The Wailers (Peter Tosh lead singer) - "Go Tell It On The Mountain" (with lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part IV of a four part series about the song "Go Tell It On The Mountain". Part IV showcases a 1969 Reggae version of "Go Tell It On The Mountain" that is performed by the Wailers.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/12/early-lyrics-for-christmas-song-go-tell.html for Part I of this series. Part I provides information and comments about and lyric examples for early versions of the song "Go Tell It On The Mountain".

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/12/three-examples-of-mahalia-jackson.html for Part II of this series.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/12/freedom-civil-rights-adaptations-of-go.html for Part III of this series. Part III provides information and comments about freedom (civil rights) adaptations of "Go Tell It On The Mountain". Lyrics and sound file examples of those adaptations are also included in that post.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, historical, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the composer/s of the freedom (civil rights) adaptations of "Go Tell It On The Mountain" and thanks to the Wailers for their recording of this song. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this sound file on YouTube.

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE: Go tell it on the Mountain- Peter Tosh (& The Wailers)



Tonesullock Uploaded on Jun 26, 2007

A traditional recording of "Go tell it on the Mountain" by Peter Tosh/ The Wailers/ Bob Marley & The Wailers or whomsoever it may be. Tosh singing lead.

-snip-
Here are two selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread:
BiblicalRastafari, 2009
"This song was recorded and performed by the original Wailers.
However, as is the case with the song Downpressorman, Peter Tosh takes over lead vocals.
Bob Marley and Peter Tosh along with Bunny Livingston all had their songs, it just so happens that Bob really took ahold of the band and the singing/songwriting.
Dont get mad brotherman
Get glad
Now Go and Tell It on the Mountain
Zion Reigns
Rastafari"

**
roflpopz1, 2009
"Its from the Peter Tosh & Friends Album, Black Dignity, and its indeed Peter Tosh & the wailers, i have exact the same recording =)"

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LYRICS: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN
(The Wailers, lead singer Peter Tosh)

Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
To set my people free

Who's there yonder dressed in red
Set my people free
Who's there yonder dressed in red
Set my people free
Who's that yonder dressed in red
Must be the children that Moses led

Go tell it on the mountain
To set my people free
Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
To set my people free

Who's there yonder dressed in white
Set my people free
Who's there yonder full dressed in white
Set my people free
Who's there yonder dressed in white
Must be the children of the Israelites

Go tell it on the mountain
To set my people free
Mmm mmm mmm mmm

Who's there yonder dressed in white
Set my people free
Who's there yonder dressed in white
Set my people free
Who's there yonder dressed in white
Must be the children of the Israelites

Go tell it on the mountain
To set my people free

Source: https://www.justsomelyrics.com/213063/bob-marley-go-tell-it-on-the-mountain-lyrics.html
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Here's a brief statement about the Wailers' recording of "Go Tell It On The Mountain" from http://www.furious.com/perfect/petertosh.html
"...by early 1969, the Wailers were recording for Leslie Kong. Peter Tosh contributed three numbers: a remake of "Can't You See", "Stop That Train" and a version of "Go Tell It On The Mountain," which shows again Tosh's love of spirituals. On that recording, his voice is loud and clear and his tenor soars effortlessly over the musical backing."
-snip-
The Wailers' recording of "Go Tell It On The Mountain" is a cover of American recordings that adapted that Spiritual (or early Gospel) song for civil rights/protest purposes. Those freedom (civil rights) versions of "Go Tell It On The Mountain" were first performed in the early 1960s by either African American civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer or by American folk singers Peter, Paul, and Mary. There's some uncertainty as to who composed this adaptation of that early Gospel song. Frannie Lou Hamer's versions of "Go Tell It On The Mountain" and Peter Paul and Mary's version borrow heavily from the older African American Spiritual "Wade In The Water".

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