Swing Down Chariot
Gaither Vocal Band and Ernie Haase & Signature Sound Lyrics

The lyrics of Swing Down Chariot are centered around the idea of the chariot as a metaphor for the journey home to heaven. The song speaks of the singer's longing for a peaceful afterlife and being carried away by the chariot. The first two lines, "Swing low sweet chariot, comin' for to carry me home," repeat the song's title and express the desire to be carried to heaven in a sweet and comforting way.

The next two lines "I looked over Jordan and what did I see, comin' for to carry me home" suggest that the singer is referencing the Biblical story of Joshua leading the Israelites across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Here the river is a metaphor for the transition from life to death, and the chariot is once again the transportation to heaven. The following line "A band of angels comin' after me, comin' for to carry me home" refers to the angels who will accompany the singer on their journey to heaven.

The next section of the song, "If you get there before I do, comin' for to carry me home, tell all my friends I'm a coming too, comin' for to carry me home", suggests that there is a community waiting for the singer in heaven, and they hope that their friends will welcome them when they arrive. Finally, the song's concluding lyrics "Sometimes I'm up, sometimes I'm down, comin' for to carry me home, but still my soul feels heavenly bound, comin' for to carry me home" express the idea that even when life is difficult, the singer's faith keeps them focused on their journey home.