Down To The River To Pray

Alison Krauss made this song quite popular in the 2000 Coen brothers' film “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? where the lyrics were changed to “as I went down to the River to pray.” This was done, presumably, to adjust to the fact the scene was filmed next to a river, not a valley.  This old Black spiritual was first collected in 1867 in a book entitled Slave Songs of the United States. Although the lyrics were apparently from slave sources the title may have been borrowed from “The Good Old Way,” which was written and published in 1835 by the famed composer William Walker. (Source of information for the song is from The Bluegrass Gospel Songbook by Wayne Erbsen) Our version of this song has two guitars and a fiddle, as well as vocals.  Our version of this song retains the original lyrics, (except in one verse). Blessings, Shiloh Worship Music "Down To The River To Pray" originally called “"Down To The Valley To Pray" or “The Good Old Way” As I went down in the Valley to pray Studying about that good ol' 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  Valley to pray As I went down in the Valley to pray Studying about that good ol' way And who shall wear the robe & 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  Valley to pray As I went down in the river to pray Studying about that good ol' 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 Valley to pray Studying about that good ol' way And who shall wear the robe and crown? Good Lord show me the way O mothers let's go down Come on down, don't you wanna go down? Come on mothers, let's go down Down in the river to pray As I went down in the river to pray Studding about that good ol' 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  Valley to pray As I went down in the  Valley to pray Studying about that good ol' way And who shall wear the robe and crown? Good Lord show me the way © 2012 Shiloh Worship Music COPY FREELY;This Music is copyrighted to prevent misuse, however,permission is granted for non-commercial copying-Radio play permitted- www.shilohworshipmusic.com