The Staple Singers were an American gospel, soul, and R&B singing group fro… Read Full Bio ↴The Staple Singers were an American gospel, soul, and R&B singing group from Chicago who signed their first professional contract in 1952. Roebuck "Pops" Staples (1914–2000), the patriarch of the family, formed the group with his children Cleotha (1934–2013), Pervis (1935-2021), Yvonne (1937-2018), and Mavis (b. 1939). They are best-remembered for their 1970s hits "Respect Yourself", "I'll Take You There", "If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)", and "Let's Do It Again". In 1999 the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2005 the group was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

The family began appearing in Chicago-area churches in 1948, and signed their first professional contract in 1952. They signed with United Records, then Vee-Jay, Riverside, Epic and, eventually, the black-owned indie Stax Records label where they hit their most fertile commercial peak.

In 1967, on Columbia subsidiary Epic, the Staple Singers first began moving into mainstream pop markets with "Why (Am I Treated So Bad)" and "For What It's Worth" (written by Stephen Stills). In 1968, the Staple Singers signed to Stax and released two albums recorded with Steve Cropper of Booker T & the MG's fame - Soul Folk in Action and We'll Get Over. By 1970, Al Bell had become producer, and the family began recording at the famed Muscle Shoals studio, moving in a more funk and soul direction. The first Stax hit was "Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom Boom)". In 1972, the group had a No. 1 hit in the United States with "I'll Take You There." Their 1972 recording on Stax of "Respect Yourself," written by Luther Ingram and Mack Rice, was number 2 on the R&B charts and a Top 40 pop hit as well. The song's theme of self-empowerment had universal appeal, released in the period immediately following the intense American civil rights movement of the 1960s. During this Stax period they appeared at a 1972 summer concert at the LA Memorial Coliseum attended by 100,000 people and documented in the 1973 film and soundtrack album Wattstax.

The Staple Singers then signed to Curtom, Curtis Mayfield's imprint, and released the soundtrack to a comedy film co-starring Bill Cosby called "Let's Do It Again". The soundtrack was produced by Mayfield; and the title song was a huge hit in 1975. After this, however, they were not able to regain their commercial momentum, releasing occasional minor hits, and moving from label to label including Warner Brothers and 20th Century before returning to Epic in the mid 80s. Lead singer Mavis Staples began a fruitful solo career in earnest that continues to this day and involves live performing with her sister Yvonne Staples. The other daughters in the group who did not pursue solo careers were Pervis Staples, and Cleotha Staples.

In 1994, the family made this final recording of a duet with Mary Stuart (reprising their Last Watz style backing on a cover of "The Weight" by The Band), somewhat re-establishing an audience.

Pops Staples died in December 2000.

Cleotha Staples died in Chicago on February 21, 2013.

Yvonne Staples died in April 2018 and Pervis Staples in May 2021.

Swing Low
The Staple Singers Lyrics

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I looked over Jordan and what did I see?
Comin' for to carry me home
There was a band of angels, a-comin' after me

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

I'm sometimes up, and I'm sometimes down
Comin' for to carry me home
But but I know my soul is heavenly bound
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
If you get there before I do
Comin' for to carry me home
Tell all my friends that I'm a-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
And now they're comin' for to carry me home

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Staple Singers' song "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" depict a sense of longing for an escape from the earthly struggles of life. The verse begins with the singer looking out over the Jordan river and seeing a band of angels coming to take them home. This is a reference to the biblical story of the Israelites fleeing from Egypt, where they crossed the Jordan River to enter the promised land. For the singer, the angels represent a way out of the hardships and pain that they are experiencing in their life, and a journey to a better place.

The chorus of the song continues to describe the chariot, which is coming to carry the singer home. This is also a biblical reference to the book of Ezekiel, where the prophet Ezekiel's vision of God's throne is described as being carried by four living creatures that resemble a chariot. The chorus is a repeated cry for salvation and an acknowledgement that the singer's earthly struggles will soon be over. The final verse of the song refers to the singer either being up or down, but understanding that their soul is bound for heaven. The stanza ends with a call to action for the singer's friends, so they too can be carried home.

Line by Line Meaning

I looked over Jordan and what did I see?
I saw across the river Jordan and saw something approaching me

Comin' for to carry me home
It was coming for me to take me to my heavenly home

There was a band of angels, a-comin' after me
Angels were in the band that was coming for me

Swing low, sweet chariot
The chariot that was coming had a sweet, low swinging sound

Comin' for to carry me home
The chariot was coming to take me to my heavenly home

I'm sometimes up, and I'm sometimes down
Sometimes I'm happy and other times I'm sad

Comin' for to carry me home
But the chariot is still coming to take me home

But but I know my soul is heavenly bound
However, I know that my soul is destined for heaven

Comin' for to carry me home
And the chariot is still coming for me

Swing low, sweet chariot
The same sweet, low chariot is still approaching

Comin' for to carry me home
To take me to my heavenly home