A printed version of PETER, GO RING DEM BELLS with musical notation in 4-part harmony, can be found in Hampton and Its Students by Mary Frances Armstrong and Helen Wilhelmina Ludlow, "with fifty cabin and plantation songs arranged by Thomas P. Fenner" (New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1874). These are the lyrics:


OH, PETER GO RING DEM BELLS

1. Oh, Peter, go ring dem bells.
Peter, go ring dem bells.
Peter, go ring dem bells.
I heard from Heaven today.
I wonder where my mother is gone.
I wonder where my mother is gone.
I wonder where my mother is gone.
I heard from heaven today.

CHORUS: I heard from Heaven today.
I heard from Heaven today.
I thank God, and I thank you too.
I heard from Heaven today.

2. I wonder where sister Mary's gone.
I heard from heaven today.
I wonder where sister Martha's gone.
I heard from heaven today.
It's good news and I thank God.
I heard from heaven today.
Oh, Peter, go ring dem bells.
I heard from heaven today.

3. I wonder where brudder Moses gone.
I heard from heaven today.
I wonder where brudder Daniel's gone.
I heard from heaven today.
He's gone where Elijah has gone.
I heard from heaven today.
Oh, Peter, go ring dem bells.
I heard from heaven today.