Also, Nina:

Rivers have long been important symbols in African and African American cultures. Water was considered to be the home of the gods {forces emanating from the High God} Water was spiritually as well as physically cleansing and of course, without water people and other living beings and plants would die. Also the line separating the ground from bodies of water {lakes, rivers, oceans} were said to symbolize the line that divides earth from heaven.

Consider the omnipresent nature of the River Jordan in African American spirituals. The 'deeper' meaning of the river {and in particular, the River Jordan}. Just as enslaved people often had to cross rivers to get from slavery to freedom, it was said that at death people crossed over from life on earth to life in heaven
{or hell}.

So it is possible to consider that the singer in 'Down By The Riverside' is talking about laying down his earthly burdens {responsibilities} and going to a place that symbolizes spiritual rest and peace so that he * can prepare mentally {spiritually, and emotionally for a heavenly life where he wouldn't have to struggle or go to battle to survive {let alone live}.

Like many songs, the lyrics to this spiritual may mean different things to different people at different times. I'm not sure you have to have agree on one meaning for everyone all the time.

* 'he' here presupposes the meaning of 'he' or 'she'

Azizi Powell