The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #3744 Message #19416
Posted By: Bill D
18-Jan-98 - 12:32 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Go Tell It on the Mountain
Subject: ADD Version: Go tell it on the Mountain^^^
Thanksgiving week of 1964, I was in Hattiesburg, Miss., with a group of 'outside agitators' from Kansas who were assisting on a voter registration drive. Part of this job consisted of picketing the courthouse during business hours....round & round a little 3 cornered walk in front, totally bored except for the occasional local who decided to use someone in line to test his spitting aim.
On about day 3 I was there, after about 2 hours, a young black girl directly in front of me in line(I guess she was about 14) just suddenly began slowly singing "Go Tell it on the Mountain" in an absolutely beautiful contralto! Of course, in 15 seconds, we were all singing, and I have never heard the power of song more wonderfully used! We sang the "red...black...etc". version, but in the old church mode and speed.....well, we sang about 4 1/2 verses before the sheriff appeared and told us in no uncertain terms that we "had a permit for walkin'...not no damn permit for singin'".. and that if we didn't shut up, we would all be arrrested. So, we shrugged and just marched....but that song was in everyones head all day and we had made the point and one more step. (Last I heard, Hattiesburg had a black mayor....)
Later, as I did more looking into what these songs were all about, I saw various of the versions from the original gospel to the cranked-up bluegrass. Here is the one that seems to be the original... found at this site...
http://www.christmas-tree.com/
GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN
While shepherds kept their watching
O'er silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light
CHORUS
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.
The shepherds deared and trembled
When lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savour's birth
CHORUS
Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born;
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn
CHORUS
When I was a seeker
I sought both night and day
I sought the Lord to help me
And He showed me the way.
CHORUS
He made me a watchman
Upon the city wall
And if I am a Christian
I am the least of all.
CHORUS