Swing Low Sweet Chariot

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot is an African American spiritual that is also widely known as a Negro folk song.  The song was written by a freedman in an Indian territory named Wallis Willis although some sources claim that it was composed by a community, specifically the community of African American slaves, rather than just one person.  His inspiration came from the Red River which reminded him of the Jordan River and the story of the Prophet Elijah when he was taken to heaven in a chariot.  The minister who had heard Wallis Willis singing the song sent the music to the Jubilee Singers of Fisk University in Nashville.  They were the first to record the song in 1909 and the song became very famous in the United States and Europe.

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot was popular among slaves as they sung the words as they worked or during their time of rest and prayer.  The song expresses their desire for freedom and to return to their homeland which may be their physical homeland Africa or the spiritual homeland, heaven.  The chariot represents the path to freedom or a chariot sent by the lord to take them to heaven.  Chariots are used on many occasions and for many purposes.  However, the chariot that the song refers to is “sweet”, therefore it implies something good like freedom more than something bad.

Lyrics to the song Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

Chorus

“Swing low, sweet chariot

Coming for to carry me home,

Swing low, sweet chariot,

Coming for to carry me home

I looked over Jordan, and what did I see

Coming for to carry me home?

A band of angels coming for me,

Coming for to carry me home.

Chorus

Sometimes I’m up, and sometimes I’m down,

(Coming for to carry me home)

But still my soul feels heavenly bound.

(Coming for to carry me home)

Chorus

The brightest day that I can say,

(Coming for to carry me home)

When Jesus washed my sins away.

(Coming for to carry me home)

Chorus

If I get there before you do,

(Coming for to carry me home)

Tell all my friends I’m coming too

(Coming for to carry me home)

Chorus

The song was honored by the Library of Congress in 2002 as one of the 50 records that were selected that year to be added to the National Recording Registry.  The Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts also included Swing Low, Sweet Chariot in the list of Songs of the Century.  It also performed by Joan Baez in 1969 at the famous Woodstock festival.  It was also used by the England Rugby union fans back in 1988 when they had the last match of the season.  UB40 recorded this song for the team to win the world cup.

Swing Low, sweet Chariot has been covered by numerous artists including:

• UB40
• Eric Clapton
• Fats Waller
• Paul Robeson
• Larry Norman