Writer: John Lee Hooker
The first video (above) is the original version recorded by the writer of the song Moses Smote the Water.
[Intro]
You ever heard thing 'bout Moses Smote the Water?
[Chorus]
Brother Moses smote the water
And the children all passed over
Brother Moses smote the water
And the seas gave way
Moses smote the water
And the children all passed over
Brother Moses smote the water
And the seas gave way
[Verse 1]
Hey, God told Moses to go down yonder
In Egypt land
Lead my children all away
[?] throw down the rod and lead the children
He got there, way down there in Egypt land
Children is down there, they was slaves
Workin' them all day, all day long
Workin' them children all night long
My God stop says "In the fold"
Great God almighty says: "Don't work no more"
[Chorus]
Moses smote the water
And the seas gave way
Moses smote the water
And the seas gave way
Moses smote the water
And the seas gave way
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[Verse 2]
Great God almighty
My God stopped and began to try
If that child don't work no more
I got a home with a restin' place
Great God almighty won't be no slave
Great God almighty
My Lord stopped and looked around
All the plague was all around
Great God almighty
My children yell
Lord they workin' all night and day
Great God almighty my God said
Lord walk down to the sea
And the sea gave way
And the children all passed over, Lord
Won't have to cry no more
God knows
[Chorus]
Moses smote the water
And the seas gave way
Brother Moses smote the water
And the children all passed over, Lord
* * *
The second video (below) is the white folks' version of the song, which is the way I first heard it. (I didn't know about the original version.)
DAILEY & VINCENT
(Well) A-Brother Moses smote the water
(and the) Children all passed over
A-Brother Moses smote the water
And the seas give a-way
Sister, ain′t you glad you passed that sinful army?
Brother, ain't you glad that the seas gave a-way
(Well) A-Brother Moses smote the water
(and the) Children all passed over
A-Brother Moses smote the water
(and the) Seas give a-way
Well, now God called Moses on the mountain top
A-Brother Moses smote the water
(and) the seas give a-way
And He stamped His laws into Moses heart
A-Brother Moses smote the water
(and) the seas give a-way
Well, if you get there before I do
A-Brother Moses smote the water
And the seas give a-way
You may look for me, cuz I'm coming too
A-Brother Moses smote the water
And the seas give a-way
(Well) A-Brother Moses smote the water
And the Children all passed over
A-Brother Moses smote the water
And the Seas give a-way
EXODUS 14
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. 15 And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: 16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, 25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
26 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. 27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. 29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. 31 And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.
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