Born Lucille Wood Smith her name was changed in infancy to Frances Octavia Smith. She had a tumultuous early life. At age 14, she eloped with her first husband, Thomas F. Fox. She bore one son, Thomas F. Fox, Jr., when she was 15. Divorced in 1929 at age 17, she married August Wayne Johns that same year, a union that ended in divorce in 1935.
She took the name Dale Evans in the early 1930s to promote her singing career. In 1937, she married her third husband, accompanist and arranger Robert Dale Butts. In 1947 she married Roy Rogers. The marriage was his third and her fourth. Dale had a son from her first marriage, Tom Jr. Roy had an adopted child, Cheryl, and two natural children, Linda and Roy (Dusty) Jr., from his second marriage. Evans and Rogers together had one child, Robin, and adopted four others: Mimi, Dodie, Sandy, and Debbie. They were married for 51 years.
Cool Water
Dale Evans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Without the taste of water, cool water
Old Dan and I with throats burned dry
And souls that cry for water, cool, clear water
[Chorus]
Keep a-movin', Dan, don't you listen to him, Dan
He's a devil not a man
Dan can you see that big green tree
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
Dale Evans's song "Cool Water" tells the story of two men, the singer and his horse, Old Dan, who are desperately searching for water in a barren wasteland. The singer describes the burning dryness of his throat and soul as they wander through the desert, looking for relief. He looks to the heavens for a sign of hope and describes the stars as pools of water. The chorus of the song encourages Dan to keep moving, to ignore the devilish voice that tells him to give up, and to focus on reaching the big green tree where there is cool, free-flowing water waiting for them. The night shadows seem to beseech the heavens for water, and the singer too prays that God will lead them to it. Dan's feet are sore, and he's yearning for rest from his quest for water, just like the singer, but they carry on in the hope that they will find their salvation.
The song's verses and chorus work together to create a vivid picture of the desert landscape and the desperate longing for water. The singer's voice is plaintive and filled with pain, but he maintains a sense of hope that drives him forward. The lyrics demonstrate a deep spirituality and faith in God, as well as an intimate understanding of the harsh realities of life in the West.
Line by Line Meaning
All day I've faced the barren waste
Throughout the day, I have confronted a dry and infertile desert land
Without the taste of water, cool water
I am suffering from the lack of refreshing cool water
Old Dan and I with throats burned dry
My dear friend Old Dan and I have parched throats from dehydration
And souls that cry for water, cool, clear water
Our spirits are yearning and calling out for a drink of fresh, clear, and cool water
Keep a-movin', Dan, don't you listen to him, Dan
We must not stop or give into the temptation of the devil, Dan. Keep moving forward, my friend
He's a devil not a man
The foe we're fighting against is not human, but rather evil and cunning like the devil himself
And he spreads the burning sand with water
The devil creates the mirage of water on the hot sand, deceiving us and leading us astray
Dan can you see that big green tree
Dan, look ahead to that large tree with refreshing greenery
Where the water's runnin' free
There's a natural spring where the water flows freely
And it's waiting there for you and me
We will find the water we've been searching and longing for at that tree
The nights are cool and I'm a fool
The evenings bring relief from the heat, and I find myself foolish for not taking advantage of the coolness and resting
Each star's a pool of water, cool water
Every star in the sky appears as if it's a source of refreshing water to drink
But with the dawn I'll wake and yawn
When morning comes, I will wake up, tired and thirsty
And carry on to water, cool, clear, water
I will continue my journey in search of cool and clear water
The shadows sway and seem to say
The shadows move rhythmically and appear to be wishing for the same thing I am
Tonight we pray for water, cool, water
We pray and hope for a blessing of clean, refreshing water
And way up there He'll hear our prayer
Up above in the heavens, God will hear our petitions for water
And show us where there's water, cool, clear, water
He will guide us towards an oasis of cool, clear, and satisfying water
Dan's feet are sore he's yearning for
Dan's feet are hurting him and he's eagerly waiting and hoping for
Just one thing more than water, cool, water
something more than water, not sure what that is
Like me I guess he'd like to rest
Like me, I believe Dan desires some well-deserved rest
Where there's no quest for water, cool, clear, water
We want to find a place of peace and comfort where we no longer have to look for cool and clear water
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bob Nolan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind