When I was child, I recalled watching the great Mahalia Jackson on the Flip Wilson show. She sang a renditions of the gospel spiritual, Down by the Riverside that had the crowd singing and clapping along. I finally found the piece on YouTube and it brought back memories.
Down by the Riverside dates prior to the Civil War when slaves sang it as a work song adding lines from other spirituals. It was first published in Carl Sandburg’s The American Songbag in 1927 and has been recorded many times since then.
- Gonna lay down my burden,
Down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside.
Gonna lay down my burden,
Down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside.
Chorus:
I ain’t go study war no more,
study war no more,
ain’t go study war no more.
I ain’t go study war no more,
study war no more,
ain’t go study oh war no more.
- Gonna lay down my sword and shield
Down by the riverside…
Chorus
- Gonna try on my long white robe
Down by the riverside…
Chorus
- Gonna try on my starry crown
Down by the riverside…
Chorus
- Gonna put on my golden shoes
Down by the riverside…
Chorus
- Gonna talk with the Prince of Peace
Down by the riverside…
Chorus
- Gonna shake hands around the world
Down by the riverside…
Chorus
Love this one; thanks for the background!
Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Always in the mood for hearing Ms Jackson, her voice lifts my soul. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve been a fan of her singing since I was a child. She will always be timeless.
I ain’t gonna study war no more neither. Thanks.
This is an uplifting spiritual isn’t it? If only the whole world would do the same. 🙂