1 As I went down to the river to pray,
studying about that good old way.
And who shall wear the starry crown,
good Lord, show me the way.
Oh, brother let's go down, come on down,
don't you want to go down?
Oh, brother, let's go down,
down to the river to pray.

2 As I went down to the river to pray,
studying about that good old way.
And who shall wear the starry crown,
good Lord, show me the way.
Oh, sister let's go down, come on down,
don't you want to go down?
Oh, sister, let's go down,
down to the river to pray.

3 As I went down to the river to pray,
studying about that good old way.
And who shall wear the starry crown,
good Lord, show me the way.
Oh, father let's go down, come on down,
don't you want to go down?
Oh, father, let's go down,
down to the river to pray.

4 As I went down to the river to pray,
studying about that good old way.
And who shall wear the starry crown,
good Lord, show me the way.
Oh, mother let's go down, come on down,
don't you want to go down?
Oh, mother, let's go down,
down to the river to pray.