This song is about Charon, the mythological creature from greek and roman literature (In particular he is known for his appearance in Virgilio’s Eneide), and the feeling of scare and discomfort a dead soul feels when they see him. We know from Dante’s Divina Commedia that he is a very quiet and old man, and intimidating when he talks (He is very reluctant to get Dante to hell since he’s still a living man), and this surely adds to the dark atmosphere described in this song. Anyway, regardless of the lyrics, this is a very beautiful song, the intro solo is...

This song is about Charon, the mythological creature from greek and roman literature (In particular he is known for his appearance in Virgilio’s Eneide), and the feeling of scare and discomfort a dead soul feels when they see him. We know from Dante’s Divina Commedia that he is a very quiet and old man, and intimidating when he talks (He is very reluctant to get Dante to hell since he’s still a living man), and this surely adds to the dark atmosphere described in this song. Anyway, regardless of the lyrics, this is a very beautiful song, the intro solo is very good, both melodic and shred-y, very ahead of its time since its from 1978, when guitarist like Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve vai still had to pick up the instrument.

Whatever the command "Wade in the water!" means, the speaker really wants it to happen, and for children too, since it is repeated several times. The warning/notification "God's a-gonna trouble the water" also happens repeatedly.

Whatever the command "Wade in the water!" means, the speaker really wants it to happen, and for children too, since it is repeated several times. The warning/notification "God's a-gonna trouble the water" also happens repeatedly.

Two primary interpretations:

Two primary interpretations:

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The line "Look over yonder, what do I see? The Holy Ghost a-comin' on me" has a common meaning referring to death that inevitably ends a human life, eventually meeting with God (The Holy Ghost/Spirit being one of the Holy Trinity making up the divine). Another commonality is "band dressed in red" can mean potentially bloody or lethal consequences for whatever wading in the water is and when God troubles the water.

Each primary interpretation has different symbolism for the concepts in the song:

First interpretation. Children = black children. Host in White = lynch mobs or the Ku Klux Klan out for blood (or take back their property). Israelites = white people who support slavery or oppose Black civil rights, or anyone who supports White supremacy. Are the Israelites the Chosen People? No. Israelite leader dressed in white = leader of lynch mob or Ku Klux Klan (Israelites are Semites, not Black). Band dressed in red that Moses led = Anyone who fights toward being redeemed. Being redeemed = Escape from slavery or improvement in Black civil rights. Follow me down to Jordan's stream = an exhortation to the listener to take steps or help others toward being redeemed.

Second interpretation. Children = israelite children. Host in white = Egyptians. Israelites = Egyptians (Egyptians are Arabs, might be visually similar to Semites to the naive observer). Are the Israelites the Chosen People? Yes (although deeper analysis beyond this song indicates they aren't the only ones). Israelite leader dressed in white = Pharoah (leader of figurative Israelites). Band dressed in red that Moses led = Israelites. Moses has association with red (e.g. blood smeared on doorposts for the passover). Being redeemed = Making the way to the Promised Land. Follow me down to Jordan's stream = the river Jordan is the eastern border of the land promised to the Israelites, so maybe directionally this means going to the Promised Land.

The central question of the song is the question "Why are there so many songs about rainbows?". Visually a rainbow is a vision, an illusion, and has no trickery about it. The speaker has heard there is a connection there, and the speaker knows others believe the connection exists. The speaker doesn't think the interpretation he's heard makes sense, but he thinks he (and others) will figure it out some day.

The central question of the song is the question "Why are there so many songs about rainbows?". Visually a rainbow is a vision, an illusion, and has no trickery about it. The speaker has heard there is a connection there, and the speaker knows others believe the connection exists. The speaker doesn't think the interpretation he's heard makes sense, but he thinks he (and others) will figure it out some day.

A related phenomenon is the idea that morning stars are capable of granting wishes. Someone had to be the first to think of that idea, and that idea was spread around from person to person and generation to generation. The speaker observes that the concept of wishing upon morning stars has been productive, but the speaker does not understand why people go stargazing or what they get out of it.

However, the speaker does feel SOMETHING related to rainbows, and presumes others can feel that too. His best guess is it's magic but is not certain. One manifestation of this phenomenon is hearing voices in one's head in a semiawake state. The feeling is analogized to a song heard by sailors (maybe the temptation song of the siren). The speaker has felt this feeling a lot and feels it's an intrisic part of who he is, but he's only willing to say that someday we'll figure it out. The speaker separates himself from lovers and dreamers, indicating it's a categorization relevant to the question.

My answer is it is the psychological concept of apophenia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apophenia). People make connections between rainbows/stars and other entities because of the natural human tendency to perceive meaningful connections between unrelated things. The emotion of wonder (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonder_(emotion)) is also an explanation, but I don't like that as a full explanation because not everyone has that level of emotional range. My interpretation is the lovers and the dreamers can feel wonder, but the speaker cannot. But I feel like everybody could feel apophenia if they try.

Last Sunday I was taking a walk along the lakefront in New Orleans, where guys display their classic cars, and there was a powder blue Chevy Van. "Chevy Van" right on the side! I haven't seen one of these in a long time, and this song instantly came to my mind. The guy who owned it looked to be in his 20s but when I sang the last lines of the chorus, he said he knew the song. It brought back those sweet days when a guy could sing a song like this and it put...

Last Sunday I was taking a walk along the lakefront in New Orleans, where guys display their classic cars, and there was a powder blue Chevy Van. "Chevy Van" right on the side! I haven't seen one of these in a long time, and this song instantly came to my mind. The guy who owned it looked to be in his 20s but when I sang the last lines of the chorus, he said he knew the song. It brought back those sweet days when a guy could sing a song like this and it put you in the mood to climb in back, everybody on board, guys and gals. Made me wish I was 40 years younger! I've had this sweet song in my head for days now....