Since many slaves knew the meaning of "Wade in the Water", "Steal Away", and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", they were used as a signal, or to convey a message. Harriet Tubman used "Wade in the Water" to tell slaves to get off the rail and into the water so the dogs that were chasing them couldn't pick up their track. She would also use these songs to relay other messages. Sometimes she had to leave a group she was leading to get food or other things. She would tell them to hide and wait for her signal. But if there was danger, she would sing another song to go hide and wait until Tubman sang the "all clear" song.
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