Acappella is an all-male Contemporary Christian vocal group that was founde… Read Full Bio ↴Acappella is an all-male Contemporary Christian vocal group that was founded in 1982 by Keith Lancaster, who has variously played the role of singer, songwriter, and producer throughout the group's history. Acappella is by far the most popular musical group to have come out of the Churches of Christ in the U.S. They are in large part responsible for inspiring an entire culture of a cappella musical performance in the Church of Christ. Churches of Christ members strive to worship as first century Christians worshiped, and believe one should sing 'making melody in your heart' (Eph. 5:19), instead of using musical instruments in worship. The song "Acappella" from 1986's Conquerors was the first to achieve widespread popularity within the church of Christ (it could almost be called a 'hit') and the 1988 album Sweet Fellowship has become their all-time best seller. AVB's breakout Song in My Soul was released almost concurrently, and the number of like-minded a cappella vocal groups within the church of Christ grew almost exponentially after these two albums. Acappella experienced their first mainstream success outside the church of Christ with 1993's Set Me Free. This album also had a song licensed for use in a Sony Camcorder Super Bowl commercial (with the refrain "They are more precious than gold").

Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Acappella Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Swing low, my sweet chariot
Comin' for to carry me home
Swing low, my, my sweet chariot
Comin' for to carry me home
Swing low, my sweet chariot
Comin' for to carry me home
Swing low, my, my sweet chariot
Comin' for to carry me home (Hey, I just wanna go home,

Swing low, sweet chariot, and carry me home)
(Come on and swing) Swing down chariot, (Stop and let) Stop and let me ride
(Come on and) Swing down chariot, stop and let me ride
(Oh, why don't you rock me, rock me Lord) Oh rock me Lord, rock me Lord
Come in easy
I've got a home on the other side
(You know that six) Six white horses prancin' (white horses prancing)
Side by side
(You know that) Six white horses prancin' side by side
(Oh, won't you rock me, rock me Lord)
Oh rock me Lord, rock me Lord
Come in easy
I've got a home on the other side
Swing low, swing low and let me ride
Why don't you let me ride
Why don't you let me ride (Swing low)
Ride, ride, ride, ride
Well Ezekiel went down in the middle of the field
Said he saw an angel with a chariot wheel
Wasn't too particular about the chariot wheel
He just wanted to know how the chariot feels
Repeat Swing low, swing low
Swing low, swing low
And let me ride
Why don't you let me ride (I want to ride)
Why don't you let me ride
Ride, ride, ride, ride
Well Ezekiel went out and he got on board (well, he got on board)
The chariot went a rockin' right on down the road (down the road)
He wasn't too particular 'bout the rocky road
He just wanted to lay down his heavy load
Repeat I've got a home on the other side
I've got a home on the other side
I've got a home on the
I've got a home on the
(Repeat)
Got a home on the other side
Got a home on the other side
No more pain on the other side
Well, there's no more sorrow on the other side
No more trouble on the other side
There won't be any tears on the other side
And no more fears on the other side
Got a home on the other side
I've got a home on the other side

I've got a home on the other side
I'm goin' home

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Acappella's "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" are a call to the chariot that will take the singer home to the other side, a euphemism for heaven. The song is sung in a call-and-response style, with the lead singer calling out to the chariot to come and carry them home, and the background singers responding with "Swing low, sweet chariot." The song references the biblical story of Ezekiel, who sees an angel riding in a chariot with wheels of fire. The singer desires to be taken home on a chariot like the one Ezekiel saw, and the repeated refrain of "swing low" suggests a sense of urgency and anticipation.

The images and themes in "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" are deeply rooted in the African American spiritual tradition of the 19th century. The song was likely composed by enslaved Africans in the United States as a means of expressing their longing for freedom, both from physical bondage and from the hardships of everyday life. The chariot is a powerful symbol of hope and deliverance, as it represents the possibility of escaping to a better place. The song is also notable for its use of coded language, which allowed slaves to communicate with each other without their captors understanding.

Line by Line Meaning

Swing low, my sweet chariot
I am asking for my ride to come and take me to my true home

Comin' for to carry me home
I am impatiently waiting for my ride to come and take me to my real home

Hey, I just wanna go home, Swing low, sweet chariot, and carry me home
I want to go back to my true home and I am urging my ride to come and get me

Swing down chariot, Stop and let me ride
I am asking for my ride to stop and let me ride with them

Oh rock me Lord, rock me Lord, Come in easy
I am asking the Lord to comfort and guide me in my journey

Six white horses prancin' side by side
I see six white horses drawing my ride and they are moving gracefully side by side

Why don't you let me ride, Ride, ride, ride, ride
I am urging my ride to let me join them on my journey back home

Well Ezekiel went down in the middle of the field, Said he saw an angel with a chariot wheel
Ezekiel went into a vision and saw an angel with a chariot wheel, which symbolized a divine vehicle

I've got a home on the other side
I believe that there is another home waiting for me in the spiritual realm

No more pain on the other side, Well, there's no more sorrow on the other side
I believe that in my true home, there will be no more pain or sorrow

There won't be any tears on the other side, And no more fears on the other side
I believe that in my true home, there will be no more tears or fears

I'm goin' home
I am ready to leave this earthly life and go to my true home

Contributed by Brody K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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