Now is the Cool of the Day

Song Meaning

The lyrics present a divine invitation, framing Earth as a garden entrusted to a caretaker. The initial directive is simple: "keep the grasses green" in exchange for dwelling within this "garden so fair." This establishes a foundational covenant, a promise of presence tied to diligent stewardship. The repeated phrase "I'll return in the cool of the day" acts as a gentle, recurring reminder of an eventual reckoning or reunion, setting a tone of patient expectation. The core tension emerges through the evolving conditions for maintaining this divine tenancy. The initial focus on the physical "grasses green" shifts to a more active, nurturing role: "feed my lambs." This suggests a progression from mere upkeep to the care of living beings. The final verse elevates this responsibility further, demanding that the caretaker "keep the people free." This escalation implies that true stewardship involves not just maintaining the environment, but ensuring the well-being and liberty of its inhabitants. The most striking craft element is the persistent, almost hypnotic repetition of "Now is the cool of the day." This phrase, initially presented as the Lord's return time, becomes the central refrain, transforming the song's perspective. It shifts from a specific temporal marker to a state of being, a present moment of grace or opportunity. The earth is not just a garden, but *this* earth, *our* earth, experienced in this "cool of the day" – a time that feels both peaceful and ripe with potential, mirroring the Lord's own presence. This lyrical structure effectively imbues the listener with a sense of immediate responsibility and gentle urgency. The repeated divine pronouncements, each building on the last, create a cumulative weight of expectation. The song's power lies in its serene yet firm insistence that our existence in this "garden" is conditional, requiring active, evolving care for both the land and its people, all under the watchful, returning gaze of the Lord.