While at university, Siberry began performing in folk clubs in Guelph, Ontario, linking up first with singer Wendy Davis and then with bass guitarist John Switzer in a group called Java Jive. Following the split of Java Jive in 1979, her first self-titled album was released in 1981.
For her 1984 second album "No Borders Here" , Siberry mostly abandoned the folk approach in favour of electronic art-pop. Siberry's first hit was the No Borders Here track "Mimi on the Beach". Siberry's third album, The Speckless Sky (1985), continued her art-pop approach. It was another commercial and critical success, going gold in Canada by selling over 100,000 units and establishing Siberry as a Canadian pop star. The album provided another hit single, "One More Colour".
For her fourth album (her first for Reprise), Siberry created "The Walking". Released in 1988, it contained a set of intricately structured songs, many of which were lengthy and shifted between narrative viewpoints and characters.
Siberry's sixth album, When I Was a Boy, was completed in 1993. Siberry's next release, "Maria" (released in 1995) featured a more jazz-inspired direction with live acoustic instrumentation.
With her 1995 album Maria being a commercial failure, Siberry founded her own independent label, Sheeba Records. She has released all of her subsequent material on that label. While her public profile became lower after she became an independent artist, she retained a devoted cult following.
Early in 2006, Siberry closed her Sheeba office, then sold and gave away nearly all of her possessions -- including her home and instruments. On June 3, 2006, somewhere in northwestern Europe, Siberry changed her name to Issa. She revealed her new name to the public on June 24, 2006.
In 2016, she released the album "Ulysses' Purse" as Jane Siberry
Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Jane Siberry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Comin` for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot
Comin` for to carry me home
I looked over Jordan and what did I see?
Comin` for to carry me home
A band of angels comin` after me
Swing low...
Sometimes I`m up, sometimes I`m down
Comin` for to carry me home
But still I know I`m heavenly bound
Comin` for to carry me home
Swing low...
If you get there before I do
Comin` for to carry me home
Tell all my friends that I`m a-comin` too
Comin` for to carry me home
Now if I get there before you do
Comin` for to carry me home
I`ll cut a hole and I`ll pull you through
Comin` for to carry me home
Swing low...
Jane Siberry's version of the African-American spiritual "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" is a melancholic and hauntingly beautiful rendition of the original song. The lyrics speak of the singer's desire to go home, which is a metaphorical reference to the afterlife. The "sweet chariot" in the song represents the vehicle that will transport the singer to heaven after they die. The song's slow tempo, combined with the singer's plaintive vocals, creates a sorrowful atmosphere that is utterly mesmerizing.
The first verse of the song talks about the chariot coming to take the singer home. The singer is eagerly waiting for the chariot to arrive so that they can finally leave this world behind. In the second verse, the singer sees a band of angels heading towards them, which confirms their belief that the chariot is on its way to carry them home. The third verse talks about the singer's acceptance of the ups and downs of life, but they are still hopeful that they will get to go home someday. The final verse is a message to the singer's friends, letting them know that they are on their way as well.
Line by Line Meaning
Swing low, sweet chariot
I am calling for the chariot to come take me home
Comin' for to carry me home
The chariot is coming to take me to heaven
I looked over Jordan and what did I see?
I saw a vision of angels coming for me
A band of angels comin' after me
The angels are coming to escort me to heaven
Sometimes I'm up, sometimes I'm down
My life has its ups and downs, but I am still hopeful of going to heaven
But still I know I'm heavenly bound
I am confident that I am going to heaven
If you get there before I do
If you reach heaven before I do
Tell all my friends that I'm a-comin' too
Let my friends know that I will be joining them in heaven
Now if I get there before you do
If I reach heaven before you do
I'll cut a hole and I'll pull you through
I will find a way to help you join me in heaven
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TRADITIONAL, FRANCESCO MOCCHI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind