Children, go where I send thee [song lyrics]

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Song lyrics to Children, go where I send thee was discovered in a school for black children in Kentucky by Jean Ritchie. This Christmas song is thought to be of traditional African American origin.

Children, go where I send thee
How shall I send thee
I’m gonna send you one by one

One for the little bitty – baby
Born of the virgin Mary
Born, born, born in Bethlehem Children
Go where I send thee

How shall I send thee
I’m gonna send you two by two
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little bitty – baby
Born of the virgin Mary
Born, born, born in Bethlehem Children
Go where I send thee

How shall I send thee?
I’m gonna send you three by three
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little bitty – baby
Born of the virgin Mary
Born, born, born in Bethlehem Children
Go where I send thee

How shall I send thee
I’m gonna send you 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
Born of the virgin Mary
Born, born, born in Bethlehem Children

Go where I send thee, How shall I send thee
I’m gonna send you five by five
Five the for gospel preachers
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
Born of the virgin Mary
Born, born, born in Bethlehem Children

Go where I send thee
How shall I send thee
I’m gonna send you six by six
Six for the six that couldn’t get fixed
Five the for gospel preachers
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
Born of the virgin Mary
Born, born, born in Bethlehem Children

Go where I send thee
How shall I send thee
I’m gonna send you seven by seven
Seven for the seven that couldn’t get to heaven
Six for the six that couldn’t get fixed
Five the for gospel preachers
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
Born of the virgin Mary
Born, born, born in Bethlehem Children

Go where I send thee
How shall I send thee
I’m gonna send you eight by eight
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that couldn’t get to heaven
Six for the six that couldn’t get fixed
Five the for gospel preachers
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
Born of the virgin Mary
Born, born, born in Bethlehem Children
Born, born, born in Bethlehem

Go where i send thee
That’s how the whole thing started
Way down in the manger
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that couldn’t get to heaven
Six for the six that couldn’t get fixed
Five the for gospel preachers
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
Born of the virgin Mary
Born, born, born in Bethlehem
Born, born, born in Bethlehem

Go where i send thee
That’s how the whole thing started
Way down in the manger
Nine for the ninety-nine in line
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that couldn’t get to heaven
Six for the six that couldn’t get fixed
Five the for gospel preachers
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
Born of the virgin Mary
Born, born, born in Bethlehem
Born, born, born in Bethlehem

Go where i send thee
That’s how the whole thing started
Way down in the manger
Ten for the ten commandments
Nine for the ninety-nine in line
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that couldn’t get to heaven
Six for the six that couldn’t get fixed
Five the for gospel preachers
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
Born of the virgin Mary
Born, born, born in Bethlehem
Born, born, born in Bethlehem

Go where i send thee
That’s how the whole thing started
Way down in the manger
Eleven for the eleven who went to Heaven
Ten for the ten commandments
Nine for the ninety-nine in line
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that couldn’t get to heaven
Six for the six that couldn’t get fixed
Five the for gospel preachers
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
Born of the virgin Mary
Born, born, born in Bethlehem
Born, born, born in Bethlehem

Go where i send thee
That’s how the whole thing started
Way down in the manger
Twelve for the twelve Apostles
Eleven for the eleven who went to Heaven
Ten for the ten commandments
Nine for the ninety-nine in line
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that couldn’t get to heaven
Six for the six that couldn’t get fixed
Five the for gospel preachers
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
Born of the virgin Mary
Born, born, born in Bethlehem
Born, born, born in Bethlehem

Possible meaning of the lyrics

One for the little bitty baby = the infant Jesus.
Two for Paul and Silas – the famous evangelists to the Gentiles.
Three Hebrew children – most likely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who by faith walked through the fiery furnace. It could refer to the Three Wise Men — but it’s unlikely since they weren’t Hebrews.
The four who stood at the door. It could be the friends of the paralyzed men, who lowered him through the roof for Jesus to heal. It could also refer to the four Gospel writers – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Five Gospel preachers – likely Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Paul.
The six that never got fixed. Likely for the people who reject Jesus Christ as their savior. Why six? Because it’s the number representing imperfection, or sin.
Seven for the seven that couldn’t get to heaven – possibly the seven churches mentioned in the book of Revelation.
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate – possibly the eight people who entered Noah’s ark (Noah, his three sons, their wives).
Nine for the ninety-nine in line – the ninety-nine sheep left while the Good Shepherd searched for his lost sheep.
Ten for the ten commandments
Eleven for the eleven who went to Heaven – presumably the original 11 Apostles, minus Judas Iscariot.
Twelve for the twelve Apostles – presumably the 12 Apostles, with Judas Iscariot’s replacement