Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Merle Haggard & Willie Nelson Lyrics
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A band of angels coming after me coming for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot coming for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot coming for to carry me home
Well if you get there before I do coming for to carry me home
Tell all of my friends that I'm coming too coming for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot coming for to carry me home
Hey swing low sweet chariot coming for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot coming for to carry me home
The lyrics to Merle Haggard & Willie Nelson's song Swing Low Sweet Chariot is a spiritual song that speaks of a journey from this earthly realm to the next, and the hope of being carried home by a band of angels. The song opens with the singer looking over Jordan, a biblical reference to the river that serves as the boundary between life and death. The singer then sees a band of angels coming after him, possibly signifying the approach of death, and it is here that he expresses his hope of being carried home by them. The refrain "Swing low sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home" repeats twice, and the tempo of the song, paired with the simple lyrics, creates a meditative and introspective quality to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I looked over Jordan and what did I see coming for to carry me home
I saw a band of angels coming to take me back home as I looked across the Jordan river.
A band of angels coming after me coming for to carry me home
I saw a group of angels approaching me to take me back home.
Swing low sweet chariot coming for to carry me home
I see a sweet chariot swinging low to take me back home.
Swing low sweet chariot coming for to carry me home
I repeat, I see a sweet chariot swinging low to take me back home.
Well if you get there before I do coming for to carry me home
If you get to heaven before me, don't forget to tell my friends that I am coming too, to be carried back home.
Tell all of my friends that I'm coming too coming for to carry me home
Kindly inform all my friends up there that I will also be coming soon to be carried back home.
Swing low sweet chariot coming for to carry me home
I see that sweet chariot swinging low again to take me back home.
Swing low sweet chariot coming for to carry me home
I reiterate, the sweet chariot is swinging low to take me back home.
Hey swing low sweet chariot coming for to carry me home
Hey everyone, I see a sweet chariot swinging low to take me back home.
Swing low sweet chariot coming for to carry me home
Just like before, I see that sweet chariot swinging low to take me back home.
Lyrics © Public Domain
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dand4692
Well, I looked over Jordan, what did I see
Comin' for to carry me home
A band of angels comin' after me
Comin' for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot
Comin' for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot
Comin' for to carry me home
Well, if you get to heaven before I do
Comin' for to carry me home
Tell all of my friends that I'm comin' too
Comin' for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot
(Swing low, chariot)
Comin' for to carry me home
(Me home)
Swing low sweet chariot
(Swing low, chariot)
Comin' for to carry me home
I was pickin' along on this old cotton road
And I felt like I just couldn't pick another bowl
I looked up in the sky
And I saw a band of angels comin' after me
Hey, swing low sweet chariot
(Swing low sweet chariot)
Comin' for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot
(Swing low sweet chariot)
Comin' for to carry me home
@robinrichardson6491
This is the first song I learned to sing at 5 years old
I'm 70 now, still my favorite and no better rendition than this! Thank you Merle, for your incredible gift. Look forward to seeing you at home! RIP
@mariececilelassere
The negrospiritual is un chef d’œuvre....thanks ettajames....👍😭RIP in the white garden
@grannydyess
This song is beautiful no matter who sings it
@johnsinger8534
I got saved at Neptune Baptist Church in Neptune Beach (Jacksonville) Florida in April or May of 1981. Songs For The Mama That Tried was the very first album I bought and I cried like a baby listening to these songs for weeks and weeks after my salvation experience. Thank you Merle Haggard. God bless you, sir !!!
@johncoffey1525
One of my late grandpa's favorite songs, the angels came to carry him home a few years back, thanks for posting such a beautiful song. God Bless!
@lyallg8112
Wonderful…until now, Bobby Darin’s and Sam Cooke’s versions have been my ‘go to’.
@mariececilelassere
Teŕific and beautifull gospel..?love that with my heart criying...thanks Merle RIP 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️❤️❤️❤️
@larrybill2661
l agree with you, indeed Merle Haggard is a great and talented artist who's songs never goes out of style,he's one of my favorites artist, he's songs still and always heals the Soul, I pray God gives you lot of beautiful days…😊
@dand4692
Well, I looked over Jordan, what did I see
Comin' for to carry me home
A band of angels comin' after me
Comin' for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot
Comin' for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot
Comin' for to carry me home
Well, if you get to heaven before I do
Comin' for to carry me home
Tell all of my friends that I'm comin' too
Comin' for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot
(Swing low, chariot)
Comin' for to carry me home
(Me home)
Swing low sweet chariot
(Swing low, chariot)
Comin' for to carry me home
I was pickin' along on this old cotton road
And I felt like I just couldn't pick another bowl
I looked up in the sky
And I saw a band of angels comin' after me
Hey, swing low sweet chariot
(Swing low sweet chariot)
Comin' for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot
(Swing low sweet chariot)
Comin' for to carry me home
@bonniejulien8505
we all miss you Merle but thank God you left us all these recording for everyone to enjoy.