Go Tell It on the Mountain Big Easy No Piano Version

Representative Text

Refrain:
Go tell it on the mountain,
over the hills, and ev'rywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born.

1 While shepherds kept their watching
o'er silent flocks by night,
behold, throughout the heavens
there shone a holy light. [Refrain]

2 The shepherds feared and trembled
when lo, above the earth
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed our Savior's birth. [Refrain]

3 Down in a lowly manger
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation
that blessed Christmas morn. [Refrain]

Source: Christian Worship: Hymnal #361

Adapter: John W. Work

John W. Work, Jr. (b. Nashville, TN, 1872; d. Nashville, 1925), is well known for his pioneering studies of African American folk music and for his leadership in the performance of spirituals. He studied music at Fisk University in Nashville and classics at Harvard and then taught Latin, Greek, and history at Fisk from 1898 to 1923. Director of the Jubilee Singers at Fisk, Work also sang tenor in the Fisk Jubilee Quartet, which toured the country after 1909 and made commercial recordings. He was president of Roger Williams University in Nashville during the last two years of his life. Work and his brother Frederick Jerome Work (1879-1942) were devoted to collecting, arranging, and publishing African American slave songs and spirituals. They… Go to person page >

Text Information

Text Information
Lectionary Weeks
Scripture References
Languages

First Line:	While shepherds kept their watching
Title:	Go, Tell It on the Mountain
Adapter:	John W. Work
Meter:	Irregular
Source:	African-American spiritual
Refrain First Line:	Go, tell it on the mountain
Copyright:	Public Domain
Liturgical Use:	Closing Songs

Notes

Scripture References:
all st. = Luke 2:8-20
ref. = Matt. 28:19

The text of this beloved spiritual was first published in Folk Song of the American Negro (1907), a study of African American folk music by John Wesley Work, Jr. (PHH 476). The song may date back to earlier sources, but evidently the original text was lost. According to Edith McFall Work, widow of John Wesley Work, III:

the verses of these songs were published by John Work, II, in place of the original ones which could not be found. In 1940 John Work, III, had the songs copyrighted and published [at 215] in his book American Negro Songs."
-Companion to the United Methodist Hymnal, p. 360

In American Negro Songs and Spiritual (1940), John Wesley Work, III, attributes the newer text to his uncle Frederick J. Work. "He may have composed it" [the tune], wrote J. W. Work, III. "I know he composed the verses." John, III, recalled that when he was a child, the students at Fisk University began singing this before daybreak on Christmas morning, going from building to building. Later, his arrangement for use in choral concerts by the Fisk Jubilee Singers helped to popularize the spiritual.

The refrain theme comes from Old Testament passages in which praise to God for his acts of deliverance was often shouted, both literally and metaphorically, from the mountaintops (Isa. 42:11). While the three stanzas tell the essence of the Christmas story, the refrain underscores the missionary impetus of the Christian church: "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:19). The "go, tell," which initially applied to the singers caroling on the university campus, is a signal for us to leave the comfortable confines of Christian worship and "go, tell" the message of Christ's redemption to the whole world.

Because of the spiritual's oral tradition, variants in text and melody exist. A textual variant for "Go, Tell It" is an Easter version with the following refrain text:

Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus lives again.

Liturgical Use:
Christmas morning; a Christmas candlelight service; "carols from many lands" service; the refrain could be used by itself as a chorus on Christmas Day, or it could be combined with the Easter refrain version (see above) and used during worship services that focus on missions.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Note: The book American Negro Songs and Spirituals: A Comprehensive Collection of 230 Folk Songs, Religious and Secular, with a forward by John W. Work (1940), states that "These verses were supplied by John Work Sr. in place of the original ones which could not be found." (p. 215).

For Leaders

Bulletin Blurb
Worship Notes
Scores

In the Bible, the mountain often represents the holy presence of God. Moses has to go up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments and to see the Promised Land. In the Gospel, Jesus is transfigured on a mountain, an event signifying the full embodiment of the divine nature and holiness of Christ. In the Old Testament especially, the mountain is also a place that is set apart – not just everyone can go up the mountain to be in God's presence. Psalm 24:3 asks, "Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?" God's presence came down to the mountain, and the mountain was the barrier between the Israelites and God's presence, much like the curtain in the temple dividing the people from the Holy of Holies.

When Christ was born however, God's presence came down to His people in a new form, in the helplessness of a baby. And the story doesn't end there - Christmas points us to Easter, when Christ ripped the curtain in the temple and became the bridge between us and the Father, God's holy presence in and among us. When Christ was transfigured, he had with him Peter, James and John. The glory of the LORD was no longer barred from His people. The mountain is no longer a barrier between us and God, but a place to shout the good news of God's presence among his people in the incarnation of Christ Jesus, to "Go Tell It On the Mountain."

Text:

No one is entirely sure who actually wrote the words of "Go Tell It On the Mountain" - the verses we sing today were likely written by John W. Work to replace verses that got lost from the original, but some also attribute the text to his brother, Frederick J. Work. Once it first started to appear in song books, however, not much has changed about the text or the tune. Hymnals and most church settings keep the text much the same, with three stanzas and a chorus. The one slight text change that varies from hymnal to hymnal is the use of the word "stable" or "manger" in the third stanza. Some performance artists have taken liberties with the text to make it more their own, such as Peter, Paul and Mary in the 1960s, who changed the words to include Exodus and Civil Rights language to show their support for the Civil Rights Movement.

Tune:

The only tune used is GO TELL IT, also attributed to John Wesley Work, but adapted from an African-American spiritual that dates back to at least 1865. There are a number of different styles this hymn could be arranged to. One of the most common is gospel, particularly with a choir supporting a soloist. The challenge with a gospel flavored version is keeping it accessible for the congregation to sing along. Jeanine Noyes offers a fun, catch version with a fairly accessible gospel feel. If your church has a soloist, he or she can improvise while the congregation repeats the chorus.

Another popular style for this hymn is bluegrass. This works particularly well for a praise band with a mandolin or banjo player, but acoustic guitar works as well. Needtobreathe, a Christian folk-rock band, has a particularly good version of the hymn that includes a bridge: "Hallelujah, hallelujah, Jesus Christ is born. Hallelujah, hallelujah, the Savior of the World."

When/Why/How:

This hymn is most often used at the end of Christmas Day services – now that the congregation has been told the story of Christ's birth, they are invited and encouraged to go out from there to tell that story. It could also be used during Epiphany to remind us that now that Christ has been revealed to us, we must also make him known among the nations. The refrain of the hymn references many passages in Isaiah that echo the call to proclaim good news from the mountain.

Suggested music:

Heider, Anne. Go Tell It on the Mountain for A Capella Choir
Schrader, Jack. Go Tell It! Blues style for Choir
Schram, Ruth Elaine. Go Tell It, He Is Born (Incorporating "Go Tell It on the Mountain" and "He Is Born", for two-part or four-part choirs
And There Was a Star (Easy Organ Music for the Christmas Season)
Held, Wilbur. Christmas Comes Again: Set 1, for Organ
Larson, Lloyd. Rejoice! Rejoice! (Christmas Carol Celebrations for Piano)
Tucker, Sondra. Go Tell It on the Mountain, for Handbells with Organ

Laura de Jong,
Hymnary.org

Timeline

Page Scans

Instances

Instances (1 - 75 of 75)

African American Heritage Hymnal #202

Display Title: Go Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Author: John W. Work, Jr., 1871-1925 Meter: 7 6 7 6 with refrain Scripture: Luke 2:16 Date: 2001 Subject: Testimony, Witness and Evangelism | Source: Negro Spiritual

Ambassador Hymnal #44

Display Title: Go Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT Author: John W. Work, Jr., 1871-1925 Meter: 78 76 76 76 Date: 1994 Subject: Christmas | ; Jesus Christ | Birth; Spirituals | Source: African-American spiritual, stanzas, alt.

Baptist Hymnal 1991 #95

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT Author: John W. Work, Jr. Meter: 7.6.7.6. with Refrain Scripture: Luke 2:17 Date: 1991

Baptist Hymnal 2008 #182

Breaking Bread (Vol. 39) #99

Breaking Bread (Vol. 39) #100

Display Title: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks First Line: While shepherds watched their flocks by night Tune Title: CHRISTMAS Author: Nahum Tate, 1652-1715 Meter: 86 86 6 Scripture: Luke 2:8-14 Date: 2019 Subject: Seasonal Music | Christmas

Celebrating Grace Hymnal #143

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT Author: John W. Work, Jr. Meter: 7.6.7.6 with refrain Scripture: Luke 2:8-14 Date: 2010 Subject: Christian Year-Christmastide | ; God the Son | Christmastide; Proclamation |

Chalice Hymnal #167

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Author: John W. Work, Jr. Meter: Irr. w. refrain Scripture: Luke 2:8-20 Date: 1995 Subject: Christian Year: Christmas | ; God Known in Jesus Christ | Birth; Jesus Christ | ; Jesus Christ: Birth | ; Spirituals | Source: African-American spiritual

Christian Worship #57

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO, TELL IT Author: John W. Work, 1873-1925 Meter: 78 76 76 76 Date: 1993 Subject: Christmas | Source: African-American spiritual, c. 19th century (refrain)

Christian Worship #361

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO, TELL IT Author: John W. Work, II, 1873-1925 Meter: 76 76 with refrain Scripture: Isaiah 40:9-11; Luke 2:7-20 Date: 2021 Subject: Christmas | Source: African-American spiritual (refrain)

Evangelical Lutheran Worship #290

Display Title: Go Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT Author: John W. Work Jr., 1872-1925 Meter: 7 8 7 6 7 6 7 6 Date: 2006 Subject: Christmas | ; Songs for Children | ; Witness | Source: African American spiritual (Refrain)

Gather (3rd ed.) #428

Display Title: Go Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Author: John W. Work, Jr., 1872-1925 Meter: 7 6 7 6 with refrain Scripture: Luke 2:6-18 Date: 2011 Subject: Christmas Season | Source: African American spiritual

Gather Comprehensive #359

Display Title: Go Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Author: John W. Work, Jr., 1871-1925 Meter: 7 6 7 6 with refrain Scripture: Luke 2:6-18 Date: 1994 Source: African-American spiritual

Global Songs 2 #36

Display Title: Go Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: [While shepherds kept their watching] Date: 1997 Subject: Christmas | Source: Traditional African American

Glory and Praise (3rd. ed.) #242

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT Author: John W. Work, Jr., 1872-1925 Meter: 76 76 with refrain Scripture: Isaiah 18:3; Isaiah 40:9; Isaiah 52:7; Isaiah 62:6; Luke 2:8-20 Date: 2015 Subject: Musical Style | Gospel; Musical Style | Spiritual; The Liturgical Year | Christmas (Days of); The Liturgical Year | The Epiphany of the Lord Source: American Negro Songs and Spirituals, 1940

Glory to God #136

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT Author: John W. Work II Meter: 7.6.7.6 with refrain Scripture: Isaiah 40:9; Isaiah 52:7; Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:6-20 Date: 2013 Subject: Christian Year | Epiphany; Christian Year | Nativity/Christmas; Jesus Christ | Birth Source: African American spiritual

Hymns for a Pilgrim People #110

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Meter: 7.6.7.6 with Refrain Scripture: Isaiah 42:11-12 Date: 2007 Subject: Christmas | ; Gospel Call and Response | ; Jesus Christ | ; Mission | Source: Spiritual

Hymns of Faith #127

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: [Go, tell it on the mountain] Author: John W. Work, II Scripture: Isaiah 52:7; Luke 2:17 Date: 1980 Subject: Christ | Advent and Birth

Hymns of Promise #160

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO, TELL IT Author: John W. Work, 1872-1825 Meter: Irreular Date: 2015 Subject: Christmas | Source: Traditional spiritual

Hymns of the Saints #249

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT Author: John W. Work, Jr., 1872-1925 Scripture: Luke 1:30-33; Luke 2:7-11 Date: 1982 Subject: Christ's Humanity | ; Christmas | ; Hope | ; Incarnation | ; Joy | Source: American Folk Hymn

Journeysongs (2nd ed.) #352

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT Author: John W. Work, Jr., 1871-1925 Meter: 76 76 with refrain Date: 2003 Source: American Negro Songs and Spirituals, 1940

Journeysongs (3rd ed.) #311

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Author: John W. Work, Jr., 1872-1925 Meter: 76 76 with refrain Scripture: Isaiah 18:3; Isaiah 40:9; Isaiah 52:7; Isaiah 62:6; Luke 2:8-20 Date: 2012 Subject: Musical Style | Gospel; Musical Style | Spiritual; The Liturgical Year | Christmas (Days of); The Liturgical Year | The Epiphany of the Lord Source: American Negro Songs and Spirituals, 1940

Lead Me, Guide Me (2nd ed.) #253

Display Title: Go Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Author: John W. Work, Jr., 1871-1925 Meter: 7 6 7 6 with refain Scripture: Luke 2:6-18 Date: 2012 Subject: Children's Hymns | ; Christmas Season | ; Epiphany of the Lord | ; Spirituals | Source: Negro Spiritual

Lift Up Your Hearts #93

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT Meter: 7.6.7.6 refrain 7.8.7.6 Scripture: Matthew 28:19; Luke 2:8-11 Date: 2013 Subject: Church Year | Christmas; Evangelism | Source: African American spiritual, 19th c.

Lutheran Service Book #388

Display Title: Go Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT Author: John W. Work II, 1873-1925 Meter: 78 76 76 76 Scripture: Isaiah 40:9-11; Luke 2:7-20 Date: 2006 Subject: African American spiritual | ; Mission and Witness | Source: African American spiritual (Refrain)

Lutheran Worship #504

Display Title: Go Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT Author: John W. Work II, 1871-1925 Meter: 78 76 76 76 Date: 1982 Subject: Spiritual Songs | Source: Negro Spiritual, refrain

One in Faith #395

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Author: John W. Work, Jr., 1871-1925 Meter: 76 76 with refrain Date: 2015 Subject: Christmas |

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism #263

Display Title: Go Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Author: John W. Work, Jr., 1871-1925 Meter: 7 6 7 6 with refrain Scripture: Luke 2:6-18 Date: 2018 Subject: Christian Year | Christmas; Spirituals | ; The Celebration of the Gospel Story | Christmas Source: Negro Spiritual

Oramos Cantando = We Pray In Song #372

Display Title: Go Tell It on the Mountain (Ve, Grita en la Montaña) First Line: While shepherds kept their watching (Pastores, sus rebaños) Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Author: Anita González; John W. Work, Jr. 1872-1925 Meter: 7 6 7 6 with refrain Scripture: Luke 2:6-18 Date: 2013 Subject: Children's Hymns | ; Christmas Season | ; Música Para Los Jóvenes | ; Tiempo de Navidad | Source: African American spiritual

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #356

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT Meter: 76 76 with refrain Scripture: Isaiah 52:7 Date: 1987 Subject: Christmas | ; Missions | ; Salvation | ; Songs for Children | Hymns Source: Afro-American spiritual, 19th cent.

Rejoice Hymns #205

Display Title: Go Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT Meter: 7.6.7.6. with Refrain Scripture: Luke 2:8-14 Date: 2011 Subject: Christmas | Source: Traditional spiritual

Rejoice in the Lord #224

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Author: Anonymous Meter: Irregular Date: 1985 Source: American folk hymn, 19th century

RitualSong (2nd ed.) #530

RitualSong #514

Display Title: Go Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Author: John W. Work, Jr., 1871-1925 Meter: 7 6 7 6 with refrain Scripture: Luke 2:6-18 Date: 1996 Source: African American spiritual

Santo, Santo, Santo #90

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain (Ve, dilo en las montañas) First Line: While shepherds kept their watching (Pastores, sus rebaños) Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Author: Adolfo Robleto; Anita González; John W. Work, Jr., 1872-1925 Meter: 7 6 7 6 with refrain Scripture: Isaiah 42:11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 2:8-20 Date: 2019 Subject: Año Cristiano | Navidad; Christian Year | Christmas Source: African American spiritual

Sing Joyfully #216

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: [While shepherds kept their watching] Author: John W. Work Date: 1989 Subject: Evangelism | ; Jesus Christ | Birth

Singing Our Faith #114

Display Title: Go Tell it on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Author: John W. Work, Jr., 1871-1925 Meter: 7 6 7 6 with refrain Date: 2001 Subject: Christmas | Source: African-American spiritual

Singing the Living Tradition #239

Display Title: Go Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUTNAIN Meter: 7.6.7.6. with refrain Date: 1993 Subject: Jewish and Christian Teachings | Christmas Source: African American spiritual, c. 1750-1875

Songs for Life #131

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT Meter: 76 76 with refrain Scripture: Isaiah 42:11; Luke 2:8-20 Date: 1995 Subject: African-American | ; Singing God's Story | Christmas / Birth of Christ Source: African-American spiritual

Songs of Zion #75

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: [While shepherds kept their watching] Author: J. W. W. Date: 1981 Subject: Negro Spirituals and Afro-American Liberation Songs |

The Book of Praise #133

Display Title: Go, tell it on the mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT Author: John W. Work, 1901-1967 Meter: 5 6 5 6 with refrain Scripture: Isaiah 40:9; Luke 2:8-20 Date: 1997 Subject: Children and Youth | Christmas; Church Year | Christmas Source: African-American traditional

The Covenant Hymnal #188

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT Author: John W. Work, 1901-1967 Meter: Irregular Scripture: Isaiah 40:9-10; Luke 2:8-20 Date: 1996 Subject: 2nd Sunday after Christmas | ; Children's Hymns | ; Christmas | Birth; Evangelism and Mission | ; Spirituals | ; Witness | Source: American folk song

The Cyber Hymnal #1993

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: [While shepherds kept their watching] Author: John Wesley Work, Jr. Source: Folk Songs of the American Negro (Nashville, Tennessee: 1907)

The Hymnal 1982 #99

Display Title: Go tell it on the mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Author: John W. Work, b. 1901 Meter: 76. 76 wih Refrain Date: 1985 Source: Afro-American spiritual, 19th cent.

The New Century Hymnal #154

Display Title: Go Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: [Go Tell It on the Mountain] Author: John W. Work II Scripture: Isaiah 18:3; Isaiah 52:7; Luke 2:8-20 Date: 1995 Subject: Christmas | ; Epiphany | ; Jesus Christ | Epiphany and Youth; Year A | Christmas 2; Year B | Christmas 2; Year C | Christmas 2; Year C | Epiphany 3 Source: African-American spiritual

The United Methodist Hymnal #251

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Author: John W. Work Jr. Meter: Irr. with Refrain Scripture: Luke 2:8-20 Date: 1989 Subject: Children's Choir Selections | ; Christ's Gracious Life | Birth and Baptism; Christian Year | Christmas; Christian Year | Epiphany; Closing Hymns | ; Jesus Christ | ; Testimony and Witness | Source: Afro-American spiritual

The Worshiping Church #151

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherd kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT Author: John W. Work Meter: Irregular Scripture: Isaiah 52:7; Matthew 28:19; Luke 2:8-20; Luke 2:17 Date: 1990

This Far By Faith #52

Display Title: Go Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT Author: John W. Work Jr., 1871-1925 Scripture: Luke 2:8-20 Date: 1999 Subject: Christmas | ; Songs for Children | ; Witness | Source: African American spiritual, refrain

Total Praise #214

Display Title: Go Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Author: John W. Work, Jr., 1871-1925 Meter: 7 6 7 6 with refrain Scripture: Luke 2:16 Date: 2011 Subject: Christmas | ; Jesus Christ | Savior; Salvation | ; Spirituals | ; Testimony, Witness, Evangelism | Source: Negro Spiritual

Voices Together #252

Display Title: Go Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Author: John W. Work Jr. Meter: 7.6.7.6 with refrain Scripture: Isaiah 40:9; Luke 2:1-20 Date: 2020 Subject: Heritage | African American Source: African American spiritual (USA)

Voices United #43

Worship (3rd ed.) #397

Display Title: Go Tell it on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Author: John W. Work, Jr., 1871-1925 Meter: 7 6 7 6 with refrain Scripture: Luke 2:6-18; Luke 2:10-11 Date: 1986 Subject: Children's Hymns | ; Christmas | ; Christmas Season | ; Petition | Source: Afro-American spiritual

Worship (4th ed.) #428

Display Title: Go Tell it on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Author: John W. Work, Jr., 1871-1925 Meter: 7 6 7 6 with refrain Date: 2011 Subject: Christmas | Source: Afrrican-American spiritual

Worship and Rejoice #218

Display Title: Go, Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO, TELL IT Author: John W. Work, 1872-1925 Meter: Irregular Scripture: Isaiah 52:7; Matthew 28:19; Luke 2:8-20 Date: 2003

Worship in Song #79

Worship Supplement 2000 #706

Display Title: Go Tell It on the Mountain First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: GO TELL IT Author: John W. Work II, 1873-1925 Meter: 78 76 76 76 Date: 2007 Subject: Christmas | Source: African-American spiritual, c. 19th cent., refrain

Yes, Lord! #215

Display Title: Go, Tell It On the Mountains First Line: While shepherds kept their watching Tune Title: [While shepherds kept their watching] Date: 1982 Subject: Christmas | Source: Traditional

Include 25 pre-1979 instances

freemansweves.blogspot.com

Source: https://hymnary.org/text/while_shepherds_kept_their_watching