Anonymous
African-American Spiritual
(Early 19th Century)
adapted by
John Wesley Work, Jr.
(1871-1925)
How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings,
That publisheth peace;
That bringeth good tidings of good,
That publisheth salvation;
That saith unto Zion, “Thy God reigneth!”
— Isaiah 52:7 —
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 feared and trembled,
When lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior’s birth.
Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born;
And God sent out salvation
That blessèd Christmas morn.
When I was a seeker,
I sought both night and day;
I sought the Lord to help me,
And He showed me the way.
He made me a watchman
Upon the city wall,
And if I am a Christian
I am the least of all.