Swing Low Sweet Chariot
The First Fifteen Choir Lyrics
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And 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;
Comin' for to carry me home.
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.
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Comin' for to carry me home;
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Comin' for to carry me home.
The song "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" was written by an African-American slave in the mid-19th century, and is believed to have served as a coded message about the Underground Railroad. In the song, the singer describes seeing a band of angels coming to carry him home over the Jordan River. The phrase "carry me home" is a reference to both physical escape from slavery and liberation from the hardships of life.
The phrase "swinging low" is believed to have a double meaning, referring both to the physical chariot that will transport the singer home and to the emotional mood of the song, which is somber and mournful. The repetition of the phrase "comin' for to carry me home" emphasizes the singer's longing for freedom and a better life.
Overall, the song is a powerful representation of the hope and longing for liberation that characterized the African-American experience of slavery. It continues to be sung by choirs and individuals around the world today, as a reminder of the resilience and courage of those who endured the harshest of circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
I looked over Jordan,
I gazed across the vast expanse of Jordan,
And WHAT did I see,
And what did I behold,
Comin' for to carry me home,
But a group of divine beings heading my way,
A band of angels comin' after me,
A troop of heavenly messengers pursuing me,
Comin' for to carry me home.
Coming to usher me into my eternal home.
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Oh, descend from above, gentle carriage,
If you get there before I do,
If you reach there ahead of me,
Tell all my friends I'm comin' too,
Let my loved ones know I'll be joining them soon,
Comin' for to carry me home.
Escorted by these angels to my final resting place.
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Oh, descend from above, gentle carriage,
Comin' for to carry me home;
Coming to take me to my eternal abode.
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Oh, descend from above, gentle carriage,
Comin' for to carry me home.
Coming to take me to my eternal abode.
Writer(s): Stuart Gledhill, Alf Clausen, Friedrich Meyer, Traditional, Terence Keyworth
Contributed by Camden J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.