"Children, Go Where I Send Thee" is a traditional African-American spiritual song,[1] as well as a cumulative song. This song is also known as "The Holy Baby" or "Born in Bethlehem." There are many versions of this song, each giving a Biblical meaning to the numbers mentioned.
One for the little bitty baby (Jesus).
Two for Paul and Silas.
Three for the three men riding (Biblical Magi); or the Hebrew children, in some versions.
Four for the four knocking on the door (Four Evangelists); or the gospel writers, in some versions.
Five for the Five that came back alive; or Gospel preachers; or the bread they did divide, in some versions.
Six for the six that never got fixed; or the days when the world was fixed, in some versions.
Seven for the seven that all went to Heaven; or the day God laid down his head, in some versions.
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate; or the eight the flood couldn't take, in some versions.
Nine for the nine that stood in the line; or the nine for the angel choirs divine, in some versions.
Ten for the Ten Commandments.
Eleven for the eleven deriders; or the 'leven of 'em singin' in heaven, in some versions.
Twelve for the Twelve Apostles; or the twelve disciples, in some versions.