Cool Water (song)

"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 No. 3 on the Top 100 Western songs of all time.

Charting versions
It was first recorded by The Sons of the Pioneers on March 27, 1941, for Decca Records (catalog 5939) and this briefly charted in 1941 with a peak position of No. 25. On August 8, 1945, The Sons of the Pioneers cut a new recording, this time for RCA Victor (catalog 20-1724). This version was re-released in 1947 on the Victor Smart Set album P-168 "Cowboy Classics." However, the best-selling recorded version 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. The record was on the Billboard chart for 13 weeks beginning on August 6, 1948, peaking at No. 9.

Frankie Laine and The Mellomen took it to No. 2 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