God’s Gonna Trouble the Water

Wade in the Water and God’s Gonna Trouble the Water are the same traditional African American spiritual or sorrow song. The song's rhythmic refrain, Wade In the Water, expresses the idea of purification and today, is often sung at baptisms as a reaffirmation of life. Certainly the idea of cleansing sin through immersion is seen in the ritual of baptism.

The legend is that a person would be healed by entering the water when the angels came to "trouble the waters". Additional meaning was given to the song in the South before the abolishment of slavery as it is known as a Coded Slave Song. It's message was that the trackers and bloodhounds would lose the scent of a run away slave once he entered the waters; thus the hidden meaning of the troubled waters washing away the scent of a man keeping he or she safe.

Ken Lyon of RI's award winning Celtic Band, Pendragon and formally of the 1960s Tombstone Blues Band does a wonderful version of this song. It is also the 3rd cut of Original Carter Family in Texas - Vol 1 released in 1978 by Old Homestead and cut #7 on Reflections on the Carter Family released in 1981 by Take II Productions.

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

Who’s that yonder dressed in red
Wade in water
Must be the children that Moses led
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

Who’s that yonder dressed in white
Wade in the water
Must be the children of the Israelite
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

Who’s that yonder dressed in blue
Wade in water
Must be the Children that’s comin’ through
God’s gonna trouble the water
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

If you don’t believe I’ve been redeemed
Wade in the water
Just see the holy ghost looking for me
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