Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family when he was 13 years old. His music career began there in 1954, recording at Sun Records with producer Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African American music to a wider audience. Accompanied by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, Presley was a pioneer of rockabilly, an uptempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country music and rhythm and blues. In 1955, drummer D. J. Fontana joined to complete the lineup of Presley's classic quartet and RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who would manage the singer for more than two decades. Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel", was released in January 1956 and became a number one hit in the United States. With a series of successful network television appearances and chart-topping records, he became the leading figure of the newly popular sound of rock and roll. His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines during a transformative era in race relations, made him enormously popular—and controversial.
In November 1956, Presley made his film debut in Love Me Tender. Drafted into military service in 1958, Presley relaunched his recording career two years later with some of his most commercially successful work. He held few concerts however, and guided by Parker, proceeded to devote much of the 1960s to making Hollywood movies and soundtrack albums, most of them critically derided. In 1968, following a seven-year break from live performances, he returned to the stage in the acclaimed television comeback special Elvis, which led to an extended Las Vegas concert residency and a string of highly profitable tours. In 1973, Presley gave the first concert by a solo artist to be broadcast around the world, Aloha from Hawaii. Years of prescription drug abuse severely compromised his health, and he died suddenly in 1977 at his Graceland estate, just 42 years of age.
Presley is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the 20th century. Commercially successful in many genres, including pop, country, blues, and gospel, he is the best-selling solo artist in the history of recorded music. He won three competitive Grammys, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36, and has been inducted into multiple music halls of fame.
Swing Down Sweet Chariot
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stop and let me ride
Swing down chariot
Stop and let me ride
Rock me lord, rock me lord
Calm and easy
Well I've got a home on the other side
Stop and let me ride
Swing down chariot
Stop and let me ride
Rock me lord, rock me lord
Calm and easy
Well I've got a home on the other side
Well, well, well, well, well, well
Ezekiel went down in the middle of a field
He saw an angel workin' on a chariot wheel
Wasn't so particular 'bout the chariot wheel
Just wanted to see how a chariot feel
Why don't you swing down sweet chariot
Stop and let me ride
Swing down chariot
Stop and let me ride
Rock me lord, rock me lord
Calm and easy
Well I've got a home on the other side
Well, well, well Ezekiel went down and he got on board
Chariot went a bumpin' on down the road
Zeke wasn't so particular 'bout the bumpin' of the road
Just wanted to lay down his heavy load
Why don't you swing down sweet chariot
Stop and let me ride
Swing down chariot
Stop and let me ride
Rock me lord, rock me lord
Calm and easy
Well I've got a home on the other side
Well I got a father in the promised land
Ain't no more stoppin' till I shake his hand
Rock me lord, rock me lord
Calm and easy
I've got a home on the other side
Why don't you swing down sweet chariot
Stop and let me ride
Swing down chariot
Stop and let me ride
Rock me lord, rock me lord
Calm and easy
Well I've got a home on the other side
"Swing Down Sweet Chariot" is a gospel song that Elvis Presley recorded in 1960. The song speaks about the desire to reach the other side, the promised land where one can rest free from the burdens of the world. The title of the song comes from the Book of Revelation, where John sees a vision of Christ on a white horse with hell following him. In the vision, the armies of heaven ride on horses behind Christ, and the chariots of fire are seen driving down heaven's streets.
The song's chorus repeats the phrase, "Swing down sweet chariot, stop, and let me ride," which serves as a cry for relief from the burdens of the world. The image of the chariot is used as a metaphor for the journey to the other side, and the singer asks for a ride. The "rock" referred to in the song is also a metaphor; it speaks about the singer's desire for peace and comfort.
The second half of the song references the story of Ezekiel in the Old Testament. Ezekiel sees an angel working on a chariot wheel and is intrigued by the vehicle's design. He boards the chariot and is taken on a journey to the heavens. The song speaks of the universal desire to escape the world's hardships and find a place of peace and wholeness.
Line by Line Meaning
Why don't you swing down sweet chariot
Asking for help from a divine force to come down and take the singer away from their troubles
Stop and let me ride
Requesting for the divine force to pause and allow the singer to be taken away to a better place
Swing down chariot
Asking again, more specifically, for a chariot to come down from the skies
Rock me lord, rock me lord
Requesting comfort and solace from the divine force, asking to be soothed and cradled
Calm and easy
Hoping that the journey ahead will be peaceful and free of trouble
Well I've got a home on the other side
Expressing confidence and belief in an afterlife that is better than their current situation
Ezekiel went down in the middle of a field
Referencing a story from the Bible to provide an example of someone seeing a divine vision
He saw an angel workin' on a chariot wheel
Describing the appearance of the divine vision that Ezekiel saw
Wasn't so particular 'bout the chariot wheel
Emphasizing that the focus of the vision was not on the material aspects of the vehicle
Just wanted to see how a chariot feel
Ezekiel was more interested in the experience of being transported by the divine force
Well, well, well, well, well, well
An interjection expressing excitement or anticipation
Zeke wasn't so particular 'bout the bumpin' of the road
Reiterating the idea that Ezekiel was more focused on the end result of being taken away by the divine force
Just wanted to lay down his heavy load
Describing Ezekiel's desire to be relieved of his burdens and worries
Well I got a father in the promised land
Expressing the belief in a higher power and a place of reward for those who are faithful
Ain't no more stoppin' till I shake his hand
Promising to continue striving to reach the promised land and to meet their divine protector
Lyrics © BUDDE MUSIC FRANCE, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARTY MATTHEWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Only Çağatay Ulusoy
I believe this is the happiest that I saw him on screen since Viva Las Vegas. You can clearly see that this is the music he LOVED to do. So much passion and soul in this. 1:38 is especially endearing.
jkllcarpenter
Man you can hear it in his voice...see it in his face...feel it in his clapping...Elvis LOVED this type of music! Raw talent. ♥️♾😎
Tiger2k20
He puts a big grin on your face. Incredible talent, looks, soul. He puts his whole body into it.
Jamell Foster
Elvis truly had an amazing voice. He actually died 2 years before I was born but my Mom and uncle introduced me to him as a kid and I have been listening to him probably 35 years now...
A.C. Bernardo
The same here...and I will listen to Elvis for eternity!❤
Lynn Bainton
That man was born with rhythm flowing through his veins! 💖
Maria Mariscal
Yep 😁
A.C. Bernardo
Oh,yes,I agree 💯%!❤❤❤So true.UNIQUE ELVIS!❤❤❤
Belinda Smith
No one has come near having a voice like his, so pure and he sang with, such feeling.
Blackfeet
😂