Tune Req: Down to the River to Pray

Subject: DOWN TO THE RIVER TO PRAY
From: Jeep man
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 12:39 PM

This was done in "Brother Where Art Thou" by Allison Krause. I have the words and really need the chords if possible. I would like to do this in Church. Jim

Subject: ADD: I WENT DOWN IN THE VALLEY
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 01:24 PM

Here are some chords- hope that they are what you want.
Down In the River

---

Lyr. Add: I WENT DOWN IN THE VALLEY

Refrain:
(As) I went down in the valley to pray,
Studying about that good old way.
O who shall wear the starry crown,
Good Lord, show me the way

O brothers let's go down, let's go down, let's go down,
O brothers, let's go down, down in the valley to pray. As- + refrain.

O sisters, let's go down, etc.
O children, let's go down, etc.
O preachers let's go down, etc.

By-an'by we'll all go down, all go down, all go down,
By-an-by we'll all go down, down in the valley to pray. As- etc.

Work, John W., 1940, American Negro Songs and Spirituals, p. 69 with music.
@spiritual @gospel @Negro.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: DOWN TO THE RIVER TO PRAY
From: Jeep man
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 01:31 PM

Thanks, Dicho. That was fast. Jim

Subject: ADD: Valley to Pray (Arlo Guthrie version)
From: allanwill
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 03:46 PM

This is Arlo Guthrie's version from his Washington County album.

Valley To Pray

Adapted by Doc Watson, Additional adaptation by John Pilla and Arlo Guthrie co-produced by Van Dyke Parks

  C      F           C   
  I went down in the valley to pray
  Dm        Bb       F        C
  Learnin' about the good old way
                F        C
    And who would wear the starry crown
     Dm    F           C
  Oh Lord, show me the way
  Dm  G        C
  Oh  Brother, let's go down
  Bb   F                             G
  Come on down, don't you want to go down
  Dm  G        C
  Oh  Brother, lets go down
  Dm          F         G
  Down in the valley to pray

As I went walkin in the valley to pray
Learnin' about the good old way
And who would wear the starry crown
Oh Lord, show me the way

Oh Father, let's go down
Come on down, don't you want to go down
Oh Father, lets go down
Down in the valley to pray

I went out walkin' on the mountain to pray
Learnin' about the good old way
I went up on the mountain and I just had to say
Oh Lord, show me the way

Oh Sister, let's go down
Come on down, don't you want to go down
Oh Sister, lets go down
Down in the valley to pray

As I went down in the valley to pray
Studyin' about the good old way
And who will wear the starry crown
Oh Lord, show me the way

Oh, let's go down
Come on down, don't you want to go down
Oh, let's go down
Down in the valley to pray

Allan

Subject: ADD: The Good Old Way
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 05:48 PM

Lyr. Add: THE GOOD OLD WAY

Refrain: As I went down in de valley to pray
Studyin' about dat good old way,
When you shall wear de starry crown;
Good Lord, show me de way.

O mourner, let's go down, let's go down, let's go down,
O mourner, let's go down,
Down in de valley to pray.

O sister, let's etc. (children, etc.)

W. F. Allen, 1867, Slave Songs of the United States, # 104, p. 84, with music.
@spiritual @gospel @Negro
The earliest printing I could find, but I suspect that an older Baptist hymnal may have this song. It is listed as a spiritual in the Cleveland Index. Collected in Nashville. Slave Songs