Mentioned in this thread by Masato, but not reproduced, is the version of the baptismal song from the Georgia Sea Islands collected by Lydia Parrish.

Lyr. Add: WADE IN NUH WATUH CHILDUN

Chorus:
Wade in nuh watuh childun
Wade in nuh watuh childun
Wade in nuh watuh
Gawd's go'nah trouble duh watuh

If a you don' believe Ah been redeem'
Gawd's go'nah trouble duh watuh
Follow me down to Jurdun stream
Gawd's go'nuh trouble duh watuh.

Repeat chorus

Who dat yonduh drest in white
Gawd's go'nuh trouble duh watuh
Mus' be the childun uv the Isralite
Gard's go'nuh trouble duh watuh.

Repeat the chorus.

"Although the water was bitterly cold that February morning, the young people behaved very well, and only one squealed a little- which was considered very bad form. If you do not come up like a lamb it is "suspicioned" that your conversion has not been authentic, and the baptism may need to be performed again."
"In the old days,.... baptism in the tidewater section took place ... no matter how inconvenient the hour, on the outgoing tide".

At the baptisms, the congregation may "pray to the river;" in Sea Island and Georgia coastal speech, this means that they pray beside the river, not to the river. Comments and quotes from Lydia Parrish.

Lydia Parrish, "Slave Songs of the Georgia Sea Islands," 1942 (reprint 1992), Univ. Georgia Press, pp. 170-171 with sheet music.