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Down By The Riverside
African American Spiritual, adapted by Eric Litwin and Michael Levine

Lyrics:

 

Gonna lay down my heavy load 

Down by the riverside. (3x) 

Gonna lay down my heavy load 

Down by the riverside. (2x) 


Gonna dance all night and day 

Down by the riverside. (3x) 

Gonna dance all night and day 

Down by the riverside. (2x) 

We can fly above this world. (6x) 

Gonna join hands with everyone 

Down by the riverside. (3x) 

Gonna join hands with everyone 

Down by the riverside. (2x) 

We can fly above this world. (6x)

 

 

Activities:   
 

Sing Around the House: As you do daily activities around the house, sing about them to this melody. For example, “Gonna clean up my toys right now, Down by the riverside...” And then “fly” with your wings as you sing the choruses. 

Rhythm Sticks: Tap your sticks together to the beat in different rhythms. For the choruses you can fly like a bird (make sticks into 2 wings), an airplane (cross the sticks & zoom them around) or like a helicopter (cross the sticks & twirl them). 

Direction Dance: Dance to the song, and for the choruses flap your arms like wings and all walk in a circle around the room. Hold hands for the 3rd verse.

Coloring Page & Sheet Music

(Click image below to view, print or download)

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