Down By The Riverside

(a.k.a. "Study War No More", "Gonna Lay My Body Down")

Words & Music:

Traditional Gospel

 

This is a classic "call & response" song, where lines 2 & 4 are the same responses each verse.  Lines 1 & 3 change with each verse and are the "calls".  Thanks to Songhound James Osborne, who corrected an egregious error with my line 4 response.

 

       D

Gonna lay down my sword and shield down by the riverside.

A7                      D

Down by the riverside.  Down by the riverside.

D

Gonna lay down my sword and shield down by the riverside.

       A7          D

Gonna study war no more.

 

CHORUS:

              G                                 D

I ain't gonna study war no more.  I ain't gonna study war no more.

              A7           D   A7   D

I ain't gonna study war no more.

              G                                 D

I ain't gonna study war no more.  I ain't gonna study war no more.

              A7           D

I ain't gonna study war no more.

 

I'm gonna lay down my heavy load down by the riverside. [+ Down by the riverside 2x]

I'm gonna lay down my heavy load down by the riverside.  Gonna study war no more.

 

CHORUS

 

I'm gonna lay down my travelin' shoes down by the riverside. [+ Down by the riverside 2x]

I'm gonna lay down my travelin' shoes down by the riverside.  Gonna study war no more.

 

CHORUS

 

I'm gonna put on my long white robe down by the riverside. [+ Down by the riverside 2x]

I'm gonna put on my long white robe down by the riverside.  Gonna study war no more.

 

CHORUS

 

Gonna put on that starry crown down by the riverside. [+ Down by the riverside 2x]

Gonna put on that starry crown down by the riverside.  Gonna study war no more.

 

CHORUS

 

I'm gonna walk with that Prince of Peace down by the riverside. [+ Down by the riverside 2x]

I'm gonna walk with that Prince of Peace down by the riverside.  Gonna study war no more.

 

CHORUS

 

 




Back to the Songbook Index.

This page's content is copyrighted ©1977-2009 by Kristin C. Hall. Please drop me a line (via "dink (at) media (dot) mit (dot) edu") if you wish to use it or link to it or correct it! Please send comments, suggestions, fixes and general mischievious mayhem to the web diva via the above email address. (sorry, spambots have forced me to remove my automatic mail link.) Many thanks...and enjoy!

Note to lawyers and any other litigious-minded folk:
I am not trying to screw anyone out of royalties, etc. I have posted these only as a helpful resources for teachers, camp counselors and people who like to "sing along with Mitch", if you will. If you do not want your work posted to these pages, please just email me (via "dink (at) media (dot) mit (dot) edu") and I shall remove it.