Down To The River To Pray

· by Alison Krauss

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Lyrics

As I went (F)down in the riv er to pray,

(C)stud y in’ a bout (Dm)that (F)good old way and who (Dm)shall (F)wear the star ry crown.

Good (C)Lord,

(Bb)show me the (F)way.

(C)Oh,

sis ters, (F)let’s go down,

let’s go (Bb)down, don’t come on go (F)down.

(C)Oh,

sis ters, (F)let’s go down,

down in the (Bb)riv er (C7)to (F)pray.

As I went (F)down in the riv er to pray,

(C)stud y in’ a bout (Dm)that (F)good old way and who (Dm)shall (F)wear the robe and crown.

Good (C)Lord,

(Bb)show me the (F)way.

(C)Oh,

broth ers, (F)let’s go down,

come on (Bb)down, don’t wan na go (F)down?

(C)Oh,

broth ers, (F)let’s go down,

down in the (Bb)riv er (C7)to (F)pray.

As I went (F)pray.

(G)As I (C)went (G)down in the riv er to pray,

(D)stud y in’ a bout that (G)good old way and who (Em)shall (G)wear the star (Em)ry (G)crown.

Good (D)Lord,

(C)show me the (G)way.

(D)Oh,

fa thers (G)let’s go down,

(G)let’s (Am)go (C)down,

come on (G)down.

(D)Oh,

fa thers, (G)let’s go down,

down in the (C)riv er to (Em)pray,

(G)down

(D#dim)in (Em)the (Am7)riv er (C)to

(G)pray.

Down To The River To Pray by Alison Krauss — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Down To The River To Pray” by Alison Krauss in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of Bb at 90 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.

Tips for parents & teachers

Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Down To The River To Pray" good for a child learning piano?: Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Down To The River To Pray"?: Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?: No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?: Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
What other Alison Krauss songs work for kids?: Try "THERE IS LIFE", "THERE IS A REASON". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.