When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water was an American experimental psychedelic rock band from New York City active from 1986 to 1996. Their three albums and several EPs consist of experimental cover versions of songs from various genres of popular music.
Trouser Press critics Scott Schinder and David Greenberger wrote that their renditions, which contain both precise and loose arrangements, were "not exactly affectionate tributes, but not complete jokes either," giving the group the double identity of an art rock and party band. Though commercially unsuccessful, they were a critically respected staple of the experimental scene associated with their label Shimmy Disc and shared the stage, as well as several members, with the groups King Missile, Bongwater and Shockabilly.