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This spiritual contains coded messages believed to help enslaved people escape to freedom, with its lyrics referencing biblical themes and survival strategies.

"Wade in the Water" is a historic spiritual with roots in the Underground Railroad era. Herb Alpert's 1966 instrumental version popularized it in a jazz-pop style, characterized by trumpet solos and Tijuana Brass' signature sound.

"Wade in the Water" is a historic African-American spiritual deeply tied to the Underground Railroad. Its lyrics were believed to contain coded instructions for escaping enslaved people, referencing biblical themes while providing practical guidance to avoid trackers.

This African-American spiritual served as both religious song and coded map song for the Underground Railroad, with lyrics advising escapees to "wade in water" to throw off scent dogs.

Herb Alpert's 1969 instrumental arrangement revitalized "Wade in the Water" – a haunting African-American spiritual about Biblical liberation – infusing it with vibrant Mexican brass rhythms that dominated global charts.