This African-American spiritual song tells the story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt across the Red Sea while being pursued by Pharaoh's army. It describes children dressed in red who must be the Israelites that Moses led and children dressed in white who must be seeking the light, and children singing and growing strong like a living tree who are free. The chorus repeats a call to "Wade in the water" and that God is going to trouble or part the water.