Though Ketchum first began recording in the mid-1980s, not until his 1991 record deal with Curb Records did he have a major hit with the album Past The Point Of Rescue. The title cut to the album was a Top 3 single, and other singles that met similar success included "Small Town Saturday Night" and "Sure Love".
In 1994 Ketchum toured Britain, issuing the single "Past The Point Of Rescue" on that side of the Atlantic. Though the single failed to make the UK Top 100 pop charts, it received extensive airplay on country radio. The album Every Little Word (of which the UK release featured a bonus disc of past US hits including "Past The Point...") made the Top 40 on the UK country charts and also did the same back in the US.
Ketchum continued to record and release new material. His final US releases were Father Time in 2008, and I'm the Troubadour in 2014.
His film credits included appearing in the 1988 film Heartbreak Hotel and a small role in the 1994 film Maverick.
Swing Low
Hal Ketchum Lyrics
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Living just this side of sin
Her mouth was soft and when she spoke
Lord, I fell right in
She had a baby in a blanket
A dollar and a half
She looked a little leery
Opened up my overcoat
Invited them inside
Two fragile little flowers
With nowhere left to hide
She said her old man left her
Just before the baby came
I could feel the tears well up inside
Each time she spoke his name
Swing low, swing low
Sweet angel face
Why would such a simple child
Come to such a place?
We talked until the wind died down
Baby woke and stirred
She made a little hushing sound
Spoke some magic word
The baby yawned and smiled at me
But she said, "We can't stay"
She thanked me for my kindness
Turned and walked away
Swing low, swing low
Sweet angel face
Why would such a simple child
Come to such a place?
I think about them all the time
Hope they found their home
Seems that it's my calling now
To walk these streets alone
Sometimes when the wind is right
I can smell her sweet perfume
I think about the warm embrace
That ended all too soon
Swing low, swing low
Sweet angel face
Why would such a simple child
Come to such a place?
Oh, oh, oh, why would such a simple child
Come to such a place?
The lyrics of "Swing Low" by Hal Ketchum tells the story of a man who meets a young woman and her baby at a mission. The woman seems hesitant and a bit afraid, possibly due to her circumstances at the time. The man invites both the woman and the child into his protective overcoat, giving them a temporary place to stay. As they talk, the woman reveals that her partner left her before their child was born, and she seems to be struggling with the situation. The chorus repeats questions about why such a simple, innocent child would end up in such a difficult place.
The song's theme is one of compassion for those who are struggling and in need of help. The man in the song shows kindness and generosity towards a stranger in a difficult situation, providing a listening ear and temporary shelter. The lyrics acknowledge the hardships of life and the uncertainty of the future, while still maintaining a sense of hope and empathy.
Line by Line Meaning
I met her at the mission
I encountered her at the shelter
Living just this side of sin
She was living in a tough situation, on the edge of wrongdoing
Her mouth was soft and when she spoke
Lord, I fell right in
She had a gentle voice and kind words, and I was immediately drawn to her
She had a baby in a blanket
A dollar and a half
She looked a little leery
She let out a little laugh
She was holding her newborn wrapped in a thin blanket, with barely any money to her name. She seemed unsure and nervous, but tried to keep a positive attitude
Opened up my overcoat
Invited them inside
Two fragile little flowers
With nowhere left to hide
I extended kindness to her and her baby, and gave them a safe space to stay
She said her old man left her
Just before the baby came
I could feel the tears well up inside
Each time she spoke his name
Her partner had abandoned her right before the birth of their child, and it was clear that the heartbreak was still raw
Swing low, swing low
Sweet angel face
Why would such a simple child
Come to such a place?
I wondered why such an innocent baby would be born into such difficult circumstances
We talked until the wind died down
Baby woke and stirred
She made a little hushing sound
Spoke some magic word
We conversed long into the night, until the wind quieted down. Her baby woke up and started to move restlessly, but she soothed the child and whispered comforting words
The baby yawned and smiled at me
But she said, "We can't stay"
She thanked me for my kindness
Turned and walked away
Her baby became relaxed and content, but she knew that they needed to move on. She expressed gratitude for the support I had given them, and then left
I think about them all the time
Hope they found their home
Seems that it's my calling now
To walk these streets alone
I often think about them and wonder how they're doing. It seems like my purpose now is to help others at the shelter, even if it means being alone
Sometimes when the wind is right
I can smell her sweet perfume
I think about the warm embrace
That ended all too soon
Sometimes I catch the scent of her perfume on the wind, and it makes me think of the brief moment when we connected and shared a sense of comfort and safety
Swing low, swing low
Sweet angel face
Why would such a simple child
Come to such a place?
Oh, oh, oh, why would such a simple child
Come to such a place?
Again I wonder why a vulnerable child would be brought into a harsh world, and face such challenges at such a young age.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HAL KETCHUM, PETE WASNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind