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Wade Out

Composer(s)
From the musical The Crowning Experience

From the musical THE CROWNING EXPERIENCE, inspired by the life of the African-American educator, Mary McLeod Bethune. It made history when performed in Atlanta, Georgia, when for the first time blacks and whites entered the theatre through the same door. Written in 1957, it was later made into a film.

Lyrics

‘WADE OUT’ 

I dreamed I saw a beautiful country 

And there, I longed forever to be 

But dark before my feet a great river 

Poured it’s icy waters, between that land and me 

 

I dreamed I plunged deep into the river 

Fought, prayed to reach that shore I could see 

Till high above the roar of the torrent 

Came the sound of voices calling out to me 

 

Wade out, wade out, into the deep waters 

Wade out, wade out, on to the far shore 

Wade out, wade out, we are your sons and daughters 

Wade out, wade out, on to the far shore 

 

(Spoken)

I dreamt I saw a great array of boys and girls 

One boy was holding a big ledger, he cried out to me 

‘You will never reach this shore until all our names are written here!’ 

I thank God I’ve begun to write a few of the names in that ledger, but it’s only a beginning! 

I can almost hear them…… 

 

Wade out, wade out, into the deep waters 

Wade out, wade out, on to the far shore

Music type
Publishing permission
Granted
Publishing permission refers to the rights of FANW to publish the recording of this piece of music on this website.
Music type
Publishing permission
Granted
Publishing permission refers to the rights of FANW to publish the recording of this piece of music on this website.