Go Tell It On The Mountain

Christmas Carol Lyrics

When I was a seeker
I sought both night and day,
I asked the Lord to help me,
And he showed me the way.

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

He made me a watchman
Upon a city wall,
And if I am a Christian,
I am the least of all.

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

About This Christmas Song

Go Tell It On the Mountain is a rousing spiritual carol that celebrates the birth of Jesus with energy, soul, and a call to proclaim the good news far and wide. The song originated in the African American spiritual tradition, with roots reaching back to the mid-19th century, when songs were passed down orally among enslaved communities in the American South.

The lyrics as we know them today were first compiled and published by John Wesley Work Jr., a scholar, singer, and one of the first African American collectors of spirituals. His version appeared in the early 1900s and helped bring the song to a wider audience. Work’s adaptation preserved the powerful refrain ("Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere") which serves as both a joyful declaration and a call to action.

Unlike many traditional carols that emphasize quiet reverence or poetic imagery, Go Tell It On the Mountain is bold and celebratory. It centers on the moment when the shepherds receive the angel’s message and are sent out to share the news of Christ’s birth, making it especially meaningful in church settings that value testimony and praise.

Over the years, the carol has been performed by countless gospel choirs, folk singers, and pop artists. Its message of hope, liberation, and divine joy continues to resonate, making it a powerful part of both Christmas tradition and African American musical heritage.

Dolly Parton Performance Video

More Christmas Carol Lyrics