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The Faith We Sing · No. 2107 · Words: Traditional African-American Spiritual · Tune: WADE IN THE WATER
Wade in the Water
Create PowerPoint slides from this hymn →"Wade in the Water" is a traditional African-American spiritual believed to have been used as a coded message on the Underground Railroad, encouraging enslaved people to travel through water to evade slave catchers. The text draws on the biblical imagery of the Pool of Bethesda (John 5) and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea.
Refrain
Wade in the water, wade in the water, children,
wade in the water, God's a-gonna trouble the water.
Wade in the water, wade in the water, children,
wade in the water, God's a-gonna trouble the water.
Verse 1
See that host all dressed in white,
God's a-gonna trouble the water.
The leader looks like the Israelite,
God's a-gonna trouble the water.
Refrain
Wade in the water, wade in the water, children,
wade in the water, God's a-gonna trouble the water.
Wade in the water, wade in the water, children,
wade in the water, God's a-gonna trouble the water.
Verse 2
See that band all dressed in red,
God's a-gonna trouble the water.
Looks like the band that Moses led,
God's a-gonna trouble the water.
Refrain
Wade in the water, wade in the water, children,
wade in the water, God's a-gonna trouble the water.
Wade in the water, wade in the water, children,
wade in the water, God's a-gonna trouble the water.
Verse 3
Look over yonder, what do I see?
God's a-gonna trouble the water.
The Holy Ghost a-coming on me,
God's a-gonna trouble the water.
Refrain
Wade in the water, wade in the water, children,
wade in the water, God's a-gonna trouble the water.
Wade in the water, wade in the water, children,
wade in the water, God's a-gonna trouble the water.
Verse 4
If you don't believe I've been redeemed,
God's a-gonna trouble the water.
Just follow me down to Jordan's stream,
God's a-gonna trouble the water.
Refrain
Wade in the water, wade in the water, children,
wade in the water, God's a-gonna trouble the water.
Wade in the water, wade in the water, children,
wade in the water, God's a-gonna trouble the water.
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