Spirituals and The hidden meanings

1Singing was a tradition brought from Africa by the first slaves; sometimes their songs were called spirituals, Singing served many purposes such as providing repetitive rhythm for repetitive work. Harriet Tubman and other slaves used songs as strategy to to communicate with other slaves in the struggle for their freedom. Coded songs contained words giving giving directions on to escape also known as signal songs, songs used Biblical references and analogies of Biblical people. Places and stories, comparing them to their own history of slavery; for example "being bound for the land of Canaan" for a white person could mean ready to die or go to heaven, but to a slave it meant ready to go to Canada.

These are the lyrics of some songs that have been passed along generations 

Wade In the Water

Wade In the Water - Harriet Tubman

Chorus: Wade in the Water, wade in the water children.

Wade in the Water. God’s gonna trouble the water.
Who are those children all dressed in Red?
God’s gonna trouble the water.
Must be the ones that Moses led.
God’s gonna trouble the water.

Chorus

Who are those children all dressed in White?
God’s gonna trouble the water.
Must be the ones of the Israelites.
God’s gonna trouble the water.

Chorus

Who are those children all dressed in Blue?
God’s gonna trouble the water.
Must be the ones that made it through.
God’s gonna trouble the water.

Harriet Tubman Was an Ex-Slave famous for helping thousands of slaves escape She used hidden messages in her songs, Harriet used the underground rail road which were secret passages used to sneak the slaves out of the slaves states.

Wade in the water is a type of spirituals with a hidden meaning; when Harriet was saying wade in the water she meant follow her and go through the water so you wont be spotted on land and the reason for going through the water is the slaves wouldn't smell so if the master sent out dogs the dogs wouldn't be able to track their scent.