Swing
The Petes Lyrics

The lyrics to "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" by The Petes is an adaptation of a traditional African American spiritual song. The song is about the hope and belief in redemption and salvation after death. The first verse refers to a vision the singer has of a band of angels coming to carry them home to heaven. The chorus repeats the phrase "Swing low, sweet chariot" which refers to the chariot that will transport the singer to heaven. The second verse speaks to the singer's desire for their loved ones to be reunited with them in heaven.

The song has a powerful emotional resonance and has been used throughout history as an anthem for the civil rights movement, particularly in the United States. It has been performed by artists across many genres, ranging from Ella Fitzgerald to Johnny Cash to Beyoncé.

The lyric "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" has its roots in the Underground Railroad, a secret network of safe houses and people who helped enslaved African Americans escape to freedom in the 19th century. The song served as a code to indicate a path to freedom towards the north.

The interpretation of the song has been open to debate, with some critics pointing to the violent history of slavery and the desire to be free from bondage, while others focus on the hope and faith in spiritual salvation.