Children Go Where I Send Thee" Christmas Song Performed By A British Children's Choir

BritishGospelArts, Feb 16, 2012

2020 perform Children Go where I send thee - The Stables, Milton Keynes, 26 Nov 2011 in concert with London Community Gospel Choir.  Conducted by Andrea Encinas, Abe Hampton on Keys, Ma'el Ekpitini on African drum.
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I think the name of this children choir is the "London Community Gospel Choir". I don't know what "2020" refers to since this concert was held in 2011 and this video was published in 2012. If you have any information about this choir please share it in the discussion thread below. Thanks!

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a 2011 YouTube video of a British children's choir singing the African American Christmas song "Children Go Where I Send Thee".

This post also presents the lyrics for "Children Go Where I Send Thee as well as explanations for that song's lyrics.

The content of this post is presented for historical, religious, socio-cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the composer of this song and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and all those who are associated with this choir.
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The remainder of this 2025 post was first published in this 2022 pancocojams post:
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/12/african-american-christmas-song.html for a pancocojams post of Spelman University's Choir (Atlanta, Georgia) singing "Children Go Where I Send Thee".

**** "COMMONLY FOUND" LYRICS FOR "CHILDREN, GO WHERE I SEND THEE" [composers unknown; traditional African American song]

Children go where I send thee, 
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
One by one
One for the little, bitty baby
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.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Three by three
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Four by four
Four for the four that stood at the door.
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Five by five
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Six by six
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Seven by seven
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Eight by eight
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Nine by nine
Nine for the nine that dressed so fine
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Ten by ten
Ten for the ten that never got in
Nine for the nine that dressed so fine
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Eleven by eleven
Eleven for the eleven deriders
Ten for the ten that never got in
Nine for the nine that dressed so fine
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Twelve by twelve
Twelve for the Twelve Apostles
Eleven for the eleven deriders
Ten for the ten that never got in
Nine for the nine that dressed so fine
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Online source: https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=5018
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*In my experience, these word are usually as "who was born, born, born in Bethlehem".

**** 
SOME EXPLANATIONS FOR "COMMONLY FOUND" LYRICS AND OTHER LYRICS FOR THIS SONG
[I gleaned these explanations from several offline and online sources.]

One for the little bitty baby (meaning Jesus).
Two for Paul and Silas. (or "two for Mary and Joseph")
Three for the three men riding (meaning the three Kings/Magi); or "three for the Hebrew children")
Four for the four knocking on the door (meaning the Four Evangelists).
Five for the Five that came back alive (or "five for the Gospel preachers")
Six for the six that never got fixed. 
Seven for the seven that all went to Heaven
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate.
Nine for the nine that stood in the line.
Ten for the Ten Commandments.
Eleven for the eleven deriders.
Twelve for the Twelve Apostles (or the twelve Disciples)

In the line "eleven deriders", "deriders" means people who deride (ridicule) the Bible. Because of folk processing (accidental mishearing, misremembering etc.) that line is also given as "eleven is the (or for the) Gospel riders (or Gospel writers).

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Three YouTube Examples Of The Christmas song "Sing Noel" ("African Noel"; Sing We All Noel") arranged by Andre J. Thomasl

St. Olaf Choir, Sep 23, 2015

Provided to YouTube by CDBaby

African Noel · St. Olaf Choir

Songs From My Heart : Choral Music Of André Thomas

℗ 2004 Andre Thomas

****

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post presents three YouTube examples of the Christmas song "Sing Noel" ("African Noel"; Sing We All Noel") arranged by Andre J. Thomas. one of the arrangers of different renditions of that song. The melody for all of those renditions of this song is consistent, but the lyrics and tempo depends on the particular arranger. 

Some information about the origin of "Sing Noel" (also known as "Sing We All Noel" and "African Noel") is included in this post along with the lyrics for Andre J. Thomas' arrangement of that song.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the unknown composer/s of the melody for this song and thanks to Andre J. Thomas for his arrangement of this song. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post, and thanks also to the singers and musicians who are featured in these videos. And thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/12/sing-noel-african-noel-videos-lyrics.html for a 2014 pancocojams post entitled  "Sing Noel" (African Noel) videos & lyrics

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SOME INFORMATION ABOUT ANDRE J. THOMAS
Excerpt #1
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_J._Thomas [retrieved December 12, 2024]

"André Jerome Thomas (born 15 August 1952) is an American composer and conductor. He served as a professor of music at the College of Music at Florida State University and the artistic director for the Tallahassee Community Chorus. In addition to his conducting and composition credits, Thomas is a published author, having written Way Over in Beulah Lan': Understanding and Performing the Negro Spiritual, and numerous journal articles."...

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Excerpt #2
From https://lorenz.com/composers-and-authors/meet-our-composers/andre-j-thomas [retrieved December 12, 2024]
"Dr. André J. Thomas served on the faculty of Florida State University from 1984 until his retirement in 2020 as Owen F. Sellers Professor of Music, Director of Choral Activities, and Professor of Choral Music Education. He was appointed Professor of Choral Conducting and Interim conductor of the Yale Camerata for the 2020–2021 academic year. He previously served on the faculty of the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Thomas received the baccalaureate degree in Music Education from Friends University, the Masters Degree in Piano Performance from Northwestern University, and the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Illinois.

He is frequently in demand as a choral adjudicator, clinician and director of Honor Choirs and All‑State Choirs throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and Australia. He has conducted choirs at the state, division and national conventions of Music Educators National Conference (MENC) and American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). He has served as a conductor and clinician for the International Federation of Choral Musicians. In 1998, Dr. Thomas conducted the World Youth Choir in the Republic of China and the Philippines, and returned in 1999–2000 to conduct the winter residency of the World Youth Choir in Europe. In 1999, he and the Florida State University Singers performed in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, at the invitation of the Vietnamese government."...
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André Jerome Thomas is African American.

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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT "AFRICAN NOEL" ("SING NOEL" ; "SING WE ALL NOEL")
"Sing Noel" is a Christmas song that is also known by the titles "African Noel" and "Sing We All Noel". The melody of this song is based on a song entitled "Banuwa Yo"(also given as "Banuwa"). "Banuwa" is commonly referred to as a Liberian (West Africa) folk song. However, that song's African origin has not been proven.

**
Here's the result of a Google search that I did on December 12, 2012 for the question "What is the origin of the song "Sing Noel?"

Google search – Origin of the song “Sing Noel”

"AI Overview

African Noel - Beth's Notes

The song “African Noel” is based on a Liberian folk song called “Banuwa”. The original lyrics of “Banuwa” translate to “Don't cry, little girl, don't cry”. Over time, new lyrics were written for the same melody, including “Sing Noel, Sing Noel, Sing We Noel”.

“African Noel” can be used to celebrate both Christmas and Kwanzaa, and is often performed in schools."
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"Beth Notes" is an internet site that presents lyrics and musical notes for children's songs.

**
Here's a comment that I wrote and posted in the discussion thread for a 2014 pancocojams post about the song "Banuwa". I've made minor changes to two sentences in this comment. The link for that pancocojams post is given above.

Azizi Powell, November 28, 2023
"Anonymous, in addition to watching a number of YouTube videos of "Banuwa Yo" and reading comments from the discussion threads for a few that had comments, I happened upon this 2012 article from a blog by Jim Moran entitled "Comparative Video 101" https://compvid101.blogspot.com/2012/09/lost-somewhere-in-translation-banuwa.html.

The article's title is "Lost Somewhere In Translation: "Banuwa" and that title speaks to the opinion that folk musician/writer and folk music radio host Jim Moran has that the song "Banuwa" may have a different meaning than it has been given since it burst on the folklorist scene in the 1950s.

Jim Moran points out that in 2012 there are no renditions of this song -on YouTube or elsewhere by Liberians or by other West Africans and most of the videos of the song are by White people throughout the world (I'm paraphrasing what he wrote. That's still the case in 2023.

I've looked and haven't found any information about which Liberian tradition (which ethnic group in Liberia) this song comes from. Also, which language is the word "banuwa" and the other words in that song originally from?

I think that it's not all that surprising that "Sing Noel" is based on "Banuwa Yo" since the African connection that both of these songs have is suspect (to me if not to anyone else.)

No matter how nice it sounds, I'd rather showcase and sing a traditional African song whose roots can be traced and at the very least, whose language can be identified."
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I reprinted the above comment and added it to the 2024 pancocojams post entitled "Seven Video Examples Of The Liberian Folk Song "Banuwa" In The United States & In Some Other Countries" https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/11/seven-video-examples-of-liberian-folk.html.

I still agree with what Jim Moran (and I wrote) about the so-called "Liberian" song "Banuwa". As of December 12, 2024, I still haven't come across any Liberian performances of "Banuwa" or any information about traditional Liberian sources for that song.

**
I haven't come across any information about when the Christmas song "Sing Noel" was first arranged in English or who was the first arranger of that song. I've found a copyright notice for 2004 for Andre J. Thomas, but I don't know if this was the earliest time that he copyrighted his arrangement of "African Noel" (Sing Noel").

If you have any memories of singing or hearing the song "Sing Noel" (African Noel"; "Sing We All Noel" prior to the 2000s please share that information in the discussion thread below. Also, if you have any information about this song, please share that information in this post's discussion thread. Thanks!

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LYRICS - AFRICAN NOEL ("SING NOEL")

(Arr. Andre J. Thomas)

"(forte) Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel

(piano) Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel

(mezzo piano) Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel

(mezzo forte) Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel Sing we all Noel (x4)

(pianissimo) Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel (x 2)

(piano) Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel

(mezzo piano) Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel

Sop1 & Alto Sing we all Noel

Sop 2 Sing we all Noel (x4)

Sop1 & Alto Oh Sing __________________________ (x2)

Sop 2 Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel (x2)

 

(All) Oh Come, ye people gather here

To hear the news of good cheer.

The King of Kings, the Lamb of God

Is born today in Bethlehem

 

Sop1 & Alto Sing Noel ____

Sop 2 Sing Noel Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel

Sop1 & Alto Sing Noel ____

Sop 2 _____Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel

Sop1 & Alto Sing Noel

(All) Oh sing Noel Noel Sing Noel Noel Sing!

https://menza.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/African-Noel-Lyrics-1.pdf

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - African Noel (Sing Noel), arr. Andre J. Thomas (2006) | SATB choir

 

 Marionettes Choral, June 2020

The Marionettes adult and youth choirs perform a SATB choral arrangement — by celebrated African-American composer and arranger Andre J. Thomas — of the African Noel (also known as Sing Noel) at Queen's Hall, Trinidad & Tobago, Caribbean. Conductor: Gretta Taylor. Movement: Noble Douglas. African drummers led by Everald "Redman" Watson. Filmed by Trinity TV. **** SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - African Noel (arr. André J. Thomas)

Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir, Dec 25, 2017 Good Tidings!  A Good

Noise Gospel Christmas, December 2017

Gail Suderman, Artistic Director

Elliot Polsky - Percussion **** Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

YouTube Videos Of "This Christmas" Soul Line Dance (choreographed by Roland Ford to Donny Hathaway's Record "This Christmas")

Roland Ford, December 3, 2021

This video features Roland Ford, choreographer, Tazi Hughes, fitness instructor, and 8 year old Jaiya Hughes, junior fitness instructor.

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases examples of the soul line dance "This Christmas" that features Donny Hathaway's 1970 song of that name and soul line dance choreography by Roland Ford, Founder/former Director, choreographer of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Dance And Be Fit program

This video also features fitness teacher Tazi Hughes, and junior fitness teacher Jaiya Hughes.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Donny Hathaway and Nadine McKinnor for composing the song "This Christmas".

Thanks to singer, keyboardist, songwriter, and arranger Donny Hathaway  (October 1, 1945 – January 13, 1979 for his cultural legacy. Rest in Power.

Thanks to Roland Ford (October 4, 1948 - October 14, 2023) for founding the Dance And Be Fitness soul line dance program that helps people of all ages and abilities enjoy themselves while staying fit, and/or helps to increase their physical mobility. Thanks also to Roland Ford for choreographing "This Christmas" line dance and other soul line dances. Rest in Power.  

Thanks to all those who are featured in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.  
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Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donny_Hathaway for information about Donny Hathaway (October 1, 1945 – January 13, 1979)

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/12/donny-hathaway-this-christmas-official.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled Donny Hathaway's 1970 Song - "This Christmas" (videos, information, & lyrics

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/12/dance-and-be-fit-line-danceexercise.html
That post showcases the December 3, 2021 video of Roland Ford's choreography for the "This Christmas" soul line dance (given as Video #1 in this 2023 pancocojam post). That 2021 post also presents information about Roland Ford's Dance And Be Fit program.

Also, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbvjcMawjKg for the 2022 YouTube video entitled "The Story of Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” "

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS 

VIDEO #2 -Soul line dance "This Christmas"

 

Roland Ford, Dec 8, 2013

Soul line dance "This Christmas" created by Roland Ford.  This video was done at a Gospel Line Dance event sponsored by the Northside COGIC in Pittsburgh.  None of the participants are regular line dancers.  We just taught them the steps and they performed the dance.  We all enjoy Donny Hathaway's rendition of this song.  Hope everyone has a safe and Blessed Holiday and a prosperous 2014.

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VIDEO #3 - This Christmas Line Dance

Rhonda Ponda, Dec 25, 2018

Song: This Christmas

Artist: Donny Hathaway

Choreographer: Roland Ford

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VIDEO #4 - This Christmas Line Dance choreographed by Roland Ford

ShaWauna Moore, Dec 18, 2022  INDIANA

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Late 19th Century/Early 20th Century Lyrics For "Child Of God" ("If Anybody Ask You Who I Am") & Information About Some Other Late 19th Century/Early 20th Century African American Christmas Songs

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a three part pancocojams series about the African American song "If Anybody Ask You Who I Am" (also known as "Tell Them I'm A Child Of God", and "Child Of God".

This post presents some information about and lyric examples of late 19th century African American Christmas songs.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-soul-children-of-chicago-tell-them.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post showcases a YouTube video of The Soul Children Of Chicago singing a version of this song in the early 1980s. My transcription of the lyrics for that song is included in that post.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/12/more-lyrics-to-gospel-song-if-anybody.html  for Part III of this pancocojams series. Part III presents additional lyrics of 'if Anybody Tells You Who I Am" that I found online.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the unknown composer/s of this song and thanks to the collectors of these songs. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

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ARTICLE AND DISCUSSION THREAD EXCERPTS

These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

EXCERPT #1
From https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=167719
Subject: ADD: Child of God (Mother's Child)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Apr 20 - 08:34 PM

"CHILD OF GOD (Mother's Child)

 If anybody ask you who I am,
Who I am, who I am,
If anybody ask you who I am,
Tell him I'm a child of God (mother's child).

The little cradle rocks tonight in glory,
In glory, in glory,
The little cradle rocks tonight in glory,
The Christ child born in glory. [Jesus was a mother's child]

Peace on earth, Mary rock the cradle,
Mary rock the cradle, Mary rock the cradle,
Peace on earth, Mary rock the cradle,
The Christ child born in glory

The Christ Child passing, singing softly,
Singing softly, singing softly,
The Christ Child passing, singing softly,
Christ child born in glory

Don't you hear the foot on the tree top,
Foot on the tree top, foot on the tree top,
Don't you hear the foot on the tree top,
Soft like the south wind blow?

from American Folk Songs for Christmas, by Ruth Crawford Seeger (Doubleday) page 40

Verse 1 from Mellows, by R. Emmett Kennedy, 1925

Verses 2-5 from the Journal of American Folklore, Vol 12, 1899, p. 272, "Christmas Carols in Georgia," by Emma Backus (slightly altered by Ruth Crawford Seeger)

2013 Recording by Elizabeth Mitchell, Peggy Seeger from The Sounding Joy: Christmas Songs In and Out of the Ruth Crawford Seeger Songbook:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi1F0ijtpl4

Lyrics in parentheses by Peggy Seeger –“
-snip-
* American Folk Songs for Christmas, by Ruth Crawford Seeger (book) was originally published in 1953.

The lyrics for "Child Of God ("Mother's Child") as given above were used with a few slight changes in (White American) Pop singer Bobby Darin's 1960 record "Child Of God". 
https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/2013161/Bobby+Darin/Child+of+God

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EXCERPT #2
From https://artandtheology.org/2020/12/21/american-folk-songs-for-christmas-ruth-crawford-seeger/  "American Folk Songs for Christmas, compiled by Ruth Crawford Seeger", Posted on December 21, 2020 by Victoria Emily Jones
"Ruth Crawford Seeger (1901–1953) was a pioneering American folk music specialist who selected, transcribed, and placed songs from the vast collections of the Lomax family and others into published works for use in primary schools and homes.

[...]

Ruth keenly felt an urgency to save American folk songs from extinction. Toiling deep in the archives of the Library of Congress alongside the famed father, son, and daughter musicologist team of John Avery Lomax, Alan Lomax, and Bess Lomax Hawes, she sifted through their 10,000 field recordings of native singers and transcribed songs. She helped the Lomaxes produce two sweeping surveys of “people’s music,” Our Singing Country (1941) and Best Loved American Folk Songs (1947), creating notated versions for over 300 folk songs (the second anthology with the help of both her husband Charles Seeger and her stepson Pete Seeger).

[...]

Although at least half the selections will still be unfamiliar to the general public, several have become beloved classics, especially some of the African American spirituals, like “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” “Children, Go Where I Send Thee,” and “Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow.” While Ruth wasn’t the only one drawing attention to these songs—the lengthy Acknowledgments section cites the publisher, society, institution, and/or individual each song was sourced from—she was certainly an important popularizer.

Twenty of these songs were released in 1957 on an album of the same title, American Folk Songs for Christmas, performed by Ruth’s daughters Peggy, Barbara, and Penny Seeger and with children from the South Boston Music School. In 2013 the songs were revitalized with the release of The Sounding Joy: Christmas Songs in and out of the Ruth Crawford Seeger Songbook by Elizabeth Mitchell and friends. Both albums were put out by Smithsonian Folkways, the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution."...

One of my favorites is “Baby Born Today,” a “shout” song from McIntosh County, Georgia, that was traditionally sung at Watch Night services at Black churches on Christmas Eve, the lyrics traded back and forth from leader to group for a long time. [5] Folklorist Robert W. Gordon learned it from Mary C. Mann, a deaconess in the Episcopal Church, when doing field recordings in Darien, Georgia, in 1926.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh6Tq67EMrY [Pancocojams Editor: This 2013 video by Elizabeth Mitchell & Friends is embedded in this article.]

Another African American Christmas spiritual is “Sing Hallelu,” which is from St. Helena Island, South Carolina. It’s sung here by Elizabeth Mitchell and her husband, Daniel Littleton, accompanied on harp by Elizabeth Clark-Jerez.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if589A_arvk&t=1s"... [Pancocojams Editor: This 2013 video by Elizabeth Mitchell & Friends is embedded in this article.]
-snip-
This article includes some additional songs and videos of African American Christmas songs from the late 19th and early 20th century as well as Christmas songs from other American traditions.

****
EXCERPT #3
From https://genius.com/Norfolk-jazz-and-jubilee-quartette-if-anybody-asks-you-who-i-am-lyrics

Norfolk Jazz And Jubilee Quartets: Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Vol. 3 (1925-1927) (1995)

Norfolk Jazz & Jubilee Quartette [1927]

[Chorus]

If anybody asks you who I am
Who I am, who I am
If anybody asks you who I am
Tell them I'm a child of God

If anybody asks you who I am
Who I am, who I am
If anybody asks you who I am
Tell them I'm a child of God

[Verse 1]

See that a-sister come walking
She is dressed so fine
She ain't got the love of Jesus
She’s prancing ‘cross that line*

[Chorus]

If anybody asks you who I am
Who I am, who I am
If anybody asks you who I am
Tell them I'm a child of God

[Verse 2]

Now just mind, old baptist brother
Now just how you walk on the cross
Now if you make just one misstep
Brother, your soul'll be lost

[Chorus]

If anybody asks you who I am
Who I am, who I am
If anybody asks you who I am
Tell them I'm a child of God

[Verse 3]

Now you see that sister [hard/how you/how she] laughing
Looking so big and fat
Now I walk right over and ask her
"Sister, where your 'ligion at?"

[Chorus]

If anybody asks you who I am
Who I am, who I am
If anybody asks you who I am
Tell them I'm a child of God

[Verse 4]

Now she didn't pay me no answer
She just looked at me and smiled
She said "Lord, Lord," said "Brother, Lord
My brother, I'm a child of God"

 

[Chorus]

If anybody asks you who I am
Who I am, who I am
If anybody asks you who I am
Tell them I'm a child of God
If anybody asks you who I am
Who I am, who I am
If anybody asks you who I am
Tell them I'm a child of God, of God

 

*This is my transcription of those lyrics from a short sound file that is found on that genius.com link. Those lyrics replace the question mark that the genuis.com transcriber had for that line.

Additions and corrections are welcome.
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This concludes Part II of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

African American Christmas Song - "Children, Go Where I Send Thee" (information, video, and lyrics)

Spelman College,   Dec 23, 2019

Children, Go Where I Send Thee, arr. Kevin Johnson

Performed by the Spelman College Glee Club during the 93rd Annual Spelman-Morehouse Christmas Carol Concert.

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Edited by Azizi Powell Latest revision -December 23, 2025

This pancocojams post showcases a video of the Spelman College Glee Club performing the song "Children Go Where I Send Thee". Information about and "standard" lyrics for that African American Christmas song are also included in this post. The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the unknown composer/s of "Children, Go Where I Send Thee". Thanks also to all those who quoted in this post and all those who are featured in this showcase video.****INFORMATION ABOUT FOR "CHILDREN, GO WHERE I SEND THEE"From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children,_Go_Where_I_Send_Thee [retrieved 2022]

“Children, Go Where I Send Thee” (alternatively “Children, Go Where I Send You” or variations thereof, also known as “The Holy Baby,” “Little Bitty Baby,” or “Born in Bethlehem”) is a traditional African-American spiritual song.[1] Among the many different versions of the song, a defining feature is the cumulative structure, with each number (typically up to 12 or 10) accompanied by a biblical reference. Today, many Americans know it as a Christmas carol.[2]

[...]

Origins

The song’s origins are uncertain; however, its nearest known relative is the English folk song “The Twelve Apostles.”[2] Both songs are listed in the Roud Folk Song Index as #133. Parallel features in the two songs’ cumulative structure and lyrics (cumulating to 12 loosely biblical references) make this connection apparent. While “The Twelve Apostles” began appearing in English folk song collections in the mid-eighteen hundreds, the song’s origins likely span back much further. Possible earlier points of origin include the traditional Yiddish Passover song “Echad Mi Yodea,” which was first documented in the 16th century.[2]

In 1908 in Gloucestershire, composer Percy Grainger used a phonogram to capture the earliest known sound recordings of “The Twelve Apostles.”[5] From 1908 to 1917, folklorist Cecil Sharp transcribed multiple versions of “The Twelve Apostles” in Appalachia, providing evidence of the song’s propagation into the American South.[6]

In 1934, folklorists John Avery Lomax and Alan Lomax travelled to Bellwood Labor Camp in Atlanta, Georgia, as part of a field recording trip. This trip produced the earliest known version of the tune to be recorded in North America. Sung by an unidentified group of African-American convicts, the recording presents a number of notable elements that begin to distinguish the song from its English ancestor.... The lyrics also show a trend toward those more commonly associated with “Children, Go Where I Send Thee.” For instance, the line “Two, two, the lily-white boys clothed all in green” in Grainger’s recording [of "The Twelve Apostles"] has become “One was the little white babe all dressed in blue” in the Bellwood Prison Camp recording.[7][2]

“Children, Go Where I Send Thee” became further distanced from its English ancestor with The Golden Gate Quartet’s 1937 commercial recording of the song for RCA Victor's Bluebird label.[8] This recording features further lyrical and stylistic developments worth noting. The lines for the numbers three and two are: “Three was the Hebrew children; two was Paul and Silas.” As with many spirituals, these references to imprisoned biblical figures are analogues for the enslavement of African Americans. Coupled with the recording’s rhythmically driven jubilee quartet style, these features make the song a distinctly American folk tune.[2]

While the Golden Gate Quartet were largely responsible for popularizing the song, theirs was only one of many contemporary versions. The Golden Gate Quartet themselves learned the song from another jubilee quartet, the Heavenly Gospel Singers.[2]"... -snip- Although most online sources categorize "Children, Go Where I Send Thee" as a "Spiritual", I categorize it as an early African American Gospel song since I adhere to the position that African American Spirituals are those religious songs from Black American which were composed up to and including 1865 (the end of the United States Civil War). Furthermore, according to this comment by a blogger who went by the name of Q in the internet folk music forum Mudcat: ["Children Go Where I Send Thee" is ]  "Not found in the collections of old slave and plantation songs nor later collections of spirituals. Not listed as a spiritual in the Cleveland Index."... http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=5139 (03 Dec 05-9:13 PM) 

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"STANDARD" LYRICS FOR "CHILDREN, GO WHERE I SEND THEE" [composers unknown; traditional African American song]

Children go where I send thee, 
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
One by one
One for the little, bitty baby
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.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Three by three
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Four by four
Four for the four that stood at the door.
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Five by five
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Six by six
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Seven by seven
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Eight by eight
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Nine by nine
Nine for the nine that dressed so fine
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Ten by ten
Ten for the ten that never got in
Nine for the nine that dressed so fine
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Eleven by eleven
Eleven for the eleven deriders
Ten for the ten that never got in
Nine for the nine that dressed so fine
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Twelve by twelve
Twelve for the Twelve Apostles
Eleven for the eleven deriders
Ten for the ten that never got in
Nine for the nine that dressed so fine
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Online source: https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=5018
-snip-
* I sung these words as "who was born, born, born in Bethlehem"
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SOME EXPLANATIONS FOR "STANDARD" LYRICS AND OTHER LYRICS FOR THIS SONG
[I gleaned these explanations from several offline and online sources.]

One for the little bitty baby (meaning Jesus).
Two for Paul and Silas. (or "two for Mary and Joseph")
Three for the three men riding (meaning the three Kings/Magi); or "three for the Hebrew children")
Four for the four knocking on the door (meaning the Four Evangelists).
Five for the Five that came back alive (or "five for the Gospel preachers")
Six for the six that never got fixed. 
Seven for the seven that all went to Heaven
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate.
Nine for the nine that stood in the line.
Ten for the Ten Commandments.
Eleven for the eleven deriders.
Twelve for the Twelve Apostles (or the twelve Disciples)

In the line "eleven deriders", "deriders" means people who deride (ridicule) the Bible. Because of folk processing (accidental mishearing, misremembering etc.) that line is also given as "eleven is the (or for the) Gospel riders (or Gospel writers).

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Todrick Hall - "Bells, Bows, Gifts, Trees" (video, information, and lyrics)

todrickhall, Dec. 1, 2020

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents information about Todrick Hall and showcases Todrick Hall's 2020 song/video "Bells, Bows, Gifts, Trees". This song and video is a cover of his 2019 hit song "Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels".

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

All copyright remains with their owners,

Thanks to Todrick Hall for his music and dancing. Thanks to all those who are associated with this song and this video and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

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INFORMATION ABOUT TODRICK HALL
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todrick_Hall
"Todrick Hall (born April 4, 1985) is an American singer, choreographer, and YouTuber. He gained national attention on the ninth season of the televised singing competition American Idol. Following this, he amassed a huge following on YouTube with viral videos including original songs, parodies, and skits. A documentary series about his video-making process titled Todrick aired on MTV in 2015.

Starting with season eight, Hall became a resident choreographer and occasional judge on RuPaul's Drag Race.[3][4] From 2016 to 2017, Hall starred as Lola in Kinky Boots on Broadway. Later in 2017, he began appearances as Billy Flynn in Chicago on Broadway and the West End.

As a singer-songwriter he has released four studio albums, including the visual albums Straight Outta Oz (2016) and Forbidden (2018). In 2020 he released an EP, Quarantine Queen, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic featuring "Mask, Gloves, Soap, Scrub", and was the international host of Global Pride 2020.[5][6]"...

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REVIEW OF TODRICK HALL'S "BELLS, BOWS, GIFTS, TREES" SONG & ITS OFFICIAL VIDEO
From https://instinctmagazine.com/todrick-halls-bells-bows-gifts-trees-will-make-your-holi-slay/  "Todrick Hall’s ‘Bells Bows Gifts Trees’ Will Make Your Holi-Slay"; December 3, 2020 by Michael Cook
"Sleigh what!? Todrick Hall has reworked his now legendary track ‘Nails Hair Hips Heels’ for the holidays, serving up a brand new version titled “Bells Bows Gifts Trees” that is sure to help get us through a holiday season like we’ve never seen before. The accompanying video shows Hall and his legion of background dancers (including an out of drag Cake Moss) once again, in a warehouse. Garbed in vibrant red leather gloves and with a massive neon-green Christmas tree in the background, Hall hits every mark to pitch-perfect lyrics like “and then I trim the tree, it’s The Three Wise Men for me, Home Alone is on tv…Throughout the track there are faint sounds of jingling holiday bells and gift wrap tearing, adding to the holiday splendor and vibe of the track. "...

Of course, this is not the first time Todrick has put a new (and timely) spin on the pulsing track that made us all stomp the runway the moment it was released early in 2019. As the pandemic took hold this past summer, those very same dance floors were cleared, Hall dropped an entire EP exclusively of pandemic-related tracks (the aptly titled Quarantine Queen). The EP included a rework of ‘Nails Hair Hips Heels’ titled ‘Masks Gloves Soap Scrubs’ (with an accompanying video with guests including Tiffany Haddish, Kandi Burruss, Amber Riley & Peppermint). "....

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LYRICS - BELLS, BOWS, GIFTS, TREES
(written by Jean-Yves “Jeeve” Ducornet & Todrick Hall)

[Verse 1]
Bells, bows, gifts, trees
Snowmen, snow ski
Squeezin' down chimneys
Santa's thiccc, three Cs
Ice skates, cold mist
Mistletoe, get kissed
No mask? Naughty list
Whoville, who dis?
Rum-pa-pum-pum, get an ugly sweater
Sugar plum plum, this is Yuletide weather
All the reindeer and the sleigh is loaded
All I want for Christmas is a cure for COVID

[Pre-Chorus]
Girl, what did that girl just say, girl?
Ooh girl, I don't dance, I prance (Prance)
I don't sled, I slay (Slay)
I don't stop, I shop, shop, shop till Christmas Day (Okay)
And then I trim the tree (Yep)
It's the three wise men for me (That's right)
Home Alone is on TV (Vee)
So I might let you see (What you gonna let them see?)

[Chorus]
My bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees (Aah!)

My bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees

[Verse 2]
Saint Nick, coat puffed
Mrs Claus, skirt fluffed
Singin' carols, hands muffed
Milk, cookies, I'm stuffed
Lights up, let's cruise
Card maxed, mom's booze
Teddy bear, it's huge
Trump is the new Scrooge
Fa-la-la-la, go be gay and merry
Get that eggnog, gingerbread, cranberry
Ratty rat king and a dewdrop fairy
Alexa, play Mariah Carey

Girl, what did that girl just say, girl?
Ooh girl, I don't dance, I prance (Prance)
I don't sled, I slay (Slay) 
I don't stop, I shop, shop, shop till Christmas Day (Okay)
And then I trim the tree (Yep) 
It's the Yule log for me (That's right) 
Charlie Brown is on TV 
(Tee Vee) 
So I might let you see (What you gonna let them see?)

[Chorus]
My bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees (Aah!)

My bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees

[Break]
Alright, Christmas queens, y'all know what time it is, come on
Hang up all of your decor, hang up all of your decor
Now I want you to get your tinsel, get your stockings, get your lights, get your wreaths
'Cause I don't want to see you dance
I want to see you prance, come on

[Bridge]

Shop for me, shop for me, shop
Shop for me, shop for me, shop
Shop for me, shop for me, shop
Shop for me, shop for me, shop

Tongue pop for me, pop for me (Pop)
Tongue pop for me, pop for me (Pop)
Tongue pop for me, pop for me (Pop)
Tongue pop for me, pop for me (Pop)

Say "brr" for me, "brr" for me, brr
Say "brr" for me, "brr" for me, brr (Woohoo)
Say "brr" for me, "brr" for me, brr (It's cold!)
Say "brr" for me, "brr" for me, brr

Give myrrh for me, myrrh for me, myrhh
Give myrrh for me, myrrh for me, myrhh
Give myrrh for me, myrrh for me, myrhh
Give myrrh for me, myrrh for me, myrhh (Come on, nativity!)

Now snow for me, snow for me, snow
Snow for me, snow for me, snow (Woo)
Snow for me, snow for me, snow (Haha)
Snow for me, snow for me, snow (I know you better kick!)

Ho-ho-ho for me, ho for me, ho
Ho for me, ho for me, ho
Ho-ho-ho for me, ho for me, ho (Ho ho ho)
Ho for me, ho for me, ho (Merry Christmas)

Now wrap for me, wrap for me, wrap
Wrap for me, wrap for me, wrap
Wrap-wrap for me, wrap for me, wrap
Wrap for me, wrap for me, wrap

Now clap for me, clap for me, clap
Clap for me, clap for me, clap
Clap for me, clap for me, clap
Clap for me, clap for me, clap (Let's go)

Shake your butt for me, butt for me, butt
Butt for me, butt for me, butt
Shake your butt for me, butt for me, butt
Butt for me, butt for me, butt

Crack nuts for me, nuts for me, nuts
Nuts for me, nuts for me, nuts
Crack nuts for me, nuts for me, nuts
Nuts for me, nuts for me, nuts

[Outro]
That's all
Ha ha ha ha!


Online source: https://genius.com/Todrick-hall-bells-bows-gifts-trees-lyrics

release date: Dec 1, 2020

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