February 24, 2019 (Sunday)
This song was written by slaves. The suggested composer, George H. Allan, is presumed to have been a slave but little is known about him. Other names have been proposed. The original version of this song speaks of a valley instead of a river.
You probably recognize this as one of the songs from the movie, “Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou?” It is presented as a song for a service of baptism in a river. The scenes depicted in the video by Alison Krauss remind me of a baptism service at a stock tank at Prairie Point, Texas, in 1950, when 19 people (including a 92-year-old lady) were baptized. We sang, “O Happy Day” accompanied by a pump organ played by a Baylor student. Herb Zimmerman was the pastor. We were all students.
Two videos appear below. Choose one or both. Both are excellent.
a.k.a. The Good Old Way
George H. Allan
1867
Chorus:
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!
Verses:
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
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
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
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
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