DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE

This song was known in Civil War times, by both whites and blacks and is considered a

Negro spiritual, but there are different verses and somewhat different tunes involved in

this song. Another name for this being “I Ain’t Gonna Study War No More”.

I think perhaps that the war to which the writer referred was the war that all Christians

fight with the “forces of evil” in the world, also within themselves, and that the writer

was finally going to go to his final rest,” down by the riverside”.

Gonna lay down my sword and shield

Down by the riverside

Gonna lay down my sword and shield

Down by the riverside

Ain’t gonna study war no more.

I ain’t gonna study war no more,

Study war no more.

I ain’t gonna study war no more,

Study war no more.

Gonna stick my sword in the golden sand;

Down By the riverside

Down by the riverside

Gonna stick my sword in the golden sand

Down by the riverside

Gonna study war no more.

Gonna put on my long white robe;

Down By the riverside

Down by the riverside

Gonna put on my long white robe; Down by the riverside

Gonna study war no more.

Gonna put on my starry crown; Down By the riverside

Down by the riverside

Gonna put on my starry crown

Banjo Mountain