Il testo è di carattere religioso e si compone di tre strofe:
Ding dong! merrily on high in heav'n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky is riv'n with Angel singing.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
E'en so here below, below, let steeple bells be swungen,
And "Io, io, io!" by priest and people sungen.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Pray you, dutifully prime your Matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime your Evetime Song, ye singers.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Note
^Bowler Gerry, Dizionario universale del Natale [The World Encyclopedia of Christmas], ed. italiana a cura di C. Corvino ed E. Petoia, Newton & Compton, Roma, 2003, p. 120
