"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" is an American spiritual folk song.
History
During the period of slavery in the United States prior to the Civil War, slaves sang some spiritual songs that bore hidden, non-religious content. The hidden content of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" was to encourage other slaves that the 'Chariot’ drivers (Underground Railroad ‘conductors’) would someday enable their safe escape to worldy freedom in the North. [1]
The song has become associated with the England national rugby union team and is regularly sung at matches by supporters.
Lyrics
Lyrics are as follows:
Chorus (in bold):
- Swing low, sweet chariot
- Coming for to carry me home
- Swing low, sweet chariot
- Coming for to carry me home
- I looked over Jordan
- And what did I see,
- Coming for to carry me home
- A band of angels coming after me
- Coming for to carry me home
(Chorus)
- If you get there
- Before I do
- Coming for to carry me home
- Tell all my friends I'm coming too
- Coming for to carry me home
(Chorus)
- Sometimes I'm up
- And sometimes I'm down
- Coming for to carry me home
- But still my soul
- Feels heavenly bound
- Coming for to carry me home
(Chorus)
External link
