Down in the river to pray (Traditional)

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  • (Posted 2018-09-06)  CPDL #51216:       
Editor: J. Guy Stalnaker (submitted 2018-09-06).   Score information: Letter, 1 page, 92 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Arranged by J. Guy Stalnaker. An arrangement of an old spiritual after the manner it might be sung where I grew up in north-central Florida.
  • (Posted 2014-03-08)  CPDL #31443:       
Editor: Mark Liversidge (submitted 2014-03-08).   Score information: A4, 6 pages, 76 kB   Copyright: Personal
Edition notes: Arranged by Mark Liversidge for SAB. Intended for SAMen. The lower part can be sung by tenors or basses, although any tenors struggling with the lower A flat should sing that note an octave higher.
  • (Posted 2012-09-23)  CPDL #27200:     
Editor: Glenn O'Brien (submitted 2012-09-23).   Score information: A4, 2 pages, 46 kB   Copyright: Personal
Edition notes: Arranged by Sarah Stagg for SATB. The PDF file is two pages long. The first page features the music plus the lyrics of the first verse. The second page has the lyrics of all the verses, plus suggestions for the arrangement.
  • (Posted 2008-03-26)  CPDL #16451:   
Editor: Marcello Noia (submitted 2008-03-26).   Score information: A4, 5 pages, 117 kB   Copyright: Personal
Edition notes: Arranged by Marcello Noia, for SATB.
  • (Posted 2006-08-05)  CPDL #12211:        (Finale 2003)
Editor: Cheryl Lynn Helm (submitted 2006-08-05).   Score information: Letter, 7 pages, 151 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Arranged by Cheryl Lynn Helm, for SSAA.

General Information

Title: Down in the River to Pray
Composer: Anonymous (Traditional)

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: SacredFolksongSpiritual

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 2006
Description: 

External websites:

Original text and translations

English.png English text

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way!

O sisters let's go down,
Let's go down, come on down,
O sisters let's go down,
Down in the river to pray.

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way!

O brothers let's go down,
Let's go down, come on down,
Come on brothers let's go down,
Down in the river to pray.

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way!

O fathers let's go down,
Let's go down, come on down,
O fathers let's go down,
Down in the river to pray.

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way!

O mothers let's go down,
Let's go down, don't you want to go down,
Come on mothers let's go down,
Down in the river to pray.

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way!

O sinners let's go down,
Let's go down, come on down,
O sinners let's go down,
Down in the river to pray.

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way!

French.png French translation

Allant prier à la rivière
Étudiant ce bon vieux chemin
Et qui porterait la couronne d’étoiles
Seigneur, montre-moi la voie!

O mes soeurs, descendons,
Descendons, venez,
O mes soeurs, descendons,
À la rivière prier.

Allant prier à la rivière
Étudiant ce bon vieux chemin
Et qui porterait la robe et la couronne
Seigneur, montre-moi la voie!

O frères ... O pères ... O mères ... O pêcheurs ...