Wade In the Water by Mavis Staples

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By greenpagan

Sun Jan 6, 2013 1:18 PM

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"Wade in the Water" (Roud 5439) is the name of a Negro spiritual first published in New Jubilee Songs as Sung by the Fisk Jubilee Singers (1901) by John Wesley Work II and his brother, Frederick J. Work (see Fisk Jubilee Singers).

The main chorus is:

Wade in the water.

Wade in the water, children.

Wade in the water.

God's gonna trouble the water.

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The song relates to both the Old and New Testaments. The verses reflect the Israelites' escape out of Egypt as found in Exodus:14.^[1] The chorus refers to healing: see John 5:4, "For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had."

Many internet sources and popular books claim that songs such as "Wade in the Water" contained explicit instructions to fugitive slaves on how to avoid capture and the route to take to successfully make their way to freedom.^[2] This particular song allegedly recommends leaving dry land and taking to the water as a strategy to throw pursuing bloodhounds off one's trail.

"Wade in the Water" was a popular instrumental hit in 1966 for the Ramsey Lewis Trio, which prompted further instrumental recordings by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, and Billy Preston (both 1967). The melody was used for the 1988 Tony Toni Tone hit "Little Walter". The version by The Golden Gate Quartet also appears on the album Nick Cave - Roots & Collaborations (2009), establishing the song as one of the musical sources that have inspired the Australian artist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wade_in_the_Water

Mavis Staples (born July 10, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer, actress and civil rights activist who recorded with The Staple Singers, her family's band.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples

Lyrics vary but this is Mavis's version:

Wade In the Water

Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
My God's gonna trouble the water

Come on and wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God's gonna trouble the water

See that host white dressed in white
He's gonna trouble the water
It looks like the children of the Israelite
He's gonna trouble the water
He's gonna trouble the water

If you don't believe
That I've been redeemed
He's gonna trouble the water
Follow me down to the Jordon stream

Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
My God's gonna trouble the water