Devotional for December 20

“Go Tell It On the Mountain” 

UMH #251

This selection celebrates the Nativity, with origins from African-American slaves. It first appeared in a collection of slave songs and spirituals in 1907, compiled by John Wesley Work, Jr. (1871-1925). He was the son of a church choir director. He was well educated, first at Fisk University, then at Harvard University. He held a great love for slave music and realized the importance of preserving and performing the songs. He contributed to the “The Fisk Jubilee Singers,” who toured parts of the country, introducing African-American slave songs and spirituals to the greater public in the 1900’s. The song was widely re-distributed in the 1960’s with recordings by Mahalia Jackson and Peter, Paul and Mary. It became a popular song during the civil rights movement, evoking images of freedom, equal rights and spirituality. As a Christmas Carol, the song has scriptural references from Luke 2:18-20 and Matthew 28:19 telling us about the birth of Christ Jesus. It encourages us to proclaim the good news of God's presence among His people. 

When I was a child, in Toledo, Ohio, they integrated my elementary school, busing students from the inner city. Among the many friends I made, a student named James was a talented musician. At our holiday concert for 5th grade choir, he took the lead for “Go Tell It On the Mountain,” in an arrangement from his church. I’ll never forget the thrill of it all as we sang the chorus from our hearts, loud and strong, “Go tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere; Go tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born!” 

—Amy McWilliam