December 26, 2005

Have faith in God –
And then the star shines bright;
Have faith in God –
Remember that clear night;
Have faith in God –
And lo, the hills are light.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

Go Tell It on the Mountain

John Wesley Work, Jr., 1872-1925

    You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!" Isaiah 40:9.

    Negro spirituals had their roots in the late 18th and early 19th 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 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. Today's song was first published in Folk Songs of the American Negro in 1907. These traditional spirituals have since become an important part of the American folk and sacred music heritage and are greatly appreciated and enjoyed by all of God's people.

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

The shepherds feared and trembled,
When lo! above the earth,
Rang out the angels chorus
That hailed the Savior’s birth.

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!

Have Faith in God by H.M.S. Richards, Used by Permission