#Hymn January 17

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For January 2025, several of us are taking part in the 30-Day Song Lyrics Coach4aday Challenge. Each day we utilize a theme and post the song lyrics from a song that connects the two. Humbled when a subscriber suggests a theme for a post and that is the case today thanks to Joe Butler. Today my theme is a hymn, and my song choice is DOWN TO THE RIVER TO PRAY.

Choosing Down to the River to Pray means acknowledging it has been labeled a folk song, hymn, and Appalachian song. Obviously I am partial to the spiritual classification. The writer of this song is unknown and is thought to have been around since the mid 19th century.

Alison Krauss popularized the song in the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Song Lyrics 30-Day Challenge Guidelines

Like previous challenges there are no hard and fast rules to participate. There are a few suggested guidelines

  1. Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, and explain, if necessary, why it connects to your daily theme.
  2. Please try to include the songwriters
  3. Link to a video so people can listen to the song

January 17th-Theme-Hymn-Song-Down to the River to Pray

This song is sung Capella on the movie’s soundtrack and even though Alison Krauss sings lead she gets support on background vocals from Buck White, Cheryl White, Harley Allen, and Pat Enright

Lyrics

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good ol’ 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 ol’ 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 ol’ 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 ol’ way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way

O mothers, let’s go down
Come on down, don’t you wanna 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 ol’ 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 ol’ way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way

Video

The video I choose came from a 2002 live concert Alison and her band Union Station did.

Joe Butler thanks for the idea.

Coach4aday

My purpose in life is to coach. I am a former collegiate basketball coach, director of athletics, and chief of staff. I worked at four NCAA Division I & II universities during my career. At each campus I learned timeless lessons on teamwork and leadership. Today my passion is coaching others on what it takes to lead, serve, and succeed.

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