Sons of Perdition's first album, The Kingdom is On Fire, was released in 2007. The Hank in Chains Review had this to say of it: "Sons have delivered a beautiful brimstone masterpiece with The Kingdom Is On Fire... an absolutely phenomenal album from start to finish."
Kingdom was followed by Psalms for the Spiritually Dead in 2010. James Carlson called it "a musical sermon unlike any other."
Trinity, the third and final album in Sons of Perdition’s Dissolution Trilogy, was released on GraveWax Records on November 12, 2013. At over 72 minutes, Trinity is a long, metaphorical narrative that tells of a man’s hellish pilgrimage through the American Southwest.
Zebulon Whatley was raised outside the rural settlement of Scrougout, Texas on a diet of fanatic religion and weird fiction. He currently resides in Austin, Texas.
Psalm of Nod
Sons of Perdition Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wade in the water...
Wade in the water, children.
Wade in the water...
For God is gonna trouble that water.
The sea is blood, the moon is bone.
I walk this highway all alone.
(God is gonna trouble that water.)
No coat, no food, no automobile.
(God is gonna trouble the water.)
Jesus alone knows how I feel.
(God is gonna trouble that water.)
Wade in the water...
Wade in the water, children.
Wade in the water...
God is gonna trouble that water.
See that town all bathed in dust?
(God is gonna trouble the water.)
Nobody in this world I trust.
(God is gonna trouble that water.)
Holes worn through my Sunday shoes.
(God is gonna trouble the water.)
I got them low-down Judas blues.
(God is gonna trouble that water.)
Wade in the water...
Wade in the water, children.
Wade in the water...
God is gonna trouble that water.
The air is hot, the water's cold,
What lurks beneath is ages old.
See that man who holds the key?
He chained that Beast now sets it free.
Wade in the water...
Wade in the water, children.
Wade in the water...
For God is gonna trouble that water.
The pews are empty, folks moved on.
(God is gonna trouble the water.)
Despair has gripped me by the bones.
(God is gonna trouble that water.)
I lay down on those tracks to die.
(God is gonna trouble the water.)
That train, it's a-coming by and by.
(God is gonna trouble that water.)
That's right.
Wade in the water...
Wade in the water, children.
Wade in the water...
For God is gonna trouble that water.
God is gonna trouble that water.
The lyrics of "Psalm of Nod" by Sons of Perdition tell a story of struggle, perseverance, and faith. The song begins with the repeated phrase "Wade in the water" - a reference to the traditional African-American spiritual that was used as a signal to escape slaves to disguise their scent from bloodhounds. The singer portrays their journey as a solo one, walking along a highway with no coat, food, or automobile. They call upon the name of Jesus, the only one who truly understands their pain.
The lyrics then shift to a moment of reflection on the state of the world. The town is bathed in dust, and the singer trusts no one. They sing of their lack of material possessions, with holes worn through their Sunday shoes. The use of the phrase "low-down Judas blues" serves as a metaphor for the singer's loneliness and betrayal. The chorus repeats, with the addition of a new line: "God is gonna trouble that water," indicating that change is coming.
The song ends with a sense of desperation as the singer admits to laying down on the train tracks to die. However, the repetition of the phrase "God is gonna trouble that water" serves as a reminder that there is always the possibility of redemption and transformation. It is a powerful and poignant message that speaks to the enduring power of hope, even amidst despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Wade in the water...
Walk through the water, children.
Wade in the water, children.
Walk through the water, young ones.
Wade in the water...
Walk through the water.
For God is gonna trouble that water.
God will cause turbulence in the water.
The sea is blood, the moon is bone.
The water is red, the moon is white.
(God is gonna trouble the water.)
God will cause turbulence in the water.
I walk this highway all alone.
I travel this road solo.
(God is gonna trouble that water.)
God will cause turbulence in the water.
No coat, no food, no automobile.
I have neither warm clothes, nor food or a car.
(God is gonna trouble the water.)
God will cause turbulence in the water.
Jesus alone knows how I feel.
Only Jesus knows my emotions.
(God is gonna trouble that water.)
God will cause turbulence in the water.
See that town all bathed in dust?
Notice how the town is covered in dirt?
(God is gonna trouble the water.)
God will cause turbulence in the water.
Nobody in this world I trust.
I don't trust anyone in this world.
(God is gonna trouble that water.)
God will cause turbulence in the water.
Holes worn through my Sunday shoes.
My Sunday shoes have holes in them.
(God is gonna trouble the water.)
God will cause turbulence in the water.
I got them low-down Judas blues.
I'm feeling low like Judas.
(God is gonna trouble that water.)
God will cause turbulence in the water.
The air is hot, the water's cold,
The air is warm, the water is chilly.
What lurks beneath is ages old.
What hides beneath the water is ancient.
See that man who holds the key?
Notice that man who has the key?
He chained that Beast now sets it free.
He had captured the Beast but now is releasing it.
Wade in the water...
Walk through the water.
Wade in the water, children.
Walk through the water, young ones.
Wade in the water...
Walk through the water.
For God is gonna trouble that water.
God will cause turbulence in the water.
The pews are empty, folks moved on.
The church benches are vacant, everyone moved away.
(God is gonna trouble the water.)
God will cause turbulence in the water.
Despair has gripped me by the bones.
Despair has a hold of me entirely.
(God is gonna trouble that water.)
God will cause turbulence in the water.
I lay down on those tracks to die.
I lie down on the railroad to perish.
(God is gonna trouble the water.)
God will cause turbulence in the water.
That train, it's a-coming by and by.
That train is approaching shortly.
(God is gonna trouble that water.)
God will cause turbulence in the water.
That's right.
That's correct.
Wade in the water...
Walk through the water.
Wade in the water, children.
Walk through the water, young ones.
Wade in the water...
Walk through the water.
For God is gonna trouble that water.
God will cause turbulence in the water.
God is gonna trouble that water.
God will cause turbulence in the water.
Contributed by Jake L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.