Peter, Paul & Mary – Tell It On The Mountain

About The Song

“Tell It on the Mountain” is a traditional African-American spiritual, adapted into a folk song by Peter, Paul and Mary. The spiritual, also known as “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” dates back to at least 1865, rooted in enslaved communities’ oral traditions. The trio’s version was arranged by Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey, Mary Travers, and Milton Okun, drawing from a 1960 arrangement by Harry Belafonte and Robert De Cormier. It was recorded in 1963 at Bell Sound Studios in New York City, produced by Albert Grossman and Milton Okun. The song was released as a single in November 1963 by Warner Bros. Records, with “Old Coat” as the B-side, and included on their album In the Wind, released on October 1, 1963. The track, running 2:53, is a folk-gospel piece featuring vibrant harmonies and acoustic instrumentation.

The single entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 76 on December 7, 1963, peaking at number 33 on January 4, 1964, and remained on the chart for eight weeks. It also reached number 7 on the Billboard Middle-Road Singles (Adult Contemporary) chart. Internationally, it peaked at number 15 in Canada on the CHUM Chart and number 22 in Australia. Cash Box described it as a “rousing, gospel-flavored folk item” with “infectious energy,” praising the trio’s dynamic delivery. The song’s release capitalized on the success of their earlier 1963 hits like “Blowin’ in the Wind,” reinforcing their prominence in the folk revival.

Background details include the song’s origins as a Christmas spiritual, proclaiming the birth of Jesus, adapted by the trio to emphasize universal themes of sharing good news. Yarrow and Stookey drew inspiration from performances at civil rights rallies, where the song’s call-and-response style resonated. The recording featured a children’s choir from the New York City area, adding a communal feel. Other artists, including The Weavers (1957), Odetta (1960), and Bob Marley (as “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” 1965), also recorded versions. The trio performed it at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival and during civil rights events, aligning with their activist ethos. The song appeared in a 1964 CBS special on folk music.

Expert commentary includes AllMusic’s Richie Unterberger, who noted the trio’s “uplifting arrangement” brought fresh energy to the spiritual, making it accessible to pop audiences. Songfacts highlighted its role in bridging gospel and folk, crediting the trio’s harmonies for its appeal. Billboard archives called it a “seasonal yet timeless” track. No major controversies surrounded the song, though some purists debated the commercialization of spirituals. Its inclusion in compilations like The Very Best of Peter, Paul and Mary (2005) and its use in a 1990s episode of Touched by an Angel reflect its enduring resonance.

Video

Lyric

Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

While shepherds kept their watching
O’er 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 Savior’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
The humble Christ was born
And God sent 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