Sweet Honey in the Rock was founded in 1973 by Bernice Johnson Reagon who formed the group out of the strongest singers from a vocal workshop she was teaching with the D.C. Black Repertory Company. The name of the group comes from a religious parable that tells of a land so rich that when rocks were cracked open, honey flowed from them.
The music of Sweet Honey in the Rock challenges its listeners with songs on topics including motherhood, spirituality, freedom, civil liberties, domestic violence, and racism.
Over the years, more than twenty individuals have lent their voices to Sweet Honey in the Rock. Beginning as a quartet, Sweet Honey in the Rock is now comprised of six African American women (including a professional American Sign Language interpreter who accompanies the group on concert tours). The ensemble tackles difficult five-part harmonies and composes much of their own music.
Sweet Honey in the Rock has received several Grammy Award nominations, including one for their children's album Still the Same Me which received the Silver Award from the National Association of Parenting Publications. They won a Grammy in 1989 in the category of Best Traditional Folk Recording for their version of Leadbelly's "Grey Goose" from the compilation album Folkways: A Vision Shared.
Wade in the Water
Sweet Honey In The Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God's gonna trouble the water.
See those people dressed in white
They look like the children of the Israelites
Wade in the water, children
Wade in 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.
See those people dressed in black
They come a long way and they ain't turning back
Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God's gonna trouble the water.
See those people dressed in blue
Look like my people comin' thru
Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God's gonna trouble the water.
See those people dressed in red
Must be the children that Moses led
Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God's gonna trouble the water.
Some say Peter and some say Paul
But there ain't but the one God made us all.
Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God's gonna trouble the water.
The song "Wade in the Water" by Sweet Honey in the Rock is a powerful hymn that speaks of an old African-American tradition of "wading" in the water to escape slavery. The song is based on the biblical story of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and their crossing of the Red Sea. It speaks of the hope and the struggles of African-Americans during the times of slavery, as they sought freedom and salvation in a world that was hostile to their very existence.
The hymn opens with the refrain "Wade in the water, God's gonna trouble the water" which is a call to the people to immerse themselves in the water, to change and transform themselves, to wash away their sins and to find a new life in God. The repetition of the phrase "God's gonna trouble the water" suggests that there will be a divine intervention, a transformation of the environment or a mysterious event that will facilitate the liberation of the oppressed.
The hymn continues with descriptions of people dressed in white, black, blue, and red, representing different groups of people who have suffered under oppression or who have been liberated. The lyrics also speak of the unity of all people, as it states that "there ain't but the one God made us all." The hymn sends a message of hope and resistance, encouraging people to keep wading in the water, as a metaphor for persisting in the struggle for freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
Wade in the water
Follow the path of righteousness and take action towards redemption
Wade in the water, children
Encouragement to young and old to embrace the journey of salvation
God's gonna trouble the water.
God will bring about changes and challenges in your life to guide you towards salvation
See those people dressed in white
Witnessing those who have accepted the path of righteousness
They look like the children of the Israelites
Observing how those who believe in God look like they belong to a family
See those people dressed in black
Seeing the struggles faced by people who have yet to find the path of salvation
They come a long way and they ain't turning back
Despite the hardships, they are committed to finding a way to salvation
See those people dressed in blue
Observing a group of individuals who could be from one's own culture or race approaching the path of righteousness
Look like my people comin' thru
Feeling a sense of pride and unity when people from one's own community find faith
See those people dressed in red
Recognizing that the early followers of God had to overcome challenges and hardships to find the path of salvation
Must be the children that Moses led
Believing that those who have found faith are carrying on the legacy of Moses and following the path to salvation
Some say Peter and some say Paul
Acknowledging that various religious leaders and teachers preached the path to salvation in their own unique ways
But there ain't but the one God made us all.
Recognizing that regardless of religious affiliations or backgrounds, we are all creations of God and all have the potential to find salvation.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Willie Mae Thornton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@flowergrannyjanet
Still listening in 2024. Still beautiful music
@roxanasolisflores7229
May the new generations learn about our history also through music such as with this amazing masterpiece. Blessings ❤
@Aegelis
Pulse check: If you don't feel anything during this, you might be dead. That vibrato is so tight. Lower voice is fraekin' amazing, but all gave me chills. Thank you, God bless.
@bwmertz
That's Dr. Ysaye Barnwell singing bass. Sang with Sweet Honey for something like thirty-five years. When I first heard these women sing as a young teen it changed my life forever. Now I direct choirs in music from the African diaspora, and teach kids music. In short, I agree. If this music doesn't make you feel something, you might be dead.
@annettecramer328
saint4God that's the Holy Ghost
@nodoubtsafetyservices2253
What he said👆
Praise the Lord🙌
Thank you Jesus🙏
@brendamclain3567
Was blessed to hear it live at the Detroit opera house. This is a pure reflection of perfection before God. I wanna testify to the suffering of of such.
@queenmajesty5163
This is what you call real singing - you get the beat & the melody - without the music. Pure heavenly harmony........
@WillTheBassPlayer
That's just the thing though. There's music here. Music in droves. They are a capella. It takes a special talent to do this well. There's music.
@georgeb.wolffsohn30
Music is more than beat, rhythm, melody and harmony. Intention, feeling, history, love, context and a million other aspects I can't articulate make music real.