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Talk:Go Tell It on the Mountain (song)

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Initial message[edit]

This article claims the song is written by John W. Work (which is the usual attribution), and dates back to 1865. Work was born in 1871, so this combination is unlikely. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Adalger (talk • contribs) 19:03, 30 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Crabb won Song of the Year for his single "Sometimes I Cry" as well Inspirational Recorded Song for "Joseph." http://www.christianpost.com/news/battistelli-august-win-big-at-42nd-dove-awards-49926/

Crabb's version of "Go Tell in on the Mountain" is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zHymcURHww

It should be clear that this is not an award winning recording; start at 1:34, phrase 2 he knows by heart. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.117.123.60 (talk) 19:00, 8 December 2011 (UTC)[reply]

The articles suggests only two artists have recorded this song in its 'Recording artists' section, instead of the many who have. Looking through its history, the article used to have lists of recording artists but these were removed by Walter Görlitz. I added Simon & Garfunkel to this list but it was reverted by Walter Görlitz. Why was this change reverted and why should the article state/imply something that's not true? Thanks. ToaneeM (talk) 09:00, 15 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Walter kindly linked to WP:COVERSONG in his edit summary. Are you familiar with that policy? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 10:15, 15 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Ah, I missed that but it's clear as day now I look. Have read it and now understand why the article is as it is. At least this discussion serves as an explanation to others. Thanks very much, Walter Görlitz and Martinevans123.ToaneeM (talk) 13:10, 15 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

It's not a policy though. If a song has few covers, it would be acceptable to list non-charting versions. However, when a song has many renditions, it's best to exclude non-notable cover versions. Walter Görlitz (talk) 14:23, 15 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

There might also be a reference to Isaiah 52,7 ("How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"). On the other hand, this Bible passage was probably less well-known in the 19th century, as it only became a part of the Catholic readings for Christmas in 1970 (and in German EKD protestantism even later, in 1978). 37.209.63.230 (talk) 01:54, 10 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]

AngryHoneyBadgers has added the following on 23 February 2023:

"The earliest known publication of the song is attributed to John Wesley Work, Jr. (1871-1925) who published the song in the New Jubilee Songs as Sung by the Fisk Jubilee Singers (1901)^[1]. While many books and websites attribute the New Jubilee Songs as Sung by the Fisk Jubilee Singers to John Wesley Work, Jr. in 1901, some sources argue the origins lie with Frederick Jerome Work in 1902^[2]."

I think, that this is a blantant misunderstanding of the sources cited. [1] is not available online, and I do not have access to the 3rd edition of Crump, but in the 4th edition Crump states (p 237):

"... others attribute it to John Wesley Work, Jr. (1871-1925), a black instructor of Greek and Latin at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee (founded in 1865 with the purpose of educating freed slaves). His composer-brother Frederick Jerome Work (1880-1942) collected, harmonized and published several collections of slave songs and spirituals, the earliest being New Jubilee Songs as Sung by the Fisk Jubilee Singers (1902). John Work, Jr., allegedly wrote the lyrics to "Go Tell" and then paired them with the musical setting for an older spiritual titled "When I Was a Seeker" (also the first words to one of the verses to "Go Tell"), to which his son, John W. Work, III (1901-1967) also provided a harmonization."

No mentioning that "Go Tell" has been included in New Jubilee Songs, this connection has been made in mistake. The facsimile of New Jubilee Songs (1904 edition) shows, that the song is in fact not part of the collection. Crump continues:

"The earliest printed version of "Go Tell" appeared in Religious Songs of the Negro as Sung on the Plantations (new edition, 1909) in slave dialect."

Another contributor has replaced Crump as source with hymnary.org, but also on this website the earliest source cited is a hymnal dated 1910.

Later on, Gopadres13 has added:

"It was not until the second version he published that “Go Tell it On the Mountain” was included. ^[1]"

But the Source [2] does not mention the second versionofNew Jubilee Song, but rather:

"But Work proved up to the challenge, publishing his first book, New Jubilee Songs as Sung by the Fisk Jubilee Singers, in Songs of the American Negro, six years later. It was in this second volume that “Go, Tell It on the Mountain” first appeared."

From [3] I would assume that the 1907 print of "Folk Songs of the American Negro" is meant by this, however, these prints do not include the song. FordPrefect42 (talk) 22:06, 11 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]