Dirty Water

The Standells' mock paean to Boston, adopted by the Red Sox after home victories since 1997.

"Dirty Water" is a song by the American rock band the Standells, written by their producer Ed Cobb. Recorded and released in 1965, the song is a mock paean to the city of Boston, Massachusetts, and its then-famously polluted Boston Harbor and Charles River.

Quick Facts

Artist: the Standells
B-side: Rari
Recorded: 5 March 1965
Studio: Universal, Hollywood
Genre: Garage rock, proto-punk
Label: Tower
Writer: Ed Cobb

Lore & Background

According to Standells keyboardist Larry Tamblyn, at least some of the song (notably the reference to "lovers, muggers, and thieves") was inspired by a mugging of producer Ed Cobb in Boston. In addition to the Charles River, other local interest items in the song include the Boston University women's curfew—"Frustrated women ... have to be in by 12 o'clock"—and a passing mention of the Boston Strangler—"have you heard about the Strangler? (I'm the man I'm the man)." The well-known guitar riff that opens the song was recorded with a Fender Telecaster through a Vox AC30 amplifier by Standells guitarist Tony Valentino. Although Cobb received sole songwriting credit, Tamblyn has stated that the band "completely restructured it ... and made it into what it was", and "we didn’t get any credits for writing nor arranging."

Reader's Guide

The song is traditionally played by Boston sports teams following home victories. The National Hockey League's Boston Bruins began playing it in 1995, and Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox followed suit after home victories beginning in the 1997 season. The Standells performed the song live at Fenway Park prior to Game 2 of the 2004 World Series. The song is also included in the soundtrack for the 2005 film Fever Pitch, which focuses on the 2004 Red Sox season. Starting in April 2019, Liverpool F.C., a club in the English Premier League, began playing "Dirty Water" after home matches. The club is owned by Fenway Sports Group, which also owns the Red Sox.

Did You Know?

"Dirty Water" was first issued in late 1965 on the Tower label, a subsidiary of Capitol Records.
It first became a hit in the state of Florida, breaking out on WLOF in Orlando in January 1966.
The song debuted on the Cash Box charts on April 30, 1966, and peaked at No. 8. It reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on June 11.
It was the band's first major hit single; their earlier charting record, "The Boy Next Door", had only reached No. 102 on Billboard's Bubbling Under chart in February 1966.