Maddox was the singer in the Maddox Brothers and Rose, often considered to be "the greatest hillbilly band of all time". In 1996 she was nominated for a Grammy award for her Arhoolie recording $35 and a Dream. Her life story and that of the band were told in the biography, Ramblin' Rose: The Life and Career of Rose Maddox by Jonny Whiteside. ISBN 0-8265-1269-0.
Discography
Maddox Brothers & Rose
* America's Most Colorful Hillbilly Band v.1 (Arhoolie Records, 1976/1993)
* America's Most Colorful Hillbilly Band v.2 (Arhoolie, 1995)
* On The Air (Arhoolie, 1983/1996)
* Live On The Radio (1996)
* The Hillbilly Boogie Years (Rockateer, 1996)
* A Collection of Standard Sacred Songs (King, 1956)
* The Most Colorful Hillbilly Band in America (Bear Family, 1998)
Solo/Compilations
* Precious Memories (Columbia, 1958)
* The One Rose (Capitol, 1960)
* Glorybound Train (Capitol, 1961)
* A Big Bouquet of Roses (Capitol, 1961)
* Rose Maddox Sings Bluegrass (Capitol, 1962/1996)
* Alone with You (Capitol, 1963)
* Rosie (Starday, 1970)
* Reckless Love & Bold Adventure (Takoma, 1977)
* Rose of the West Coast Country (Arhoolie, 1980)
* This is Rose Maddox (Arhoolie, 1982)
* A Beautiful Bouquet (Arhoolie, 1983)
* Queen of the West (Varrick, 1986)
* California Rose (See for Miles, 1989)
* $35 And A Dream (Arhoolie, 1994)
* The One Rose: The Capitol Years (Bear Family, 1994)
* The Moon is Rising (Country Town Music, 1996)
* "The Legendary Queen Of The West" (Boothill, 2000)
Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Rose Maddox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Coming for to carry me home
A band of angels a coming after me
Coming for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot
A coming for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot
A coming for to carry me home
Coming for to carry me home
Tell all of my friends I'm a coming too
Coming for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot...
Well I'm sometimes up and I'm sometimes down
Coming for to carry me home
But still my soul is heavenly bound
Coming for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot...
Swing low sweet chariot...
The lyrics of "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" by Rose Maddox are about the singer looking over Jordan and seeing a band of angels coming to carry them home. The phrase "over Jordan" refers to crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land, a metaphor for passing into the afterlife. The chariot symbolizes the mode of transportation into heaven. The singer then addresses someone who has already passed to the other side and asks them to tell their friends that they are coming as well. The final verse acknowledges the ups and downs of life but reaffirms the singer's belief in their soul being bound for heaven.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I looked over Jordan and what did I see
As I scanned the horizon over the Jordan River, I caught sight of something extraordinary
Coming for to carry me home
It became clear that this was a group of heavenly beings bringing me to my final resting place
A band of angels a coming after me
I identified the band of celestial beings as angels sent to take me to the afterlife
Swing low sweet chariot
The vehicle the angels came on was a beautiful chariot, moving softly and steadily towards me
A coming for to carry me home
Their explicit mission was to transport me, a mere mortal, to my eternal abode
Well if you get there before I do
In case you happen to reach heaven's gates prior to me
Tell all of my friends I'm a coming too
Please share the good news with my dear ones that I'll be joining them soon
Well I'm sometimes up and I'm sometimes down
Although I may face ups and downs in the earthly realm
But still my soul is heavenly bound
My essence is steadfastly determined to reach the divine abode
Swing low sweet chariot...
The angelical chariot is still gliding towards me, en route to heaven
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ROSE MADDOX, UNKNOWN PD WRITER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marryann Lamb
Great song thank you.
Fee Bird
Wow!!
Days long gone....sigh...