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Go Tell It on the Mountain

1. While shepherds kept their watching
O'er silent flocks by night
Behold, throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light.

2. The shepherds feared and trembled
When, lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior's birth.

3. Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn.

Chorus:
Go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

Lyrics: Spiritual
Music: Spiritual

Tune: GO TELL IT
Meter: Irregular meter

Go Tell It on the Mountain

Stanzas by John W. Work, 1871–1925

Negro spirituals had their roots in the late 18^th and early 19^th century camp meetings throughout the South as well as in the active evangelical ministry carried on among the black people during this time. However, few of their traditional songs were collected or published prior to about 1840. The stanzas for “Go Tell It on the Mountain” were written by John W. Work, Jr. He and his brother, Frederick J. Work, were early leaders in arranging and promoting the cause of Negro spirituals. This song was first published in Folk Songs of the American Negro in 1907.