Go Tell It on the Mountain

Over the Hills and Everywhere

Go Tell it On the Mountain is a well known and often performed African-American Spiritual. It was compiled as early as 1865 from different folk song variants by John Wesley Work, Jr. During the folk revival of the 1960's it found new popularity when it was re-written as a Civil Rights Anthem by Peter, Paul, and Mary; which included replacing the theme of Nativity ("Our Jesus Christ is Born") with one of Exodus ("Let My People Go"). In the Liturgy of the Hours, Go Tell It on the Mountain is used during Christmas.


GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN (Public Domain)

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

1. While shepherds kept their watching
Over 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 angels chorus
That hailed the Savior’s birth.

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