There is something about this song.
I could listen to it all day long and feel it deep in my soul with every verse.
I believe this song can speak across cultures and generations.
I believe that no matter how long your faith has grown within you; if you are just acknowledging that there is faith or if you have had faith for 99 years, this song will reach the spiritual places in your soul. Perhaps the most important message I want to leave with you as you listen is this: the deeply spiritual song is about keeping the faith in a time of darkness.
A Brief History of “Down to the River to Pray”
While it is hard to pinpoint the exact origins of the song, “Down to the River to Pray” has been referred to as a hymn, a spiritual, and an Appalachian song. Some believe it was a Native American Tribal song that was adapted to include Christian lyrics. It is attributed to George H. Allan in the Slave Songbook of 1867, and Alison Krauss popularized it in the 2000 film, O Brother, Where Art Thou? The song also is known by alternate titles such as “Down in the Valley to Pray,” “Come, Let Us All Go Down” and “The Good Old Way.” Whatever the title might truly be, the deeply spiritual song is about keeping the faith in a time of darkness.
Keep the faith my friends and do not lose hope!
Blessed be His name!
