Down by the Riverside

"Down by the Riverside" (also known as "Ain't Gonna Study War No More" and "Gonna lay down my burden") is an African-American spiritual. Its roots date back to before the American Civil War,[1] though it was first published in 1918 in Plantation Melodies: A Collection of Modern, Popular and Old-time Negro-Songs of the Southland, Chicago, the Rodeheaver Company.[2] The song has alternatively been known as "Ain' go'n' to study war no mo'", "Ain't Gwine to Study War No More", "Down by de Ribberside", "Going to Pull My War-Clothes" and "Study war no more". The song was first recorded by the Fisk University jubilee quartet in 1920 (published by Columbia in 1922), and there are at least 14 black gospel recordings before World War II.[3]

For the film, see Down by the Riverside (film). For the short story by Richard Wright, see Uncle Tom's Children.

Because of its pacifistic imagery, "Down by the Riverside" has also been used as an anti-war protest song, especially during the Vietnam War.[1] The song is also included in collections of socialist and labor songs.[4]

Lyrics

The song has many lyrical variations, though usually, each stanza follows a standard form, with one sentence that differs from one stanza to the next. The song often begins:

Gonna lay down my burden
Down by the riverside (3×)
Gonna lay down my burden
Down by the riverside

With the chorus:

I ain't gonna study war no more
Study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more

Other lines that can appear in stanzas, in place of "Gonna lay down my burden", include:

  • Gonna shake hands with every man
  • Gonna lay down my heavy load
  • Gonna lay down my sword and shield
  • Gonna stick my sword in the golden sand
  • Gonna try on my long white robe
  • Gonna try on my starry crown
  • Gonna put on my golden shoes
  • Gonna talk with the Prince of Peace
  • Gonna shake hands around the world
  • Gonna cross the river Jordan
  • Gonna climb up on that mountain
  • Gonna climb the road to heaven
  • Gonna walk down that road of peace
  • Gonna take all of my brethren

Themes

Much of this spiritual contains Biblical imagery.[5] In general, the song is focused on the concept of leaving the feelings of anger and pessimism behind, as to have a new spiritual dress, in the setting of a riverside, prior to going across it.[6]

The song suggests baptism in water, using the metaphor of crossing the River Jordan to enter the Promised Land in the Old Testament.[7] The refrain of "ain't gonna study war no more" is a reference to a quotation found in the Book of Isaiah, chapter 2, verse 4 (KJV): "nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."[1] One of the lines also references Jesus Christ, specifically, "Gonna talk with the Prince of Peace," as the "Prince of Peace" is a common title for Jesus. In "Gonna climb the road to heaven," the road is a metaphor for the difficult journey of life, as a road and travel can be dangerous and full of trial. This sentiment is similar to the line, "Gonna climb up on that mountain," which again is symbolic of the arduous journey of life.

Recordings

Artists who have recorded the song include:

Soundtrack appearances

The song was featured as a DLC in the Nintendo Wii game Just Dance 2 and Just Dance 3

It was used as background music in two episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants known as "Survival of the Idiots" and "Selling Out."

It was played in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Next Phase".

Parodies and alternative lyrics

The song was the basis of an Allan Sherman parody called "Don't Buy the Liverwurst". The tune of "Down by the Riverside" was also used in a McDonald's's 1960s jingle, "McDonald's Is My Kind of Place". In episode 72 of the animated television series Animaniacs, this song was parodied as "U.N. Me" about the United Nations Headquarters and was later released on their 2nd album, Yakko's World.

In the UK, "Down by the Riverside" was parodied for use by a radio commercial on some local radio stations (namely Mix 107) about eco-friendly travel choices (i.e. leaving the car for one day a week).

JibJab also used the melody in a song about the year 2012 in review (called "2012: The End Is Here!").[15]

An episode of Liv & Maddie had Liv singing a song about her musical group with senior citizens, "The Golden Chords, " at a retirement home, to the tune of this song.

See also

References
  1. Katz, Daniel R. (2003). Why Freedom Matters: Celebrating the Declaration of Independence in Two Centuries of Prose, Poetry and Song. Thomas Allen & Son. p. 155. ISBN 9780761131656.
  2. Other early prints of Ain't gonna study war no more / Down by the riverside is: Dann, Hollis. Ed.: Fifty-eight spirituals for choral use – Boston, C. C. Birchard & Co., c1924. No notes. Utica Jubilee Singers Spirituals : As Sung at the Utica Normal and Industrial Institute of Mississippi / Taken down by J. Rosamond Johnson. With introduction by C. W. Hyne. Boston : Olivar Ditson Company, nd. Negro Spiritual. Apparently no recordings of Down by the riverside, even though the song was on the group's repertoire. Boatner, Edward: Spirituals Triumphant, Old and New (Round Note Edition) : National Baptist Convention, Nashville Tennessee Date Published: (1927). No notes. Fisher,William Arms: 1926, Seventy Negro Spirituals, edited for low voice. Oliver Ditson Company, NY, sheet music format, pp. 60–62. Noted as Negro Spiritual. Deas, E. C. 1928: Songs and spirituals of Negro composition:
  3. Blues and Gospel Records 1890–1943, 4th ed., OUP, 1997
  4. Morgan, Elizabeth (2014). Socialist and Labor Songs: An International Revolutionary Songbook. Oakland, California: PM Press & Charles H. Kerr Publishing Company. p. 38. ISBN 978-1-60486-392-5.
  5. The Tabernacle Choir Blog. "A Brief History of "Down by the Riverside." The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, 2023,(https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/articles/down-by-the-riverside-history.html), Accessed 27 Feb. 2023.
  6. Playing for Change Foundation. "Vocal Lesson For Choir: Down By The Riverside / A Better Place." Playing for Change Foundation, Santa Monica, California, The United States of America, (https://playingforchange.org/vocal-lesson-for-choir-down-b-the-riverside-a-better-place/), Accessed 27 Feb. 2023.
  7. McMillin, T. S. (2011). The Meaning of Rivers: Flow and Reflection in American Literature. University of Iowa Press. p. 44. ISBN 9781587299780.
  8. Al Hirt, He's the King and His Band Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  9. Al Hirt, Live at Carnegie Hall Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  10. "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  11. Davies, Chris (1998). British and American Hit Singles. London: BT Batsford. p. 70. ISBN 0-7134-8275-3.
  12. Second Story Garage. "The Dustbowl Revival perform 'Down by the Riverside'". Posted: 11:41 PM; Wednesday, December 17, 2014.
  13. Zielinski, Peter James. "Photo Coverage: Million Dollar Quartet Opens on Broadway". Posted: 12:04 PM; Monday, April 12, 2010.
  14. "Discogs.com". discogs. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  15. "2012: The End Is Here!". JibJab. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
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