The band was originally called "Dinosaur", but changed its name following the release of its debut album Dinosaur in 1985, after a band called Dinosaurs, featuring ex-members of Country Joe and the Fish and Jefferson Airplane, threatened them with legal action. (They still used the name Dinosaur on their albums until 1987 at the latest, and some copies of You're Living All Over Me still lack the "Jr").
In 1987, Dinosaur Jr. signed to SST Records on the recommendation of Sonic Youth, and with them released what is often considered their best album, You're Living All Over Me. Bug followed the next year, an album which, in the UK, was released by Paul Smith's Blast First Records (home to Sonic Youth, Big Black and Butthole Surfers). During this period Dinosaur Jr. became known for their very loud concerts.
Despite not gaining much commercial success, the band has enjoyed something of a cult following. The success of singles Freak Scene and Just Like Heaven, and recommendations from the likes of Sonic Youth saw them signed by Warner Brothers. The signature Dinosaur Jr. sound is the melodic tunes saturated in layers of guitar noise and punctuated by J Mascis' elaborate, yet laconic guitar solos. They were a major influence on the up-and-coming band Nirvana.
Tensions ran high between Mascis and Barlow, and in 1989 Barlow was kicked out of the band. As a result, Barlow continued to work with his own band, Sebadoh. The two famously fell out on stage with Mascis attacking Barlow. Dinosaur Jr. subsequently became little more than a pseudonym for Mascis. He switched labels to Blanco y Negro in the UK, Warner/Sire in the US, with Green Mind (1991) being his first release in that deal.
After Barlow left the band, Van Conner, from the Screaming Trees, played bass for at least one live show in 1990, and Donna Dresch, from Team Dresch played bass at least once live with the band in 1990.
In 1991, Mike Johnson joined Dinosaur Jr as full-time bass player. He was in the band for 1991's Whatever's Cool With Me, 1993's Where You Been, 1994's Without A Sound, and 1997's Hand It Over.
Murph left the band in late 1993, after the Lollapalooza tour.
George Berz took over on drums, and drummed from 1994-1997. He was on Without A Sound, and Hand It Over. He later drummed for J Mascis + the Fog in 2000, 2001, and 2003.
Through the 90s, Mascis sometimes explored quieter and more tranquil shores than Dinosaur Jr. had in the 80s. The band formed part of the 1992 "Rollercoaster" tour. A package tour based on the successful "Lollapalooza". The tour featured The Jesus & Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine & Blur. On the 1993 release, Where You Been, the opening track ("Out There") had an accompanying video and was aired on MTV for a short time. After 1994's Without a Sound and 1997's Hand It Over, Mascis began to release albums with the band J Mascis and the Fog.
In 2004, J Mascis regained the master rights to the first three Dinosaur Jr. albums from SST, and arranged for their reissue on the Merge label in early 2005. The reissues coincided with an announcement that the original lineup of J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph (Emmett Patrick Murphy) were reuniting for a summer tour. The success of this tour resulted in a new album entitled Beyond (2007) and single Been There All The Time. They are Lou Barlow's first recording with the band since 1989. The original line-up of Dinosaur Jr. has been touring extensively since 2005. They are currently on a world tour.
On February 20, 2009, Pitchfork Media announced that the band had signed with indie label Jagjaguwar, and their first release on the label entitled Farm was released June 23, 2009, to largely positive reviews.
Water
Dinosaur Jr. Lyrics
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You're floating safely in the way you do
Then I scrammed before you saw me
I've gotta keep thinking you wanna to
[Chorus:]
By the shoreline, will you be fine
Or will it cover you
What will you let it do
We grab a look across the water
We grab a smile and then you're gone a while
With you it'd be across the water
When I'm losing it I like your style
By the shoreline, will you be fine
Or will it cover you
And when you taste it, do you embrace it
What will you let it do to you
Come on, baby!
Drive me out of my mind
If I come home alone with you
And see what you do
This is crazy
And nothing more I want to see
Is that the safest place to sit
And be so spacey
Scary things across the water
You'd never know
Till they have their way with you
You won't catch me deep in the water
However much I wanna play with you
Don't stay in long
No one's that strong
Enough not to crumble
Whenever the water wants you
Don't be so crazed
I'm just tryin' to save
You from losing everything you've got
This is no time to rot
Don't be fooled by
All the coolness rushing by
Don't let it grab your mind
Pull out now or you will find
All you strive for
Nothing, gone, no more
You're his servant now
The lyrics of Dinosaur Jr.'s song Water describe the encounter between the singer and someone else across the water who is "floating safely in the way you do." The singer is watching this person from afar, and although they have an opportunity to approach them, they "scrammed before you saw me." Despite this, the singer wishes to keep thinking about this person, and mentions that "with you it'd be across the water," suggesting that if they were together, they would both be inclined to take risks and explore beyond their limits. However, the singer is also cautious, warning this person about the "scary things across the water" and urging them not to stay in too long, lest they be overcome by the water.
The chorus of the song expands upon this theme, asking whether this person will be fine by the shoreline or whether the water will "cover" them. There is a clear sense of danger associated with the water, which is also described as something that can be tasted and embraced. The singer is unsure whether this person will be able to resist the allure of the water, or whether it will consume them completely.
The final verse of the song is perhaps the most ominous, warning that if this person allows themselves to be consumed by the water, they will become someone else's servant, ruined and lost. The song leaves the listener with the impression that the singer cares deeply about this person, and is perhaps trying to protect them from making a choice that will lead to their destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
Saw you down across the water
I spotted you on the other side of the water
You're floating safely in the way you do
You float effortlessly and safely
Then I scrammed before you saw me
I left before you saw me
I've gotta keep thinking you wanna to
I have to believe that you want me too
By the shoreline, will you be fine
Are you safe by the shore?
Or will it cover you
Or will the water consume you?
And when you taste it, do you embrace it
Do you enjoy the water when you try it?
What will you let it do
What will you allow the water to do to you?
We grab a look across the water
We take a peek across the water
We grab a smile and then you're gone a while
We smile at each other before you disappear for a while
With you it'd be across the water
I want to be with you on the other side of the water
When I'm losing it I like your style
When I'm feeling overwhelmed, I like how you handle things
Come on, baby!
Let's go!
Drive me out of my mind
Make me go crazy
If I come home alone with you
If I go home with you
And see what you do
And observing what you do
This is crazy
This is insane
And nothing more I want to see
I don't want to see anything else
Is that the safest place to sit
Is that the most secure place to be?
And be so spacey
And feel so out of it
Scary things across the water
There are frightening things on the other side of the water
You'd never know
You wouldn't know
Till they have their way with you
Until they take advantage of you
You won't catch me deep in the water
I won't swim in deep water
However much I wanna play with you
No matter how much I want to be with you
Don't stay in long
Don't stay in the water too long
No one's that strong
No one is that resilient
Enough not to crumble
Nobody is strong enough not to break down
Whenever the water wants you
Whenever the water calls you
Don't be so crazed
Don't be so wild
I'm just tryin' to save
I'm only trying to protect
You from losing everything you've got
You from losing everything you have
This is no time to rot
Now is not the time to waste away
Don't be fooled by
Don't be deceived by
All the coolness rushing by
All the excitement flying by
Don't let it grab your mind
Don't let it take over your mind
Pull out now or you will find
Leave now or you will discover
All you strive for
Everything you have worked for
Nothing, gone, no more
Will be gone completely
You're his servant now
Now you belong to it
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
Written by: JOSEPH DONALD MASCIS JR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind