RJ's Latest Arrival is an R&B, dance, and soul music band from Detroit, Mic… Read Full Bio ↴RJ's Latest Arrival is an R&B, dance, and soul music band from Detroit, Michigan. Their biggest hit came with the 1984 single Shackles or "Shackles On My Feet" which was a fusion between rap from RJ, soulful singing from lead singer DeDe and synthesized music from the group Craig Lane & Dean DiPierro on Keys, Paris Reese on Drums, and Paul Munroe on Guitar. Rudy Famous left the band during The Shackles Tour 1984 and was featured in the follow up video "Harmony". The group later became more based in traditional R&B and Soul music and broke up in the late 90s. The Group's Bandleader and Founder R.J. Rice went on to form Barak Records, A successful independent Hip-hop label Based in Detroit Michigan. The label houses most notably, Slum Village. The group has recently reunited for a reunion cd due out early next year.

Swing Low
R.J.'s Latest Arrival Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Chorus]
Swing low, sweet chariot,
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,
Comin' for to carry me home.

[Chorus]

If you get there before I do,
Comin' for to carry me home,

Tell all my friends I'm comin' too,
Comin' for to carry me home.

Overall Meaning

The song "Swing Low" by R.J.'s Latest Arrival is a cover of the spiritual song "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot". The song expresses the hope and belief in being saved and carried home to heaven by a chariot that is portrayed as sweet and comforting. The chorus, which is repeated twice, talks about the chariot that is coming to carry the singer home. The repetition of the phrase "Swing low" creates a sense of anticipation and excitement, giving listeners the feeling that the singer is almost home.

The first verse talks about the singer looking over Jordan and seeing a band of angels coming to carry him home. This line is a reference to the River Jordan, which is believed to be the border between Earth and Heaven in Christian belief. The band of angels symbolizes the army of angels that are believed to accompany God and are tasked with carrying souls to heaven after death. The verse provides the listeners with an image of the singer almost reaching heaven and the chariot coming to take him the rest of the way.

The second verse talks about the singer asking his friends to tell everyone that he is coming too if they get to heaven before him. This line is a hint that the singer is still alive and thus, the song is not a lament for death, but rather a celebration of the possibility of salvation and reaching heaven. The song, therefore, is a message of hope and a call for faith in salvation.

Line by Line Meaning

Swing low, sweet chariot,
Oh, ride low and smoothly, oh sweet carriage,

Comin' for to carry me home;
Coming to transport me back home,

Swing low, sweet chariot,
Oh, ride low and smoothly, oh sweet carriage,

Comin' for to carry me home.
Coming to transport me back home.

I looked over Jordan,
When I cast my gaze towards Jordan river,

And what did I see,
What I saw,

Comin' for to carry me home,
Was coming for me,

A band of angels comin' after me,
A group of angels coming for me,

Comin' for to carry me home.
To take me back home.

If you get there before I do,
If you arrive before me,

Comin' for to carry me home,
To take me back home,