Originally a traditional African-American spiritual song, Children Go Where I Send Thee was first printed in 1936 but the song likely dates back to sometime in the 17th or 18th centuries. The song is cumulative, meaning that each verse builds up in progression and requires each singer to memorize the lyrics as the song is performed in a group. The song goes up to twelve, similar to The Twelve Days of Christmas, each referring to a Biblical story, counting back to the first verse, “One for the little bitty baby.”
The song counts the three men riding (the Magi), the Evangelists, the five gospel writers, the Ten Commandments, and the twelve apostles. Several versions of the lyrics exist and the song is sometimes called “The Holy Baby” or “Born in Bethlehem.” This Christmas carol has been recorded by several choirs and pop singers, including Neil Diamond, Natalie Merchant, The Weavers, and Kenny Rogers.
Lyrics
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
That was 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
That 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 little bitty baby
That was 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
That was 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 five that stayed alive
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
That was 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 five that stayed alive
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
That was 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 who never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the five that stayed alive
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
That was 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 who never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the five that stayed alive
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
That was 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 who never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the five that stayed alive
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
That was 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 commandments
Nine for the nine that dressed so fine
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven who never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the five that stayed alive
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
That was born, born, born in Bethlehem