Down To The River To Pray by Alison Krauss

What do you think?

by Martina 
(Canada)

I was at my great uncle’s funeral and country music was always a part of our family’s life. 

Me and my sister were already REALLY emotional seeing our grandfather crying over his brother, but then this song came on. 

The first thought I had was “This song played on ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou’!”, but the longer the song played, the more I heard the beautiful lyrics. 

Naturally, my sister and I started bawling. The song brought so many memories and it really brought to light everything that was going on. In a way it felt good to cry because the song did say “Oh Lord, show me the way”. 

Although I still grieved for weeks after that, every time I hear that song I remember all the good memories I shared not only with him but my family. 

My grandpa is now sick and it’s almost certain he has prostate cancer. I came on this site to find closure in a way by finding possible songs to play at his funeral. 

Unfortunately this song wasn’t there. To whoever reads this, please listen to the song if you don’t know it. It really helped me, and I hope that it will help when my grandfather’s time comes. It’s always hard to lose someone you really love but there is always something that will make you feel better.

Buy Sheet Music for 'Down to the River to Pray'

Lyrics

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way!
O sisters, let’s go down,
Let’s go down, come on down
O sisters, let’s go down
Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way!
O brothers, let’s go down
Let’s go down, come on down
Come on, brothers, let’s go down
Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way!
O fathers, let’s go down
Let’s go down, come on down
O fathers, let’s go down
Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way!
O mothers, let’s go down
Let’s go down; don’t you want to go down?
Come on, mothers, let’s go down
Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way!
O sinners, let’s go down
Let’s go down, come on down
O sinners, let’s go down
Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way!
——————————————————————–
Songwriters: Philip Anthony Lawson
Down to the River to Pray lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Hal Leonard Corporation
 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *