“Children, Go Where I Send Thee” is a traditional African-American spiritual with a Christmas theme. It’s a song that has been covered by an impressive range of artists in a wide variety of styles. Peter, Paul and Mary have covered it. Johnny Cash has covered it. Ricky Skaggs has covered it. REO Speedwagon has covered it. I first heard it performed by the great, now disbanded Minnesota bluegrass group Stoney Lonesome with Kate McKenzie. The Fairfield Four give us the approach of a gospel group intimately familiar with what it’s all about.
Hall and Oates cover the song in the spirited live performance below.
The song is usually performed in a vocal group setting, but I do believe that Ms. Odetta brought something special to it all by her lonesome.
Merry Christmas to all our readers celebrating the holiday today.
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