Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1954 and started out in a tradition-based style. Eventually they added soul, R&B, and rock flourishes into their musical mix (one of their early hits was produced by Gamble and Huff) without diluting the essential religious essence of their material. The long-lived group flourished throughout the rest of the 20th century, scoring numerous Grammy Awards and nominations, as well as several hit albums along the way.
Based in Los Angeles, California, the original group members include Joe Ligon (d. 2016), Johnny Martin (d. 1987), Ermant Franklin Jr., Artis Turnbough (d. 1999), Elmo Franklin (d. 2008), Richard Wallace, Leon Polk and David Walker (who also recorded several tracks with Link Wray under the name Bunker Hill).
Also performed as: The Mighty Mighty Clouds of Joy, Joe Ligon & the Mighty Clouds of Joy
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Mighty Clouds Of Joy Lyrics
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Over silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens,
There shone a holy light:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.
The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Saviour's birth:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.
Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And God send us salvation,
That blessed Christmas morn:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.
When I am a seeker,
I seek both night and day;
I seek the Lord to help me,
And He shows me the way:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.
He made me a watchman
Upon the city wall,
And if I am a Christian,
I am the least of all.
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.
The lyrics of Mighty Clouds Of Joy's Go Tell It On The Mountain describe the story of Jesus' birth as it is told in the Bible. The song begins by painting a picture of the shepherds watching over their flocks on a quiet night when suddenly a bright light appeared in the sky. This light was a sign of the birth of Jesus Christ, and the shepherds were amazed and afraid. Then, the lyrics recount the story of the angels appearing to the shepherds and telling them about the birth of the Savior, which caused them to spread the good news everywhere they went. Finally, the song reflects on the personal journey of faith of the singer, who seeks help from the Lord and becomes a watchman for the Christian community.
The lyrics of Go Tell It On The Mountain serve as a beautiful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas and the importance of spreading the good news of Jesus' birth. The song's message is uplifting and inspiring, encouraging believers to share the joy of Christ's birth with others. The lyrics also emphasize that even those who feel like the least significant members of the Christian community have an important role to play in spreading the gospel.
Line by Line Meaning
While shepherds kept their watching Over silent flocks by night
While the shepherds diligently watched over their flocks at night, in silence
Behold throughout the heavens, There shone a holy light
Suddenly, a holy light illuminated the entire sky
The shepherds feared and trembled When lo! above the earth Rang out the angel chorus That hailed our Saviour's birth
The shepherds were frightened and amazed as they heard the angel chorus announcing the birth of our Savior
Down in a lowly manger Our humble Christ was born And God send us salvation That blessed Christmas morn
Jesus Christ was born in a humble manger on the blessed morning of Christmas, sent to bring us salvation
When I am a seeker, I seek both night and day; I seek the Lord to help me, And He shows me the way
As a seeker, I search for the Lord both day and night, and He guides me on my path
He made me a watchman Upon the city wall, And if I am a Christian, I am the least of all
God made me a watchman, to guard the city walls, and as a humble Christian, I am the least of them all
Go, Tell It On The Mountain, Over the hills and everywhere; Go, Tell It On The Mountain That Jesus Christ is born.
Spread the news of Jesus Christ's birth throughout the mountains, hills, and everywhere, for all to hear and know
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: PAUL BATEMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind