Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Down by the Riverside | Controversial Songs

In the 25th edition of Controversial Songs (2025), we explore the controversy behind “Down by the Riverside” by Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Bring on the controversy! Controversial Songs is a column that provides background information and insight into songs that raised eyebrows, stirred the pot, or were banned. The more censorship censor$hit, the better! The records that grace Controversial Songs are old and new alike, with all genres of music welcome.  In the 25^th  edition of Controversial Songs (2025), we explore the controversy behind “Down by the Riverside” by Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

“I’m gonna lay down my heavy load, down by the riverside / I’m gonna study war no more.” What could be controversial about “Down by the Riverside”? It’s a popular, traditional African American spiritual, after all. “Down by the Riverside” was a favorite in the African Methodist Episcopal church that I grew up in. The source of controversy is the artist renowned for her performances and recordings of the song, Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915 – 1973). Tharpe is a key figure in blues, gospel, R&B, and the birth of rock and roll, preceding some of the giant pioneers within the genre.  Not only was Tharpe a gritty, powerful, and soul-stirring singer, but she was a mean electric guitarist, memorably saying, “Can’t no man play like me. I play better than a man”. Rock on, Sis 🤘!

So, why is Sister Rosetta Tharpe controversial, and how does it spill over into a traditional spiritual? She’s a woman playing the electric guitar.  Scandalous! Also, the electric guitar was not used in gospel music as it is today.  It was new and shocking.  🎸= 😈! In an article penned for Alto Music, the author points out that “Rosetta’s passionate and aggressive guitar playing was even somewhat unconventional for the secular crowd of the late 30s.” Bring that to church music, back then, and the church is practically ready to excommunicate you! Making matters more sinful, Tharpe was fusing genres, specifically gospel with blues, jazz, big band, and creating that demonic rhythm and blues! Scandalous and un-Pentecostal, that Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a radical!  With various recordings of “Down by the Riverside,” whichever you hear, the musicianship is elite. Tharpe commands the room with her expressiveness, bringing the church to secular audiences, even if she pissed off gospel purists. These days, instrumentation be damned! Back then, particular instrumentation would damn you 😜! In versions where she plays guitar, she picks the hell out of it, showing her assertive and innovative approach.  Some other strikes against Tharpe… she was twice divorced, including a divorce from a COGIC pastor, and, wait for it, queer 🌈! Bisexuals do exist, and Tharpe was bi. Despite the skepticism of those archaic times, nothing should be considered controversial about Tharpe, let alone “Down by the Riverside”.