Cool Water (song)

For other uses, see Cool Water.

Not to be confused with Cool, Cool Water.

"Cool Water" is a song written in 1936 by Bob Nolan. It is about a parched man and his mule traveling a wasteland tormented by mirages. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as number three on the top-100 Western songs of all time.

"Cool Water"
Single by the Sons of the Pioneers
B-side	So Long to the Red River Valley[1]
Written	1936
Published	1936[2]
Released	April 1941
Recorded	March 27, 1941[3]
Studio	Chicago, Illinois
Genre	Country (Hillbilly)
Label	Decca 5939
Songwriter(s)	Bob Nolan

Charting versions

It was first recorded by the Sons of the Pioneers on March 27, 1941, for Decca Records (catalog 5939)^[4] and this briefly charted in 1941 with a peak position of No. 25.^[5] On August 8, 1945, The Sons of the Pioneers cut a new recording, this time for RCA Victor (catalog 20-1724).^[6][7] This version was re-released in 1947 on the Victor Smart Set album P-168 "Cowboy Classics."^[7] The best-selling recorded version, though, was done by Vaughn Monroe and the Sons of the Pioneers in 1948. The recording was released by RCA Victor as catalog number 20-2923; itwas on the Billboard chart for 13 weeks beginning on August 6, 1948, peaking at number 9.^[6][8]

Frankie Laine and the Mellomen took it to number two on the British charts in 1955.

Film appearances

• 1945 Along the Navajo Trail – sung by Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers
• 1945 Saddle Serenade – performed by Jimmy Wakely and the Riders of the Purple Sage
• 1946 Ding Dong Williams – performed by Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers
• 2011 Rango – performed by Hank Williams
• 2018 The Ballad of Buster Scruggs – sung by Tim Blake Nelson

Charts

Frankie Laine version

Chart performance for "Cool Water"

Chart (1955)	Peak position
United Kingdom (NME)[9]	2
United Kingdom (Record Mirror)[10]	1