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Eva Cassidy — Wade In The Water
Album: Songbird
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2369









Released: 1998
Length: 3:56
Plays (last 30 days): 2
Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God's gonna trouble the water

Who's that young girl dressed in red?
Wade in the water
Must be the children that Moses led
God's gonna trouble the water

Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God's gonna trouble the water

Who's that young girl dressed in white?
Wade in the water
Must be the children of Israelites
God's gonna trouble the water

Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God's gonna trouble the water

Who's that young girl dressed in blue?
Wade in the water
Must be the children that's coming through
God's gonna trouble the water

Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God's gonna trouble the water

You don't believe I've been redeemed
Wade in the water
Just see the Holy Ghost looking for me
God's gonna trouble the water

Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God's gonna trouble the water
Comments (126)add comment
Wow, great voice. Then I noticed her 'years'. Jeez.
I was listening to a History of Rock and Roll in 500 Songs today, and it was about the last years of Hendrix. I was thinking would I give up a substantial part of my life in exchange for great talent? 
 MysteryMan wrote:


Nonesense. When you have soul and cover with respect and passion then the scar of history heals a little more.

This song is literally "an African American jubilee song, a spiritualβ€”in reference to a genre of music "created and first sung by African Americans in slavery." "  Slavery, ffs!  So, black face should make a come back as long as its done with respect and passion?  Minstrel shows?  C'mon now...
 
πŸ’›πŸŒŽπŸ•Š
Voice of an angel
There are some voices out there that are immediately recognizable.   Eva's warm clear soprano is one of them.
Right voice.  The right tune.  And an outstanding accompaniment.  What's not to like in this slice of sonic delight?  
 kasia1podhalanka wrote:

What the heck is playing now??



Some REALLY GOOD music!
Songs done well can be a universal balm.  And this one was surely done well.  
 sfoster66 wrote:

I'll just say this...that maybe some music should be left to those that have the scars of history on their family trees...



Nonesense. When you have soul and cover with respect and passion then the scar of history heals a little more.
GREAT GREAT GREAT!!
What the heck is playing now??
FUCK CANCER
I'll just say this...that maybe some music should be left to those that have the scars of history on their family trees...
 caregiver wrote:
From Eva's Website:  Support the hardworking musicians in your area by attending live performances. Go out to the little clubs and restaurants that offer live music, and if you like what you hear, tell the performers! Clap long and loud! And if they're selling CDs and tapes from their guitar cases, as Eva once did, support their talents and efforts that way too. As someone once wrote in the Guestbook, "There will never be another Eva Cassidy, but there will be someone else."


This post from eight years ago is a heartfelt sentiment, as we look towards an ending of this pandemic!
I hope Wade can swim, especially of God is going to trouble the water.
I'm familiar with many musical artists--thousands, maybe? Eva is the only one who I can tell you exactly where I was and who I was with the first time I heard her voice.

She had a disc cut with Chuck Brown, the Father of Go-Go (a DC thing). You couldn't find two people further apart on the musical spectrum and they blended so well. RIP Eva.
Stray Cats Strut? 
cool
 terrapin52 wrote:
I think she wants me to wade in the water.  I'm not sure.
 
At times the angels (God) would trouble (stir up) the local waters, and then they would have healing power.  You should wade in them during those times for healing.
Love this artist.  Tragic that she passed so young.  Also love the biblical roots of this traditional song
RATHER TASTY ~ Beautiful for a Sunday afternoon!
Sad to know that she has passed away
: <
 doublethis wrote:
Why does it seem like dead artists (eva cassiday, nick drake, et al) all rate about 1 or 2 points higher here than comparable living ones?
Just wondering...
 
Maybe it seems that way because that's what you're looking for, sort of like confirmation bias.  Maybe it's true sometimes, the old "no-one-is-so-noble-as-in-death" syndrome, and neither of the artists you named enjoyed very much success during their lifetimes - so there's that.  Anyhow, if it occurs with any regularity, it's probably not a conscious decision of the people doing the ratings.  It is odd how snippy and defensive one of the responses to your question was though.
 willmcnaught wrote:
RIP Eva, but thank you for leaving us with songs like this. {#Notworthy}

 
Yes, she left us way too early. 
Well, this is some GoooD music! Thank you Bill!!!
RIP Eva, but thank you for leaving us with songs like this. {#Notworthy}
Previous track - Santana's 'Incident At Neshabur. Lots of comments about how the similarities to some Allman Brothers / Dicky Betts. Also seemed to me more than a shade of Ramsey Lewis and /or Young-Holt Ltd on the keyboards. Following this is Eva with 'Wade in the Water'  - and Ramsey Lewis classic from (around) '66.

 Brilliant, Bill. Just brilliant! 
She was too good for this world.
BRUTAL! Went to her website, looking for tour dates. Sadly, she passed in like '96. Thanks Eva for the music! You left the world more swingin' than you found it. 
Al-frigging-right! Very hot rendition. Nice!
 LizK wrote:
Recognized the voice instantly.  Clear & smooth.

  Yep!


Recognized the voice instantly.  Clear & smooth.
 Love Eva Cassidy   {#Good-vibes}
Preferred the Ramsey Lewis Trio version!
 jimys wrote:
More Eva, please!!

 
...... yes please
great singer, sad story, 33 is too young to die from Melanoma.
Eva Cassidy > Madeline Peyroux > Rickie Lee Jones

but I sill loves them all.  
I thought for a bit this was Ollabelle. Same style and they always on those gospel and blues standards. 
Soulful Eva.  
Any relation to Sean Cassidy?
 doublethis wrote:
Why does it seem like dead artists (eva cassiday, nick drake, et al) all rate about 1 or 2 points higher here than comparable living ones?
Just wondering...

 
The truth is that I did not make my mind up about EC for some time after she died, as I was afraid of being affected by her death.
But after all of this time, I think she has a lovely, smokey, clear voice and great diction and sang beautiful songs. So I do think she was very good. For what it's worth.

 doublethis wrote:
Why does it seem like dead artists (eva cassiday, nick drake, et al) all rate about 1 or 2 points higher here than comparable living ones?
Just wondering...

 
Probably because she was just flat-out, real-deal excellent.  With this standard of yours, with +2 over-rating for dead artists, are we to guess that good ole' Ludwig Van and Ella were pretty comparable to their peers?

Me thinks that the "comparative quality" of Eva's peers may be perhaps because oh so many of those performers have major production wizardry both before and after they cut songs.  Perhaps many of us are duly impressed w/ Eva's voice and performances because, like Janis Joplin, there's no doubt that her music came from deep down in her soul -- the feelings pour out.  On the Songbird album, even though the entire work is covers, I hear music first created by other artists in a whole new light, and for me that is the mark of a fine, fine artist.
 terrapin52 wrote:
I think she wants me to wade in the water.  I'm not sure.
 

Sometimes I think back about all the blatantly overt signals to me from ladies that I was totally oblivious to at the time.  Kinda like when George Costanza's date asked him up to her apartment for coffee and he declined, saying coffee that late at night would keep him up.
Like butta'...{#Cheers}
More Eva, please!!
 DigitalJer wrote:
Wow, what *power* in that voice
  Yes indeed and the Power comes from ''Emmotion'' and 'Presentation' as opposed to Volume.

From Eva's Website:  Support the hardworking musicians in your area by attending live performances. Go out to the little clubs and restaurants that offer live music, and if you like what you hear, tell the performers! Clap long and loud! And if they're selling CDs and tapes from their guitar cases, as Eva once did, support their talents and efforts that way too. As someone once wrote in the Guestbook, "There will never be another Eva Cassidy, but there will be someone else."
 doublethis wrote:
Why does it seem like dead artists (eva cassiday, nick drake, et al) all rate about 1 or 2 points higher here than comparable living ones?
Just wondering...
 
Because we know we can't rate any more of their music so we just rate the old stuff high because it's great.
It seems that she sang so many different genera well that the record producers she sent her material to did not know how they would market an album of her material, so she was turned down several times during her life. She may have been somewhat timid personally, but was fearless musically. It takes a lot of guts to sing a signature song of another singer that is universally familiar such as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" or "Imagine."

https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/12/arts/death-shy-singer-finally-grabs-spotlight-cd-s-carry-eva-cassidy-s-voice-wider.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

https://www.evacassidy.org/eva/harr96.htm
She is my favorite singer
Soul and beauty. 'Nuff said! {#Umbrella}
For a long time I thought this was the work of a classic blues singer from back in the day, someone sublime and surely wildly famous and known to all true blues and jazz aficionados. Then I found out it was our own little Eva from down the street.

I mean down the street as in Blues Alley, DC area. She was someone who mainly sang backup and worked with Chuck Brown and other pioneers, and was barely recognized since she was not in LA or NYC and did not have any "big" names behind her, other than Chuck.

And no, I did not know she died young when I first heard and admired her talent. I hear she died pretty broke.


I think she wants me to wade in the water.  I'm not sure.
Why does it seem like dead artists (eva cassiday, nick drake, et al) all rate about 1 or 2 points higher here than comparable living ones?
Just wondering...
There was a great documentary on PBS the other night about the civil rights movement in the U.S. south and the music that coincided with it. This song was prominently featured.

A songbird alright !
 Carissa wrote:
I cannot hear anything this woman recorded without getting shivers. (Really good shivers.)
 

Autumn Leaves sends shivers thru my soul.
 Ag3nt0rang3 wrote:


Weighed in the water?
 
(Bonnie) Raitt in the water {#Whistle}

she s cute!!
 Tylersmyler wrote:
Of all the amazing (see: Chilling ) Eva songs, why is this the only one he always plays?
 

I agree.
 
Oh man, yeah, the amount of soul in her voice could melt the Antarctic.
DigitalJer wrote:
Wow, what *power* in that voice
 


Of all the amazing (see: Chilling ) Eva songs, why is this the only one he always plays?
Great to hear this track again!  Love Eva

This song spent too much time wading in the water. It's downright soggy.
 Stefen wrote:

No, no, no.   It's wait in the water.
 

Weighed in the water?


I first heard this version on a mixed CD from a friend.  Loved it and listened to it over and over and not until I heard it on RP did I know who sang it. 
 EssexTex wrote:
I'm hearing..Weed in the water.  
 
No, no, no.   It's wait in the water.

{#Dance}
I'm hearing..Weed in the water.  
Wow, what *power* in that voice
I cannot hear anything this woman recorded without getting shivers. (Really good shivers.)
 michaelgmitchell wrote:
This woman lived too short a life. Bloody shame. What talent. Lucky for us, she remains with us in memory and song.
 

Couldn't have said it better...{#Cheers}
What an amazing voice and she carried that voice on every tune she sang. RIP Eva

Thank you RP for keeping her voice alive.
 Kittee wrote:
Sorry, it's too cold to wade in the water this morning. {#Roflol}
 
Especially if you're one of those Great Lakes Swimmers. (Lake Superior, in particular.)
I really thought she was singing wait in the water - D'OH! Nice song and basic backing. Lovely voice too. 7 from the Nottingham jury.
Outstanding!  What a powerful voice she had.  {#Sunny}
underrated
bumping up
Fantastic. I am so glad that Eva recorded so much during her short life! She is a beacon for all us white girls who wish we could sing the blues {#Tongue}! She lives forever in memory.

what a fantastic voice she had we are very fortunate to have her recordings, very hard for me not to give her a 12
Very tragic and sad story re: Eva's battle with melanoma. :(

Great trumpet solo on this tune...
 wade44 wrote:
OK, I'll get in the water.
 


Sorry, it's too cold to wade in the water this morning. {#Roflol}
 Cruithne3753 wrote:
(Needs fingersnapping emoticon)
 

I second that request!
OK, I'll get in the water.
memorable voice & talent   -   8  /  9.
 Misterfixit wrote:
Her last performance at Blues Alley was .... indescribably wonderful and tragic at the same time.
 
From Wiki:

In 1993, Cassidy had a malignant mole removed from her back. Three years later, during a promotional event for the Live at Blues Alley album in July 1996, Cassidy noticed an ache in her hips, which she attributed to stiffness from painting murals while perched atop a stepladder.<11> The pain persisted and a few weeks later, X-rays revealed that the melanoma had spread to her lungs and bones. The doctors gave her three to five months to live. Cassidy opted for aggressive treatment, but her health deteriorated rapidly.<3> In her final public performance in September 1996, at the Bayou, she closed the set with "What a Wonderful World" in front of an audience of friends, fans and family.<18>She was subsequently admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital.<11>

Cassidy died at her family home in BowieNovember 21996, at the age of 33. She was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Washington Area Music Association.<19> According to her wishes, Cassidy’s body was cremated. Her ashes were scattered on the shores of St. Mary's River Watershed Park, a nature reserve near California, Maryland.<3>

—————-

Wow, that IS sad! 
Her last performance at Blues Alley was .... indescribably wonderful and tragic at the same time.
Personally, I prefer the Ramsey Lewis version. But that's just me.
I'm not that big a fan of this song, otherwise I would have ranked it much higher, since Eva Cassidy sings it so beatifully
cutlertm wrote:
My cousin wrote this song for "The Arctics" last summer. Totally amazing that Cassidy covers it.
Kidder! You caught in that time warp again? Don't ya hate it when that happens?
This woman lived too short a life. Bloody shame. What talent. Lucky for us, she remains with us in memory and song.
(Needs fingersnapping emoticon)
Wow. That horn solo gave me a "Minnie the Moocher" / Cab Calloway vibe. That's fine by me.
Never heard of her until now. Great Jazz phrasing. Cool.
Ok, I'm a bit biased being from the DC area where Eva played regularly. If you think this lacks "soul" check out live at blues alley album. She was on her way up when she passed. Had she lived, I wonder if she could have been given the opportunity to fame ala Nora Jones.....
"Time passes. I think it's time to let it go. There are plenty of other things to get angry about these days." Couldn't of said it better. Nice tune.
How nice to Eva's voice again. She was a wonderful singer...such a natural voice.
I really love Eva Cassidy, and her voice is wonderful. I am sorry that this cover offends some people, but I love the song, and think it is beautiful, no matter who sings it. Even though I'm also a white, middle class girl, I love to sing this song too, just because it is beautiful and touching.
I prefer The Chambers Brothers' version, but this is nice and gritty .... RIP Eva!
Wow! A double-helping of Eva in one day. Nice treat, Bill!!
*bump* lmic wrote:
Nothing against her, but I kinda prefer the Ramsey Lewis version.
I wanted to add that I was a bit put off by Ms. Cassidy at first, as this was the only one of her songs I'd heard (here, on RP). A friend just introduced me to the album, however, and I must say... it's outstanding. Amazing voice, soulful delivery. All covers, but she re-makes them afresh - renders "contemporary" tunes like Sting's "Fields of Gold" as modern standards, if that's not all a complete mass of contradiction, LOL
Not too bad, but I am missing Ramsey Lewis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramsey_Lewis)...
cutlertm wrote:
My cousin wrote this song for "The Arctics" last summer. Totally amazing that Cassidy covers it.
Your cousin must be a 250 year old african-american because Wade in The Water is a Traditional AA Spiritual that has been covered by just about everyone. Ironically enough I also wrote Wade In The Water just about the same time I wrote Happy Birthday and Row Row Row Your Boat. Please send all ASCAP payments to:
cutlertm wrote:
My cousin wrote this song for "The Arctics" last summer. Totally amazing that Cassidy covers it.
You sure? Eva died in 1996.
My cousin wrote this song for \"The Arctics\" last summer. Totally amazing that Cassidy covers it.
werner wrote:
Great, especially that "dirty" trumpet, but also a nice voice.
Re the comments about the subject of the song: I have a lot more trouble with Armstrong's song than this one. She sounds great, and it's a great song. As a footnote, it appears Armstrong had a lot more trouble with his song too.
there are many other eva covers that I like better, but her voice transends
algrif wrote:
I have a problem rating this. I find it difficult to accept this being sung by a white, middle-class lounge style singer (RIP) when it is a traditional Negro slave song, originally purposed to teach the kids that the only 'safe' way out of the slave farm was by wading through the river to lose the scent for the tracking dogs. If only it was a different song. I'll give it 4 as just about acceptable.
Good background information on this song. REALLY interesting. However, you'll probably be even more upset to know that my old guitar teacher, Harvey Mandel, uses this as his signature tune and covered it on a couple albums back when albums still existed. Time passes. I think it's time to let it go. There are plenty of other things to get angry about these days.
algrif wrote:
I have a problem rating this. I find it difficult to accept this being sung by a white, middle-class lounge style singer (RIP) when it is a traditional Negro slave song, originally purposed to teach the kids that the only 'safe' way out of the slave farm was by wading through the river to lose the scent for the tracking dogs. If only it was a different song. I'll give it 4 as just about acceptable.
Still hung up about slavery?
davin wrote:
Well, I don't know. While I am sensitive to race issues (I am a minority in, shall we say, a majority city), I have no problem with Eva's respectful cover of an important song. On the other hand, this song has been overplayed, so I'm giving it a 3. Blah!
Her voice is still very beautiful. I think beautiful music can reach across barriers.
flaccid jazz
Something tells me that you'd blow a gasket if someone said the same thing about a black singer covering a song traditionally sung by white folks. algrif wrote:
I have a problem rating this. I find it difficult to accept this being sung by a white, middle-class lounge style singer (RIP) when it is a traditional Negro slave song, originally purposed to teach the kids that the only 'safe' way out of the slave farm was by wading through the river to lose the scent for the tracking dogs. If only it was a different song. I'll give it 4 as just about acceptable.
algrif wrote:
I have a problem rating this. I find it difficult to accept this being sung by a white, middle-class lounge style singer (RIP) when it is a traditional Negro slave song, originally purposed to teach the kids that the only 'safe' way out of the slave farm was by wading through the river to lose the scent for the tracking dogs. If only it was a different song. I'll give it 4 as just about acceptable.Posted 17 years ago by rockasaurus    [ Reply ]
algrif wrote:
I have a problem rating this. I find it difficult to accept this being sung by a white, middle-class lounge style singer (RIP) when it is a traditional Negro slave song, originally purposed to teach the kids that the only 'safe' way out of the slave farm was by wading through the river to lose the scent for the tracking dogs. If only it was a different song. I'll give it 4 as just about acceptable.
Well, I don't know. While I am sensitive to race issues (I am a minority in, shall we say, a majority city), I have no problem with Eva's respectful cover of an important song. On the other hand, this song has been overplayed, so I'm giving it a 3. Blah!
Sounds a bit like Laura Nyro here.
I'm thirsty...
My only problem with this is that it's sort of lame and ho-hum, not that it's a politically-incorrect ripoff. Sure, the horn solo is nice, but the setting is lounge sans soul. The song is a spine-chilling eternal classic 10. This cover is a weak 3.
algrif wrote:
I have a problem rating this. I find it difficult to accept this being sung by a white, middle-class lounge style singer (RIP) when it is a traditional Negro slave song, originally purposed to teach the kids that the only 'safe' way out of the slave farm was by wading through the river to lose the scent for the tracking dogs. If only it was a different song. I'll give it 4 as just about acceptable.
so what only traditional NEGRO slaves, or BLACKS can sing this song...puuuuuuhleeeeese. its about the music,REMEMBER. BTW i loved the dirty horn sound too. Nice work!!
Nothing against her, but I kinda prefer the Ramsey Lewis version.