African American Spiritual (John 5:2-9), Arranged By Carl Haywood, 1992
#2107 The Faith We Sing

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

The history of African American Spirituals is tainted by the fact that most documents on the subject were written by white historians.  What is clear, however, is that music was important to the cultural identity of African Americans.  As enslaved people they adopted the religion of their owners.  Forbidden to learn to read and write the music served to teach the community of the new religion.

Water plays a major role throughout the Bible and holds significant meanings.  Water is a major character in the story of Noah and the ark.  Moses was found as an infant floating in a basket on the water.  Then there is the parting of the Red Sea, aiding Moses, and the Israelites, escape from Egypt. The waters of the Jordan river were also parted, allowing entrance into the “Promised Land.”  In John 5:2-9 the waters of the Sheep Gate pool were known to heal a person who bathed while the waters were “troubled.”  Jesus walked on water and was baptized in the Jordan river.  Water is a symbol of life, purification, and regeneration.

There are many different verses to this spiritual, the order in which they are sung is up to the Lead Singer. It has been suggested that the order in which the Lead Singer performed the verses was codified and communicated the location of secret meetings and plans for escaping bondage.  The chorus instructs the escaping slave to stick to the water which erases footprints and trackable scents.

(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

Moses, born an Israelite, was raised as an Egyptian and chosen by God to lead his people out of bondage.

(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.

Many enslaved people cling to the hope of deliverance illustrated by such biblical stories as Moses.  This hope is reflected in the numerous spirituals that focus on water, Moses, and redemption.

(verse 3)
Look over yonder, what do I see?
God’s a-gonna trouble the water
The Holy Ghost acoming on me,
God’s a-gonna trouble the water.

This verse could be depicting the Pentecostal story, the story of baptism, or being anointed to preach God’s word to his people.

(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.

The symbolism of the Jordan river is that of a dividing line between life and death; slavery and freedom; hardship and prosperity; injustice and justice.

Moses lead the Israelites to the banks of the Jordan river, but was forbidden to cross it.  When Moses died God parted the Jordan river and welcomed the Israelites into the Promised Land.

In today’s world “troubled waters” are everywhere.  Political turmoil, global pandemic, economical collapse, social unrest.  Society needs to wade in these troubled waters if we are to find healing, freedom, prosperity, and justice for all.  God has troubled the waters.  Will we be brave enough to “wade in the water?”