Wikipedia

Don't Drink the Water (Dave Matthews Band song)

"Don't Drink the Water" is a song by American rock band Dave Matthews Band, released as the first single from their album Before These Crowded Streets. RCA Records made the single available for download on April 1, 1998.[1] The song, which features guest vocals from Alanis Morissette and a banjo played by Béla Fleck,[2] addresses the persecution of the Native Americans in the United States.[citation needed]

"Don't Drink the Water"
Single by Dave Matthews Band
from the album Before These Crowded Streets
ReleasedApril 1, 1998 (1998-04-01)
Length
  • 7:03 (album version)
  • 4:35 (radio edit)
LabelRCA
SongwriterDavid J. Matthews[1]
ProducerSteve Lillywhite
Dave Matthews Band singles chronology
"Tripping Billies"
(1997)		 "Don't Drink the Water"
(1998)		 "Stay (Wasting Time)"
(1998)
Music video
"Don't Drink the Water" on YouTube

"Don't Drink the Water" gave the band their highest-charting hit on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, peaking at number four, and their second number one on the Billboard Triple-A chart. It also charted in Canada, peaking at number 21 on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and number three on the RPM Alternative 30.

Track listings

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US single

  1. "Don't Drink the Water" (edit) – 4:35
  2. "Don't Drink the Water" (album version) – 7:03

Australia single

  1. "Don't Drink the Water" (edit) – 4:35
  2. "Crash into Me" (live) – 5:33
  3. "Tripping Billies" (live) – 5:28

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Chart (1998) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[3]21
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[4]56
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[5]3
US Radio Songs (Billboard)[6]50
US Adult Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[7]1
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[8]4
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[9]19

Year-end charts

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Chart (1998) Position
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[10] 36
US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)[11] 68
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[12] 30
US Triple-A (Billboard)[13] 35

References

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  1. 1 2 "Music News & Views". Radio & Records. No. 1240. March 20, 1998. p. 31. As for the new single, 'Don't Drink The Water,' which RCA will make available for download on April 1...
  2. ↑ Before These Crowded Streets (US CD album booklet). RCA Records. 1998. 07863 67660-2.
  3. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Image 3615". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Image 3604". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Image 3590". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Dave Matthews Band Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Dave Matthews Band Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Dave Matthews Band Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Dave Matthews Band Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  10. ↑ "RPM's Top 50 Alternative Tracks of '98". RPM. Retrieved June 29, 2026 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  11. ↑ "Most Played Mainstream Rock Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 34.
  12. ↑ "The Year in Music 1998: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-84.
  13. ↑ "Best of '98: Most Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 35.
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