Wade in The Water
A song of The Underground Railroad
Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children,
Wade in the water
God's a-going to trouble the water
See that host all dressed in white
God's a-going to trouble the water
The leader looks like the Israelite
God's a-going to trouble the water
See that band all dressed in red
God's a-going to trouble the water
Looks like the band that Moses led
God's a-going to trouble the water
Look over yonder, what do you see?
God's a-going to trouble the water
The Holy Ghost a-coming on me
God's a-going to trouble the water
If you don't believe I've been redeemed
God's a-going to trouble the water
Just follow me down to the Jordan's stream
God's a-going to trouble the water
“I was the conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can't say; I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger.”
—Harriet Tubman
This song was a common song shared among slaves in search of freedom along the Underground Railroad. The message in this song was to warn slaves of trail sniffing dogs and provided instruction to get into the water in order to lose their scent. The greatest leader among the Underground Railroad was Harriet Tubman. Born a slave, originally named Araminta Harriet Ross, Harriett escaped traveling 90 miles to attain freedom in the North and made numerous trips along the Underground Railroad to help others do the same. Like Truth, Harriet Tubman was both an activist and abolitionist. She had acquired connections with white antislavery activists who provided safe houses along the Underground Railroad for eight years.
For me, it seems as though freedom does not hold the same meaning today as it did back during those times. Instead of being enslaved physically, many of us are enslaved mentally. This form of slavery is not confined to any race or geographical location. There are no laws that can protect any of us from this form of slavery and no one can free us but ourselves. Our Underground Railroad today is our journey within.
What does freedom mean to you? Do you consider yourself free?