Our favorite songs tell a lot about who we are. From what James Wilbur Steele's family has learned of him in recent years, his favorite songs were telling his family much more about his needs and his life than he ever let anyone know

One of his favorite songs was "Detour"..."Detour, there's a muddy road ahead, detour....paid no mind to what it said...detour..."

Another of his favorite songs Was "Cool Clear Water. " The song was about a man in the desert, aching and burning, with no one to talk to but his horse (Dan.) The man in the song knew that he must go on and and not be fooled by a mirage (false image), as did James Wilbur Steele.

Hopefully he found the cool, clear water for his aching soul.

Cool Water
All day I've faced a barren waste
Without a taste of water
Cool water.

Old Dan and I with throats burnt dry
And souls that cry for water
Cool, clear water.

(Chorus)
Keep a-movin' Dan, don't you listen to him, Dan
He's a devil, not a man, and he spreads the burning sand
With water.

Dan, can you see that big green tree
Where the water's running free and its waiting there for you
And me.

The nights are cool and I'm a fool
Each star's a pool of water
Cool water.

But with the dawn I'll wake and yawn
And carry on to water
Cool, clear water.

(Chorus)

First recorded by Bob Nolan and The Sons Of the Pioneers in 1941
Words and Music by Bob Nolan