Wade in the Riverside
Two of the most beloved spirituals in American music both carry you to the same place - the riverside.
One says, lay down your sword and shield. The other says, wade right in. I'd known and loved both of these songs for years, but it was the water that made me realize they complemented one another when blended together.
Down by the Riverside and Wade in the Water were born during some of the most difficult times in American history. They were created by enslaved people, passed from voice to voice, carried through generations, and they're still being sung today. These beloved songs give voice to something universal and timeless - the yearning for peace, the longing for healing.
Spirituals often carried layered meanings. The lyrics drew on biblical imagery, but underneath the surface, the words could carry something more urgent. A body of water might be the boundary between slavery and freedom. Directions woven into a song could help enslaved people find their way to safety - while giving the singer plausible deniability.
Down by the Riverside is about laying down the tools of conflict - swords and shields set aside at the water's edge. "Ain't gonna study war no more." What an interesting turn of phrase - to study war. People don't just make a snap decision to go to war. There is planning involved. Tactics leading to maneuvers. To say one refuses to study war means there will be no going to war. To lay down one's sword and shield is to both lay aside the offensive weapon as well as the defensive protection.
Wade in the Water speaks of healing and renewal - where people come through changed. Normally, "troubled" waters would imply danger, roughness on the surface, choppy waves, an undertow; but the spiritual tells us "God's gonna trouble the water" - and through this turbulence, the water brings about health and restoration.
I loved the way the two fit together - peace and healing, side by side, connected by the water. It seemed to me they would pair beautifully, and that idea became Wade in the Riverside.
I've sung in choirs all my life, and spirituals have always been an important part of the repertoire. I've sung both of these songs as well as many other beloved spirituals. But these two have a special significance to me, especially when brought together.
A New Educational Catalog
Several years ago, Mary Lynn Lightfoot took on the challenge of building an educational music catalog at Choristers Guild, which already had a stellar reputation for its sacred music. She had decades of experience and expertise not only as an editor, but also as a prolific writer. She built this catalog from the ground up into a thriving division of Choristers Guild. Mary Lynn (lovingly known as "Foot" to her friends) was an extremely thoughtful and professional editor. She always reviewed submissions in a timely manner, and was gracious when she felt she had to say, "I'm sorry, it's just not a Choristers Guild piece, Ruthie." What a sweet rejection! Of course it was much more fun to hear her say, "Ruthie, I love this piece! Would you consider doing a second voicing?"
When Foot retired, the catalog fell to the capable hands of Victor C. Johnson, and I was very excited to see where it would go next. Victor is a wonderful editor and a precious person. Each year he sends me ideas to inspire my creativity - suggesting themes for original works, proposing arrangements of folk songs or carols, or pointing me to a distinguished piece of poetry to set to music. When the idea came to me to pair Wade in the Water and Down by the Riverside, he was enthusiastic and receptive to the concept.
One of the things I absolutely love about the Choristers Guild educational catalog is their beautiful, artistic covers. Just look at that picture of the river winding through the countryside, rolling hills and leafy trees reflecting the sunlight! Gorgeous. Every song seems to have a picture chosen - or created - just for it: one that captures the title and lyrics perfectly. This cover illustrates exactly what Wade in the Riverside is about - that peacefulness of the appealing, rippling river.
A Beautiful Place to Begin
It is worth preserving these traditional songs. They have been carrying people through difficult times for generations, and their message is as important now as it has ever been. Throughout our history, people have yearned for peace, longed for healing, hoped for something that speaks to the deepest needs of the human heart. Spirituals do that.
And now young singers are picking them up and learning their words, internalizing that message. There's something important in that - not just preserving history, but preparing young people for whatever challenges they may face. Every generation endures hardship in one form or another. Sharing music that says: lay down your burdens, wade into the water, leave war behind, find peace and healing - this is a beautiful place to begin.
Water can be powerful, but it can also give us the most wonderful feelings of peace - watching the light glint off the flowing current, hearing the sound of it washing over rocks and sand.
The more peace and beauty we can introduce into this world, the better.