chanteyranger on Date: 09 Feb 01 - 11:42 AM referred to the version of this song that I remember from my childhood at a Black Baptist church in New Jersey, 1950s. {Actually I only remember the chorus and the first verse].

Here's the lyrics as found at http://www.metrolyrics.com/rockin-in-jerusalem-lyrics-mahalia-jackson.html

ROCKIN' IN JERUSALEM

Oh Mary, o Martha
Oh Mary, o Martha
Oh Mary, gon' ring them bells

I hear arch angels rockin' in Jerusalem
Hear arch angels ringin' them bells
Hear arch angels rockin' in Jerusalem
Hear arch angels rinin' them bells

Church gettin higher
(rockin' in Jerusalem)
Church gettin higher
(ringin them bells)
Church gettin higher
(rockin in Jerusalem
Church gettin higher
(ringing them bells)

Oh Mary, o Martha
Oh Mary's gonna ring them bells
Oh Mary, o Martha
Oh Mary's gonna ring them bells

Hear arch angels rockin' in Jerusalem
Hear arch angels rining them bells
Hear arch angels rockin' in Jerusalem
Hear arch angels ringing them bells

New Jerusalem, New Jerusalem
New_______________
Gon' ring them bells

I hear arch angels rockin' in Jerusalem
Hear arch angels ringing them bells
Hear arch angels rockin' in Jerusalem
Hear arch angels ringing them bells
Them bells!

-snip-

I believe that it's important to note that the word "dem" is sung as "them" in this Mahalia Jackson version as well as in the version of the song found on the Negro Spiritual website:

http://www.negrospirituals.com/news-song/oh_peter_go_ring_them_bells.htm

In my lifelong experience, few African Americans sing spirituals with "dis" and "dems" and few African Americans want to hear spirituals sung that way.