Children, Go Where I Send Thee
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Children, Go Where I Send Thee is a traditional African-American spiritual song. This song is also known as "The Holy Baby" or "Born in Bethlehem." There are many versions of this song, the lyrics below were collected by Jean Ritchie from a school for black children in Kentucky. The verses gives a Biblical meaning to each number. This song has been performed by Nina Simone, Natalie Merchant, as well as by The Kingston Trio, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Peter, Paul and Mary, Johnny Cash, Audra McDonald and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
[edit] Lyrics
- Children, go where I send thee
- How shall I send thee?
- I'm will send thee one-by-one
- well one was a little bitty baby
- wrapped in swaddling clothing
- lying in the manger,
- Born, born, born in Bethlehem.
- Children, go where I send thee
- How shall I send thee?
- I'm gonna send thee two-by-two
- Two for Paul and Silas
- One for the little bitty baby
- Born, born, born in Bethlehem.
- Three for the three men riding (or: the Hebrew children)
- Four for the four that stood at the door
- Five for the gospel preachers (or: the five that came back alive)
- Six for the six that never got fixed
- Seven for the seven that never got to Heaven
- Eight for the eight that waited at the gate
- Nine for the nine all dressed so fine (or: the nine that stood in the line)
- Ten for the Ten Commandments
- Eleven for the eleven deriders
- Twelve for the twelve Apostles
[edit] Other versions
Johnny Cash also recorded this song, and would frequently perform it live with the Carter Family, Carl Perkins, and The Statler Brothers. The lyrics usually used were:
- Twelve by twelve that couldn't get help
- Eleven by eleven that couldn't get to heaven
- Ten by ten that couldn't get in
- Nine by nine that dressed so fine
- Eight by eight that stood at the gate
- Seven by seven that went on to heaven
- Six by six that couldn't get fixed
- Five by five that couldn't get by
- Four by four that stood at the door
- And three by the Hebrew children
- And two by Paul and Silas
- And one by the little bitty baby, who was born, born, born in Bethlehem
[edit] References
Lyrics and MIDI Children go where I send thee Twelve for the twelve that went to hell Eleven for the eleven that couldn't get to heaven Ten for the ten that couldn't get in Nine for the nine that dressed so fine Eight for the eight that stood at the gate Seven for the seven that went to heaven Six for the six that couldn't get fixed Five for the Five ol' virgins Four for the four that stood at the door Three for the three old wise men Two for Joseph and Mary One for the little bitty baby Wrapped in swaddling clothing Lying in a manger Whatcha gonna call that stranger? We're gonna call him JESUS!
Born, Born, Born in Bethlehem!
