Down by the Riverside – On the Rocks

1-4-5

Down by the Riverside by Akst and Davis
Key of A

Down by the Riverside (also known as Ain’t Gonna Study War No More) dates back to before the American Civil War, though it was first published in 1918 in Plantation Melodies. 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.

Because of its pacifistic imagery, Down by the Riverside has also been used as an anti-war protest song, especially during the Vietnam War. The song is also included in collections of socialist and labor songs.
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 sleepy head
Down by the riverside (repeat 3 x)
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 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 upon that mountain
Gonna climb the road to heaven

Down By The Riverside chords
Traditional
 
G
 
      G
Gonna lay down my sword and shield
 
Down by the riverside
D7
Down by the riverside
G
Down by the riverside
 
Gonna lay down my sword and shield
 
Down by the riverside
            D     D7     G
Ain't gonna study war no more.
 
              C
I ain't gonna study war no more,
              G
I ain't gonna study war no more,
              D     D7     G
I ain t gonna Study war no more.
              C
I ain't gonna study war no more,
              G
I ain't gonna study war no more,
              D     D7     G
I ain t gonna Study war no more.
 
      G
Gonna stick my sword in the golden sand; 
 
Down By the riverside
D7
Down by the riverside
G
Down by the riverside
 
Gonna stick my sword in the golden sand
 
Down by the riverside
      D     D7     G
Gonna study war no more.
 
              C
I ain't gonna study war no more,
              G
I ain't gonna study war no more,
              D     D7     G
I ain t gonna Study war no more.
              C
I ain't gonna study war no more,
              G
I ain't gonna study war no more,
              D     D7     G
I ain t gonna Study war no more.
 
      G
Gonna put on my long white robe;
 
Down By the riverside
D7
Down by the riverside
G
Down by the riverside
 
Gonna put on my long white robe;
 
Down by the riverside
      D     D7     G
Gonna study war no more.
              C
I ain't gonna study war no more,
              G
I ain't gonna study war no more,
              D     D7     G
I ain t gonna Study war no more. 
              C
I ain't gonna study war no more,
              G
I ain't gonna study war no more,
              D     D7     G
I ain t gonna Study war no more.
 
      G
Gonna put on my starry crown; 
 
Down By the riverside
D7
Down by the riverside
G
Down by the riverside
 
Gonna put on my starry crown;
 
Down by the riverside
      D     D7     G
Gonna study war no more.
 
              C
I ain't gonna study war no more,
              G
I ain't gonna study war no more,
              D     D7     G
I ain't gonna Study war no more.
              C
I ain't gonna study war no more,
              G
I ain't gonna study war no more,
              D     D7     G
I ain't gonna study war no more.
 
 
Set8

189. DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE 1953 |
I MET MY LITTLE BRIGHT-EYED DOLL,
DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE [REPEAT 3 TIMES]
I MET MY LITTLE BRIGHT-EYED DOLL,
DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE [REPEAT 2 TIMES]
I ASKED HER FOR A LITTLE KISS,
DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE [REPEAT 3 TIMES]
I ASKED HER FOR A LITTLE KISS,
DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE [REPEAT 2 TIMES]
SHE SAID, “HAVE PATIENCE, LITTLE MAN;
BUT I’M SURE YOU’LL UNDERSTAND,
I HARDLY KNOW YOUR NAME.”
I SAID, “IF I CAN HAVE MY WAY,
MAYBE SOME SWEET DAY,
YOUR NAME AND MINE WILL BE THE SAME.”
I WED MY LITTLE BRIGHT-EYED DOLL,
DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE [REPEAT 3 TIMES]
I WED MY LITTLE BRIGHT-EYED DOLL,
DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE [REPEAT 2 TIMES]