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About the Composer
J. David Moore
Fresh Ayre Music (J. David Moore)
Down in the River to Pray (SSAA)
A simple, unadorned arrangement of the baptism song from “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
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Down in the River to Pray
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Down in the River to Pray
SSAA a cappella
Most of us first heard this song sung by Alison Krauss and the choir of the First Baptist Church of White House, TN in the Coen Brothers’ 2000 movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? The original lyric of this old-time bluegrass hymn was “Down To the River To Pray” but was changed to fit the baptism scene in the movie; I’ve kept that change. This arrangement also attempts to maintain the quiet and reflective atmosphere of the movie scene.
Everyone loves to sing this song; you should encourage your audience or congregation to join in. It will be difficult to keep them from it.
Text
1. As I went down in the river to pray
Studyin’ about that good ol’ way
and who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way.
Oh, brothers, let’s go down.
Let’s go down, come on down,
oh, brothers, let’s go down,
Down in the river to pray.
2. As I went down…
Oh, sisters…
3. As I went down…
Oh, mothers…
4. As I went down…
Oh, sinners…
– Trad. American
$2.75 per licensed PDF
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