Natalie Anne Merchant (born October 26, 1963 in Jamestown, New York) is an … Read Full Bio ↴Natalie Anne Merchant (born October 26, 1963 in Jamestown, New York) is an American alternative rock singer-songwriter. After rising to fame at the helm of the popular folk-rock band 10,000 Maniacs, Natalie Merchant enjoyed even greater success as a solo artist during the mid-'90s. Her literate, socially conscious songs established her among the preeminent women in pop music, while her solo debut -- 1995's Tigerlily -- helped pave the way for a number of female performers in a pre-Lilith Fair market. She continued releasing albums well into the 2000s, often examining specific genres or subjects, although Tigerlily remained her biggest-selling record.
In My Tribe. Merchant joined 10,000 Maniacs at the age of 17 and became the band's driving artistic force. After a pair of successful independent releases, they signed to Elektra in 1985 and briefly became one of the most popular acts in alternative rock, shooting into the Top 40 with 1987's In My Tribe and charting even higher with their follow-up effort, Blind Man's Zoo. Merchant's desire to launch a solo career increased alongside the band's growing reputation, however, and by the time the group sat down to record 1992's Our Time in Eden, she gave her bandmates two years' notice. Following the release of MTV Unplugged in 1994, she publicly announced she was leaving the group's ranks.
OpheliaMerchant made her solo debut with 1995's Tigerlily, a self-produced album that debuted at number 13 and scored a Top Ten single with "Carnival." Two additional singles, "Wonder" and "Jealousy," also cracked the Top 40, prompting Tigerlily to sell over five million copies in the U.S. alone. It was followed in 1998 by Ophelia, another platinum-selling effort that was supported by Merchant's inclusion in the second Lilith Fair tour. Live in Concert, recorded at New York's Neil Simon Theatre, appeared a year later. A prominent social activist, Merchant also drew notice by campaigning in the name of such hot-button issues as animal rights, domestic violence, and homelessness.
MotherlandMerchant launched a folk tour in 2000, with members of progressive folk band the Horse Flies joining her on the road. She then returned to her solo career with Motherland. Two years later, Merchant left Elektra's roster and formed her own independent label, Myth America, in order to issue House Carpenter's Daughter, a collection of traditional and contemporary folk music inspired by the 2000 tour. A long period of silence followed, during which a pair of greatest-hits releases -- the 10,000 Maniacs collection Campfire Songs and Merchant's own Retrospective: 1995-2005 -- kept fans relatively sated. As the decade drew to a close, though, Merchant signed with Nonesuch Records and began making plans for a new album, which eventually arrived in the form of the ambitious, double-disc neo-children's album, 2010's Leave Your Sleep. Merchant returned to straight-ahead pop music with a self-titled album in May 2014.

Children Go Where I Send Thee
Natalie Merchant Lyrics

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Children go where I send thee
How shall I send thee?
Well, I'm gonna send thee one by one
One for the iddy biddy baby
Wrapped in swaddling clothing
Lying in a manger
He was born, born, born in Bethlehem

Children go where I send thee
How shall I send thee?
Well, I'm gonna send thee two by two
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the iddy biddy baby
Wrapped in swaddling clothing
Lying in a manger
He was 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 iddy biddy baby
Wrapped in swaddling clothing
Lying in a manger
He was born, born, born in Bethlehem

Children go where I send thee
How shall I send thee?
Well, I'm gonna send thee four by four
Four for the four knocking at my door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the iddy biddy baby
Wrapped in swaddling clothing
Lying in a manger
He was born, born, born in Bethlehem

Children go where I send thee
How shall I send thee?
Well, I'm gonna send thee five by five
Five for the gospel preachers
Four for the four knocking at my door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the iddy biddy baby
Wrapped in swaddling clothing
And lying in a manger
He was born, born, born in Bethlehem
He was born, born, born in Bethlehem

He was born, born, born in Bethlehem
Born in Bethlehem

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Natalie Merchant's song "Where I Go" are a traditional African American spiritual song that has been adapted and changed over time. The song is a cumulative song that follows a pattern of sending out groups in increasing numbers. The song's central theme is the birth of Jesus Christ, and the groups represent various individuals who played a role in his story.

The first verse starts with sending "one for the iddy biddy baby wrapped in swaddling clothing lying in a manger." This is a clear reference to the birth of Jesus Christ. The song then continues with increasing numbers, e.g., two for Paul and Silas, three for the Hebrew children, four for the four knocking at the door, and five for the gospel preachers. The final verse brings all the groups together, culminating in the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.

The song is a representation of the call to spread the message of Jesus to the world, starting with one person and spreading to many. It is a reminder that Christianity is about bringing people together and sharing the good news.

Line by Line Meaning

Children go where I send thee
People follow the path that I choose for them

How shall I send thee?
What is the best way for me to guide you?

Well, I'm gonna send thee one by one
I will send you individually, one at a time

One for the iddy biddy baby
One person to care for the tiny newborn

Wrapped in swaddling clothing
Covered in warm, protective fabrics

Lying in a manger
Sleeping in a humble feeding trough

He was born, born, born in Bethlehem
The baby was born in the small town of Bethlehem

Two for Paul and Silas
Two people to accompany Paul and Silas

I'm gonna send thee three by three
Sending individuals in groups of three

Three for the Hebrew children
Three individuals to protect the Hebrew children

Four for the four knocking at my door
Four people who are seeking help or a place to stay