The great traditional singer from Knox County, Kentucky, Sarah Ogan Gunning recorded this for her Rounder album 'The Silver Dagger' Rounder LP 0051. In his notes, Mark Wilson merely noted that the song was traditional and 'well-known', but that Sarah's text was more elaborate than most:

DOWN IN THE VALLEY TO PRAY

Come on, fathers, and let's go down
Let's go down, let's go down
Come on, fathers, and let's go down
Down in the valley to pray

As I went down in the valley to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who should wear the starry crown?
Dear Lord, show me the way

The more I prayed the worse I felt
At last I thought my heart would melt
And I asked my Jesus what to do
Thought my heart would break in two

Jesus says, 'You go, and I'll go with you
'Preach the gospel and I'll preach with you'
Lord, if I go, tell me what to say
For they won't believe on me

…. Brothers ….

…. Sisters …..

Source: transcription in booklet accompanying Sarah Ogan Gunning 'The Silver Dagger' Rounder LP 0051 (1974).

Note: Sarah used this song as the basis for her 'Down on the Picket Line' which may be found on Folk-Legacy FSA-6.

Traditional singer from Madison County, North Carolina, Dillard Chandler, recorded a song with a very similar tune. It uses a text similar to Sarah's final stanza for 'Down in the Valley to Pray' as its chorus. In his notes to Dillard Chandler 'The End of an Old Song' Folkways LP FA 2418, Robert Balsam noted that 'the song was absent from books and recordings and that Mary Sands, whom Cecil Sharp collected from, said she wrote it. Dillard said she would always walk through the valleys and mountains singing. Although Mary Sands was mostly known as a ballad singer (because of Sharp), she was also a contributor to the religious song tradition'.

JESUS SAYS SO

When I was a sinner, the people would say
If you want to be converted, you'd better pray
So trust in them that's found the lord
Free as promised a sure reward

Chorus:
Jesus says go – I'll go with you
Pray to the gospel, and I'll pray with you
Lord, if I go, tell me what to say
For they won't believe on me

When I started out on my way to pray
I'll tell you what the spirit did say
Come undo me for I am a way
And I intend in trying to pray

The more I prayed, the worse I felt
But at last I thought my heart would melt

Chorus

Well, my hands was tied, my feet was bound
The elements opened and the Lord came down
The voice I heard sounds so sweet
The love run out of the soul (sic) of my feet

Chorus

Well, it's doubts may ride and troubles may roll
But God said he'd save your sin sick soul

Chorus

Source: transcription in booklet accompanying Dillard Chandler 'The End of an Old Song' Folkways LP FA 2418 (1975).

--Stewie.