Sweeping Through The City
The Caravans Featuring Shirley Ceasar Lyrics

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[Chorus]
(Then we'll go) sweepin' through the city,
(Where my) captain has gone before
(And we're gonna) sit down by the banks of the river;
I won't be back,
I won't be back,
I won't be back no more, no more.

Blessed are the pure in heart for they'll go,
(Sweepin' through the city).
Blessed are the poor in spirit for they'll go,
(Sweepin' through the city).
Blessed are they that mourn for they'll go,
(Sweepin' through the city).
Blessed are the children of Israel for they'll go,
(Sweepin' through the city).

(Then we'll go) sweepin' through the city,
(Where my) captain has gone before
(And we're gonna) sit down by the banks of the river;
I won't be back,
I won't be back,
I won't be back no more, no more.

In that city

(Then we'll go) sweepin' through the city,
(Where my) captain has gone before
(And we're gonna) sit down by the banks of the river;
I won't be back,

I won't be back,
I won't be back no more, no more.

Overall Meaning

The Caravans Featuring Shirley Ceasar's song "Sweeping Through The City" is a gospel classic that speaks to the promise of eternal life and the faith of believers in the face of mortality. The song begins with the chorus, where the singer speaks of sweeping through the city where her captain has gone before. This is an allusion to the afterlife and the idea that the captain, or Jesus Christ, has gone before the singer and other believers to prepare a place for them in heaven. The repetition of "I won't be back no more" reinforces this idea of the permanent nature of death and the assurance that believers will not return to the earthly realm once they have passed.

The verses of the song allude to the Beatitudes, a series of blessings given by Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount. The lyrics state "Blessed are the pure in heart for they'll go, (Sweepin' through the city)" and "Blessed are the poor in spirit for they'll go, (Sweepin' through the city)," among others. These lines suggest that those who are pure in heart, poor in spirit, and those who mourn will be rewarded in the afterlife and will be among those who sweep through the city where Jesus has gone before.

The imagery of sitting down by the banks of the river also highlights the importance of rest and peace in the afterlife. The river is often used as a symbol of life and renewal, and the image of believers sitting by its banks suggests a place of calm and tranquility in the afterlife.

Line by Line Meaning

(Then we'll go) sweepin' through the city,
We will triumphantly move through the city proclaiming the word of God.

(Where my) captain has gone before
We will walk the same path that Jesus, our leader, has walked before us.

(And we're gonna) sit down by the banks of the river;
We will rest and take comfort in the peaceful and abundant blessings God has given us.

I won't be back, I won't be back, I won't be back no more, no more.
This world no longer holds any appeal for me because I am destined for a higher place.

Blessed are the pure in heart for they'll go, (Sweepin' through the city).
Those who have pure intentions and good hearts will be blessed and join us in spreading the message of salvation.

Blessed are the poor in spirit for they'll go, (Sweepin' through the city).
Those who are humble and contrite will also be blessed and will join us in sharing the good news.

Blessed are they that mourn for they'll go, (Sweepin' through the city).
Those who grieve and suffer will find comfort in Jesus and eventually share the gospel with us.

Blessed are the children of Israel for they'll go, (Sweepin' through the city).
The people of God will also join us in proclaiming His word and spreading His love.

In that city
The city we speak of is the heavenly Jerusalem, where we will all be united in worshiping and praising our Creator.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JAMES HERNDON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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