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Down by the Riverside

Rating:
3.6 / 5

Words & Music: traditional

I'm gonna lay down my burden, down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside
I'm gonna lay down my burden, down by the riverside,
I'm gonna study war no more

I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more

Well, I'm gonna put on my long white robe, (Where?) down by the riverside (Oh)
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside
I'm gonna put on my long white robe, (Where?) down by the riverside
I'm gonna study war no more

I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more

Well, I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield, (Where?) down by the riverside
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside
I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield, (A-ha) down by the riverside
I'm gonna study war no more

I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more

Recordingdate: 1956/12/04, first released on: The Million Dollar Quartet (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of Down by the Riverside:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(piano)
(accordion)
(vocals)
(vocals)

Availability

Find available albums with Down by the Riverside.

bastiaanvinke wrote on February 04, 2010
Great song. There's again not much to say about the performance
NONE000000 wrote on July 03, 2010
A huge disappointment to me. A medley of "When The Saints Go Marching In" and "Down By The Riverside" sounds like a great GREAT idea, especially to a New Orleans guy like myself, and having heard Elvis sing both on the Million Dollar Quartet recording only made it seem even a better possibility. But overall, the "Frankie and Johnny" recording of this is pretty dull, with almost no trace of any soul or gospel. When you hear the "Trouble With Girls" recording of "Swing Down Sweet Chariot", you can see that it was possible to do a great version of a gospel standard even in a bad Elvis movie. It really is a shame and a more obvious missed opportunity to have created the go-to version of a standard (Living in N.O. I hear both these tracks--not Elvis's version of course--pretty constantly.)
sugartummy wrote on March 02, 2013
Again a drum intro, but this time to no effect. In the end the song kinda breaks loose a bit with all the horns. The Million Dollar Q. version is superior.
sugartummy wrote on March 02, 2013
Ok, these reaction must concern the Million Dollar Q. version. I like that one, loose and full of life.
ElvisSacramento wrote on March 04, 2014
I've always loved this old time, traditional and classic gospel song immensely and Elvis' December 4, 1956 performance of it was marvelous. The jazz song also titled "Down By The Riverside" from Elvis' 1966 movie "Frankie And Johnny" is an entirely different song written by totally different songwriters. I've always loved both of these songs immensely.
Gorse wrote on July 13, 2014
I very rarely play the The Million Dollar Quartet as it is IMO just a few guys having a good time without rules, but went back and listened to this and found it more than acceptable. Shows drive and feeling with the boys melding together and creating an entertaining performance.
JerryNodak wrote on November 28, 2016
I haven't listened to the MDQ cd in ages. But IIRC, it's a fun listen. Just the boys having fun. Paired with When The Saints Go Marching In it's part of an acceptable medley that fits the scene well in Frankie And Johnny.
Arvis wrote on November 08, 2018
I love almost most of the gospel songs because of his inspiration. But if you want to be lifted by this song, listen to the version of Charlie Rich.
atomic powered poste wrote on November 08, 2018
Nice jam, but not more than that. MDQ is nothing i care much for. The idea of this arrists playing together is way more appealing than the reality/what we have on record.
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