| James Weldon Johnson, ed. (1871–1938). The Book of American Negro Poetry. 1922. |
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| The Big Bell in Zion |
| | | Theodore Henry Shackelford |
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| COME, children, hear the joyful sound, | |
| Ding, Dong, Ding. | |
| Go spread the glad news all around, | |
| Ding, Dong, Ding. | |
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Chorus
Oh, the big bell’s tollin’ up in Zion, | 5 |
| The big bell’s tollin’ up in Zion, | |
| The big bell’s tollin’ up in Zion, | |
| Ding, Dong, Ding. | |
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| I’ve been abused and tossed about, | |
| Ding, Dong, Ding. | 10 |
| But glory to the Lamb, I shout! | |
| Ding, Dong, Ding. | |
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| My bruthah jus’ sent word to me, | |
| Ding, Dong, Ding. | |
| That he’d done set his own self free. | 15 |
| Ding, Dong, Ding. | |
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| Ole massa said he could not go, | |
| Ding, Dong, Ding. | |
| But he’s done reached Ohio sho’. | |
| Ding, Dong, Ding. | 20 |
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| Ise gwine to be real nice an’ meek, | |
| Ding, Dong, Ding. | |
| Den I’ll run away myself nex’ week. | |
| Ding, Dong, Ding. | |
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Chorus
Oh, the big bell’s tollin’ up in Zion, | 25 |
| The big bell’s tollin’ up in Zion, | |
| The big bell’s tollin’ up in Zion, | |
| Ding, Dong, Ding. | |
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