Why did they change it to "down to the river to pray"?

...because those three Sirens looked far more alluring when they were in the river and wet....although the song they sang was, Go to Sleepy, Little Baby. It was Homer who put those sirens in the water first. He was no dummy.

Here's the baptism scene that accompanined Down in the River to Pray (click).

Now, when the only thing changed in a song is Father, mother, sister, brother, is that really a Zipper song?

Is Maid Freed from the Gallows (Child 95) a Child Ballad Zipper Song? America wants to know.

-Joe-