Gilmore is a native of the Texas Panhandle, having been born in Amarillo, T… Read Full Bio ↴Gilmore is a native of the Texas Panhandle, having been born in Amarillo, Texas and raised in Lubbock, Texas. His earliest musical influence was Hank Williams and the honky tonk brand of country music that his father played. In the 1950s, he was exposed to the emerging rock and roll of other Texans such as Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Lubbock native Buddy Holly. He was profoundly influenced in the 1960s by the likes of The Beatles and Bob Dylan and the folk music and blues revival in that decade.

Gilmore also played "Smokey" in The Big Lebowski

Another Colorado
Jimmie Dale Gilmore Lyrics

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Down by the banks of the Colorado
My true love and I one night did lie
And we laughed and played and made fun
Of the entire world spinning 'round the sun
Down by the banks of the Colorado

Up from the banks of the Colorado
Nightwatchmen stood guard 'round the wagon yard

And I took a pillar for a sign
That the salt of the earth was surely mine
Up from the banks of the Colorado

There is another Colorado
Wise have told me, wise women too
That I may find sweet El Dorado
Down by the banks of one sweet Colorado

Down by the banks of the Colorado
The years flowed softly before my eyes
And the circus joined me in my quest
And stayed with me throughout my test
Down by the banks of the Colorado

There is another Colorado
Wise men have told me, wise women too

That I may find my sweet El Dorado
Down by the banks of one sweet Colorado

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jimmie Dale Gilmore’s song Another Colorado narrates a story of love, laughter, and boundless optimism evoked by the banks of the Colorado river. The opening line sets the scene of the riverbanks where the singer and his lover lie one night as they gaze at the night sky. They then playfully mock the vast universe for its constant motion around the sun. This imagery of being still and present, but aware of the immense cosmic order spinning around them, suggests a profound sense of contentment and euphoria that can be sparked by even the simplest pleasures of life.

However, the lyrics in the second stanza diverge from the serene atmosphere of the first stanza, expressing a sense of alertness and vigilance. Here, the night watchmen stand guard around the wagon yard, where the singer takes a pillar for a sign that he is the “salt of the earth”. This implies a sense of grounding and connection with the land, and serves as a sharp contrast to the levity of the previous stanza.

The final three stanzas return to the earlier theme of the Colorado river, but adds a layer of discovery and adventure. The lyrics refer to “sweet El Dorado”, which signifies a legendary city or land of abundance and prosperity that the singer may find. The circus that joined him in his quest is a metaphor for the journey of self-discovery, which can sometimes feel like an endless cycle of tests and triumphs. Overall, the lyrics to Another Colorado suggest a life lived path with love, laughter, and an unwavering sense of optimism for what’s to come.

Line by Line Meaning

Down by the banks of the Colorado
On the shore of the Colorado River

My true love and I one night did lie
We spent the night together

And we laughed and played and made fun
We enjoyed ourselves

Of the entire world spinning 'round the sun
Of the circle of life

Up from the banks of the Colorado
Away from where the river flows

Nightwatchmen stood guard 'round the wagon yard
Security guards protected the wagon yard

And I took a pillar for a sign
I interpreted a pillar as a symbol

That the salt of the earth was surely mine
That I had a valuable resource

There is another Colorado
There is another place like the Colorado River

Wise have told me, wise women too
I have heard from wise people

That I may find sweet El Dorado
I may find riches and opportunity