Crowell was born in Houston, Texas to James Walter Crowell and Addie Cauzette Willoughby. A contemporary of Steve Earle and, like Earle, influenced by the (songwriting) greats Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt, Crowell played guitar and sang for three years in Emmylou Harris' "Hot Band".
He was married to Rosanne Cash (daughter of famous singer/guitarist Johnny Cash) from 1979 to 1992 and had a great influence on her career, producing most of her albums during that period. They collaborated on a number of duets, including 1988's "It's Such a Small World." Though Crowell and Cash are now divorced, they remain on friendly terms, performing together occasionally. Six years after the breakdown of his marriage to Rosanne he married Claudia Church.
Although best known as a songwriter and alternative country artist, Crowell enjoyed mainstream popularity during the late 1980s and early 1990s. His critically acclaimed album, 1988's Diamonds and Dirt, produced five No. 1 hits during a 17-month span in 1988 and 1989: "It's Such a Small World" (a duet with Cash), "I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried," "She's Crazy for Leaving," "After All This Time" and "Above and Beyond." His follow-up album, 1989's "Keys to the Highway," produced two top 5 hits in 1990, which were "Many a Long and Lonesome Highway" and "If Looks Could Kill."
As Crowell's popularity in mainstream country faded, he continued his prolific songwriting. In 2001 he released The Houston Kid on Sugar Hill Records. Many songs on the album were semi-autobiographical, and the album included a duet with Crowell's ex father-in-law Johnny Cash on "I Walk the Line (Revisited)". Initially, Cash was annoyed at Crowell changing the tune to his song, but he came to like the finished product. Crowell followed up this effort with Fate's Right Hand in 2003 and The Outsider in 2005. Crowell considers these three albums his finest work as a solo artist.
2004 saw the release of The Notorious Cherry Bombs, a reunion of The Notorious Cherry Bombs, a group that existed briefly in the 1970s with Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, Tony Brown, and others. The future Keith Urban hit "Making Memories of Us" was included on this disc.
In 2005, Crowell served as producer for established Irish singer/songwriter Kieran Goss on the album Blue Sky Sunrise.
Once in a While
Rodney Crowell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Deep in the night there's a silent light
That glows in my heart just barely a spark a gentle reminder of you
Sometimes I walk where the streets hang empty
Far from the crowd where the shadows fall
I sample the sound of the rain falling down and let go the past
And once in a while I still can smile
And face the day in a better way it's true
There will be times when the grey clouds come
They'll cover the sky try to hide the sun
They'll stand in my way but I'll make it okay I'm living this life after you
Sometimes I walk where the sea meets the river
I carry a torch calling out your name
I'll savor the sound of the waves as they pound and let go the mask
And once in a while
Once in a while once in a while I'm still in love with you
In "Once in a While," Rodney Crowell laments about the feeling of longing for a lost love. With a poetic and introspective lens, he sings of the persistent and elusive nature of nostalgia. The opening lines in particular evoke a sense of quietude, as if the environment surrounding the singer is still and peaceful. The mention of a "silent light" that illuminates a mere spark in his heart harkens back to memories of a relationship long past - however, the feelings that come with those memories are only a whisper now.
Crowell's lyrics are rich with imagery throughout the song. Amidst the streets that hang empty, the shadows that fall, and the sound of rain falling down, there is a sense of haunting emptiness that accompanies the momentary peace that comes with reliving memories. The chorus is a testament to how people must move on from love that has passed, but that it's also okay to remember those feelings fondly. As such, the moments of self-reflection and clarity - characterized as smiling and facing the day in a better way - are few and fleeting, but enough to remember that love does not fully disappear once it has faded.
The song itself is a testament to Crowell's versatility as a songwriter - he's been credited for his work in the country and Americana genres, but "Once in a While" is a much softer ballad than one would expect from his discography. Interestingly enough, the song was originally written for the 1998 movie "The Horse Whisperer," but was not included in the final cut. Nevertheless, its inclusion on his album "The Houston Kid" helped earn Crowell a new deal with a major recording studio. A touching meditation on the malleability and persistence of feelings, "Once in a While" is a testament to the power of memory.
Line by Line Meaning
Once in a while when the wind lies sleeping
Occasionally, during peaceful moments when there is no wind blowing, I am reminded of you.
Deep in the night there's a silent light
Late at night, there is a quiet inner light within me that symbolizes you.
That glows in my heart just barely a spark a gentle reminder of you
This light inside of me is a dim, but gentle reminder of your presence in my life.
Sometimes I walk where the streets hang empty
There are times when I stroll in deserted streets to feel the emptiness that I’m experiencing without you.
Far from the crowd where the shadows fall
I find myself alone, away from everyone else, where darkness covers me.
I sample the sound of the rain falling down and let go the past
I listen to the rainfall and try to forget about the past memories that we shared together.
And once in a while I still can smile
There are moments when I can still feel happiness and joy despite missing you.
And face the day in a better way it's true
This makes me feel more optimistic about the future and helps me to approach a new day in a more positive way.
Once in a while I'm still in love with you
Even though I try to move on, there are times when I still have deep affection and love for you.
There will be times when the grey clouds come
There will be moments when sadness and gloom will overcome me.
They'll cover the sky try to hide the sun
These emotions will seem to overpower the brightness of hope and happiness.
They'll stand in my way but I'll make it okay I'm living this life after you
However, I will find a way to persevere and find my own way despite the challenges and hardships of living this life without you.
Sometimes I walk where the sea meets the river
Every so often, I wander to where the sea and the river converge.
I carry a torch calling out your name
In this place, I hold a flame and call out your name, as a way of keeping your memory alive.
I'll savor the sound of the waves as they pound and let go the mask
I will relish the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, as I release any pretense or illusions about you or our relationship.
And once in a while
Occasionally, during these moments of reflection and introspection,
Once in a while once in a while I'm still in love with you
I realize that I am still deeply in love with you, and this love will never completely fade away.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LEVENTHAL, RODNEY CROWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind