“Wade in the Water”

“Wade in the Water” is a powerful African American jubilee song, first sung by enslaved people in reference to the Israelites who escaped bondage in Egypt.  Historians believe Harriet Tubman herself sang the song to encourage those escaping slavery to make use of rivers and streams to lose the dogs used by patrols trying to capture them. 

Many beautiful versions of the song can be found, including this one by Sweet Honey In the Rock.

Here is a recording by Christian, which offers suggestions for teaching and leading.

Here are lyrics:

Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God’s gonna trouble the water

See those people dressed in white
God’s gonna trouble the water
The look like the children of the Israelites
God’s gonna trouble the water

Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God’s gonna trouble the water

See those people dressed in black
God’s gonna trouble the water
They’ve come a long way and they’re not turning back
God’s gonna trouble the water