The arrangement is somewhat different in J. W. Johnson, The Book of American Negro Spirituals. "I couldn't hear nobody pray" is sung between each line of a verse. Much the same is given in Work, American Negro Songs and Spirituals. Work notes that the leader starts off with "O Lord! And I couldn't hear nobody pray;" then may vary the O Lord! with other interjections. He suggests that the 3rd verse may be sung slowly and softly but the refrain is gone into "a tempo." According to Johnson, the song is to be sung "moderately slow (with religious devotion)."
The verses as arranged by R. Johnson are given below. Verses and refrain are not sharply separated in the singing. An extra note is placed at the beginning of the 2nd and 4th lines of each verse in the Johnson version.

I COULDN'T HEAR NOBODY PRAY

An' I couldn't hear nobody pray, O Lord.
I couldn't hear nobody pray, O Lord.
O 'way down yonder by myself
An' I couldn't hear nobody pray.
In de valley, I couldn't hear nobody pray.
On a my knees, I couldn't hear nobody pray.
Wid my burden, I couldn't hear nobody pray.
An' a my Savior, I couldn't hear nobody pray, O, Lord,
Refrain
An' I couldn't hear nobody pray, O Lord.
I couldn't hear nobody pray, O Lord
O way down yonder by myself
An' I couldn't hear nobody pray,

Chilly water, I couldn't hear nobody pray,
In-a de Jordan, I couldn't hear nobody pray,
Crossin' over, I couldn't hear nobody pray
In-a to Canaan, I couldn't hear nobody pray, O Lord.

Hallelujah! I couldn't hear nobody pray.
Troubles am over, I couldn't hear nobody pray
In de Kingdom, I couldn't hear nobody pray,
Wid a my Jesus, I couldn't hear nobody pray, O Lord.

Refrain
An' I couldn't hear nobody pray, O Lord
I couldn't hear nobody pray, O Lord
O 'way down yonder by myself
An' I couldn't hear nobody pray.