Played just a couple of times in 2010, this Oteil Burbridge original wouldn't see a studio release for another seven years when it appeared on his solo album of the same name.

In Oteil's words:

“Water in the Desert” came about because I was on the hunt for an older style of gospel music that I only had heard on records. But I lived in Birmingham, Ala., so I knew it still had to be around there somewhere. A friend turned me on to this church called First Baptist Church of Kingston. The Pastor, Rev. T.N. Miller brought me to tears every time I went there. “Water in the Desert” is my tribute to that church and Rev. James Cleveland, The Fairfield Four, Aretha Franklin and all the other gospel artists whose music fed me so much spiritually back then. Lyrically, it is simply stating that the act of loving another person, God, whoever, is what heals best. It is about action as much as—or more than belief. Abraham Joshua Heschel said that when he marched with Dr. King in the civil rights movement, he was “praying with his legs.” It’s about action. Alfreda is amazing on this song—truly amazing. Wait till you hear her do it live.