Cool Water
Bing Crosby/My Favorite Country Songs Lyrics
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Without the taste of water, cool water
Old Dan and I with throats burned dry
And souls that cry for water, cool, clear water
Keep a-movin', Dan, don't you listen to him, Dan
He's a devil not a man
And he spreads the burning sand with water
Where the water's runnin' free
And it's waiting there for you and me
The nights are cool and I'm a fool
Each star's a pool of water, cool water
But with the dawn I'll wake and yawn
And carry on to water, cool, clear, water
The shadows sway and seem to say
Tonight we pray for water, cool, water
And way up there He'll hear our prayer
And show us where there's water, cool, clear, water
Dan's feet are sore he's yearning for
Just one thing more than water, cool, water
Like me I guess he'd like to rest
Where there's no quest for water, cool, clear, water
"Cool Water" is a song that talks about the struggles of two cowboys, who are dehydrated and have been walking across the desert all day without water, which leads to their suffering. They are looking for water, and this quest for water is what the song describes. The lyrics create an image of the barren landscape that the cowboys are traversing, and they are depicted as desperate and tired. The riders are old Dan and the singer, and both are burnt out and exhausted, their throats are dry, and they are desperately seeking for water. Their souls cry for water, and it is a basic need that they crave.
The song implies that the cowboys are not just searching for any water, but rather 'cool water.' The water that they want has to be cool and clear, unlike the burning sand. Dan and the singer have hope when they see a big green tree with water running free, and they know that this is the place where they can find the water they desire. The song also highlights the role of prayer and faith during difficult times. The cowboys pray for cool water, and they believe that way up above, God will hear their prayers and show them where to find the much-needed water.
Line by Line Meaning
All day I've faced the barren waste
Throughout the day I've encountered only dry, infertile land
Without the taste of water, cool water
Without the refreshing sensation that is water
Old Dan and I with throats burned dry
My companion, Old Dan, and I have parched throats
And souls that cry for water, cool, clear water
Our spirits are yearning for the cooling, crystal-clear liquid of water
Keep a-movin', Dan, don't you listen to him, Dan
Continue to move, Old Dan, don't pay attention to the negative voice discouraging us
He's a devil not a man
This individual is not human, but rather a wicked being
And he spreads the burning sand with water
He maliciously scatters dry sand as if it were water, aggravating our situation
Dan can you see that big green tree
Old Dan, do you notice that towering, verdant tree ahead?
Where the water's runnin' free
Where water is flowing unhindered
And it's waiting there for you and me
That tree is waiting to provide us with water
The nights are cool and I'm a fool
The evening is chilly and I am foolish to waste my time imagining pools of water in the stars
Each star's a pool of water, cool water
Every shining star appears to be a shimmering pool of water
But with the dawn I'll wake and yawn
However, when dawn arrives, I will awaken and stretch
And carry on to water, cool, clear, water
And proceed towards the sought-after, refreshing liquid of water
The shadows sway and seem to say
The shadows dance and appear to speak
Tonight we pray for water, cool, water
This evening we plead for the much-desired cool water
And way up there He'll hear our prayer
And up above, he will heed our supplication
And show us where there's water, cool, clear, water
And guide us towards the location of the pure, fresh, cold water
Dan's feet are sore he's yearning for
Old Dan's feel hurt, and he longs for
Just one thing more than water, cool, water
Something more than that cool, refreshing liquid of water
Like me I guess he'd like to rest
Presumably, like myself, he would appreciate the chance to rest
Where there's no quest for water, cool, clear, water
At a location where one does not have to hunt for that pure, icy water
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOB NOLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind