Lyr Add: I Heard from Heaven Today (Oh, Peter...)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I HEARD FROM HEAVEN TODAY (Oh, Peter
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Dec 17 - 06:35 AM

Hi thanks so much for this post. Is this Emily smith version related? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7ZnPlhb1RA

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I HEARD FROM HEAVEN TODAY (Oh, Peter
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 10:25 PM

The titles should be reversed. "I Heard from Heaven..." is used in Dett, Religious Folk Songs of the Negro, Hampton Institute, p. 204 but not in the earlier Fenner First edition of 1874. "Peter, go Ring Dem Bells" is used there, p. 174 and in most books of spirituals. I should have checked further- caught again tonight with shoddy scholarship.

Subject: I HEARD FROM HEAVEN TODAY (Oh, Peter Go-
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 04:31 PM

I HEARD FROM HEAVEN TODAY
(Oh, Peter Go Ring Dem Bells)
Cho.
Oh, Peter go ring dem bells,
Oh, Peter go ring dem bells,
Oh, 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,
I heard from Heaven today,
I heard from Heaven today,
I thank God and I thank you too,
I heard from Heaven today.

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.

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.

This old traditional spiritual was posted in a simplified version (only 4-line verse and minus part of the second verse) by Joe Offer (10 Feb 01, ADD: Oh, Peter Go Ring Dem Bells). It was first published, with music sheet, by Fenner, 1874, who said it was collected from Thomas Vess, a Negro slave and blacksmith, by J. M. Waddy. It is also in some printings of "Negro Spirituals, or Songs of the Jubilee Singers," as Peter, Go Ring Dem Bells; with sheet music (also in Johnson and others).
I have posted it separately because of the different title and verse form.
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FS