album, each had made appearances on the other's solo recordings, but this disc marked their first official release as a duo. The album is described as more rock-based than their earlier solo traditional-folk recordings. The majority of the songs were penned by Julie Miller and rounded out by the duo's co-written "Dirty Water" and covers of songs by folk-rock icons Richard Thompson, Utah Phillips and Bob Dylan. The album was named "Album of the Year" at the first annual awards of the Americana Music Association.
Since then, the duo has released "Love Snuck Up" (2004) and "Written in Chalk" (2009).
Dirty Water
Buddy & Julie Miller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to drag me back down to the shore
And I ain't gonna drink your dirty water no more
Well I got wet from my head down to my legs
And I drank dirty water down to the dregs
But I won't do it again I don't care who begs
Dirty water, I ain't drinking no more
I ain't drinking no more
You've got a lie underneath your tongue where it can't be seen
'Cause you wanna put the truth on a guillotine
But you might as well put out a fire with gasoline
Well you can serve dirty water from a golden cup
You can try to lock up the truth but the door won't shut
'Cause the truth just keeps comin' out like blood from a cut
Mmm comin' out like blood, comin' out like
Well it sparkles and shines but it's just a trick
So we wash it down with a kiss just to get a kick
Ah well that dirty water 'bout to make me sick
Dirty water, now what's that for
Dirty water, I ain't drinking no more
I ain't drinking no more
Well you could try to sweeten dirty water up with grenadine
Ah but I can still read you just like a magazine
And I ain't gonna drink no more till the water runs clean
Dirty water, now what's that for
Dirty water, I ain't drinking no more
I ain't drinking no more, I ain't drinkin'
Now baby you got the kind of love I can't afford
And I don't have a taste for what's in that glass you poured
(Now) I ain't gonna drink that dirty water no more
No, I ain't gonna drink that dirty water no more
I ain't drinking that dirty water, no more, woo woo woo woo, no more
The song "Dirty Water" by Buddy and Julie Miller is a bluesy track that criticizes the lies and deceit that the singer has experienced from someone close to them. The repeated phrase "dirty water" is used to metaphorically express the manipulative and rotten actions of the person mentioned in the song. The singer declares that they won't take any more of their manipulation or be drawn back into their web of deceit, and compares their lies to trying to put out a fire with gasoline.
The use of water imagery weaves throughout the song, with the singer being made wet by the dirty water, which they describe as being as tempting as a kiss but ultimately making them sick. They refuse to drink it any longer and insist that they won't drink it until the water is clean. The song ends with the singer declaring that they can't afford the type of toxic love the other person is offering them, and they won't drink their dirty water any longer.
Overall, the song is a powerful statement of resistance and an affirmation of personal autonomy. The singer refuses to be drawn back into a situation where they are manipulated and uses the metaphor of dirty water to express how they feel about the other person's behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I don't need you hangin round my door
Trying to drag me back down to the shore
And I ain't gonna drink your dirty water no more
I don't need your negative influence in my life anymore and I won't be participating in your harmful behavior
Well I got wet from my head down to my legs
And I drank dirty water down to the dregs
But I won't do it again I don't care who begs
I've been caught up in your toxic ways before, but I won't let it happen again no matter who tries to convince me otherwise
Dirty water, now what's that for
Dirty water, I ain't drinking no more
I ain't drinking no more
I refuse to consume anything that's harmful or detrimental to my well-being
You've got a lie underneath your tongue where it can't be seen
'Cause you wanna put the truth on a guillotine
But you might as well put out a fire with gasoline
You're hiding the truth from everyone so you can continue doing what you want, but ultimately it will come back to hurt you worse
Well you can serve dirty water from a golden cup
You can try to lock up the truth but the door won't shut
'Cause the truth just keeps comin' out like blood from a cut
You can dress up your bad intentions all you want, but the truth will always find a way to come to light and reveal your true nature
Well it sparkles and shines but it's just a trick
So we wash it down with a kiss just to get a kick
Ah well that dirty water 'bout to make me sick
You may make your bad intentions seem enticing, but I refuse to fall for it anymore as it will only result in my harm and disappointment
Well you could try to sweeten dirty water up with grenadine
Ah but I can still read you just like a magazine
And I ain't gonna drink no more till the water runs clean
You can try to mask your flaws with sweetness, but I can see right through them and I won't engage until you show true changes
Now baby you got the kind of love I can't afford
And I don't have a taste for what's in that glass you poured
(Now) I ain't gonna drink that dirty water no more
No, I ain't gonna drink that dirty water no more
I ain't drinking that dirty water, no more, woo woo woo woo, no more
Your toxic love and harmful practices come at too high of a cost for me, and I'll no longer subject myself to your manipulations
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JULIE MILLER, STEVEN P. MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind