Performances

[Chorus]
God moves on the water,
God moves on the water,
God moves on the water,
And the people run and pray.

In the year of nineteen and twelve,
On-a April the thirteenth day,
When the great Titanic was sinkin’ down,
Well, all the people had to run and pray.

[Chorus]
God moves on the water,
God moves on the water,
God moves on the water,
And the people run and pray.

[Chorus]
God moves on the water,
God moves on the water,
God moves on the water,
And the people run and pray.

When the lifeboat got to the landin’,
The womens turned around
Cryin’, “Look ‘way cross that ocean, Lawdy,
At my husband drown.”

[Chorus]
God moves on the water,
God moves on the water,
God moves on the water,
And the people run and pray.

Cap’n Smith was a-layin’ down
Was asleep for he was tired;
Well, he woke up in a great fright,
As many gunshots were fired.

[Chorus]
God moves on the water,
God moves on the water,
God moves on the water,
And the people run and pray.

Well, that Jacob Nash was a millionaire,
Lawd, he had plenty of money to spare;
When the great Titanic was sinkin’ down,
Well, he could not pay his fare.

Reference: Washington, Lightnin’. (1933) “God Moves on the Water”. In Titanica: The Disaster of the Century in Poetry, Song, and Prose by Steven Biel. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 81-82.