Lyrics Page
The River (Come On Down)
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Oct 25, 2026 updated
Love Remains album
Verified editorial review
Song Meaning
Questions open the song: "Are you tired of shame in secrets? / wishing you could let them go," or feeling "like an orphan searching for a home." Hillary Scott answers with a declaration that "there's a love that fills what's empty," a place to "be changed," and "a God who knows you," calling each person by name. The invitation follows immediately, "come on down to the river."
The chorus brings the cross into view: "come be washed in the blood, and your sins will be forgiven by the power of His love." The river is described as a place "where the lost get found." In the verse sung by Sharon and Cheryl White, it "flows like the Mississippi from the giver of endless grace," and "everyone is welcome here," so listeners should "leave your past back on the shore."
A later section sets down burdens and scars, noting "no matter who you were before, you belong to Christ today." It also folds in the old spiritual "As I went down to the river to pray," tying the song to a long tradition of baptism hymns. 1 John 1:7 supplies the cleansing blood, 2 Corinthians 5:17 the "makes all things new" line, Luke 19:10 the lost being found, and Acts 22:16 the washing away of sins.
Lyrics Verified by Editorial Team
[Hillary Scott:]
Are you tired of shame in secrets?
Wishing you could let them go
Do you feel like an orphan searching for a home?
Well there's a love that fills what's empty
There's a place you can be changed
There's a God who knows you
He's calling out your name
Come on down to the river
Come be washed in the blood
And your sins will be forgiven by the power of His love
Come be changed by the mercy
That makes all things new
Where the lost get found
Come on down, down, down to the river
To the river
[Sharon White & Cheryl White:]
It flows like the Mississippi
From the giver of endless grace
And everyone is welcome here to dive into the waves
So leave the questions far behind you
Leave your past back on the shore
And run with wild abandoned
Wait no more
[All:]
Come on down to the river
Come be washed in the blood
And your sins will be forgiven by the power of His love
Come be changed by the mercy
That makes all things new
Where the lost get found
Come on down, down, down to the river
To the river
[Hillary Scott:]
Every burden, every scar
Let the waters wash away
No matter who you were before
You belong to Christ today
Yeah, you belong to Christ today
As I went down to the river to pray
Studying about that good 'ol way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way
Oh Sister, let's go down, let's go down, come on down
Oh Sister, let's go down, down to the river to pray
[All:]
Come on down to the river
Come be washed in the blood
And your sins will be forgiven by the power of His love
Come be changed by the mercy
That makes all things new
Where the lost get found
Come on down, down, down to the river
To the river
Come on down, come on down
To the river