SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT

This great spiritual was composed by Wallis Willis, a Choctaw freedman in the old Indian Territory, sometime before 1862. He was inspired by the Red River which reminded him of the Jordan River and of the Prophet Elijah being taken to heaven by a chariot. Many non-scholarly sources[clarification needed] (see Songs of the underground railroad) claim that this song and "Steal Away"—also composed by Willis—had hidden lyrics referring to the Underground Railroad.

Alexander Reid, a minister at a Choctaw boarding school, heard Willis singing these two songs and transcribed the words and melodies. He sent the music to the Jubilee Singers of Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. The Jubilee Singers then popularized the songs during a tour of the United States and Europe.

It has been recorded by numerous singers starting with the Fisk Jubilee Singers in 1909, and includes a long list of jazz, folk, blues, gospel, rock 'n' roll, and country artists.

Chorus
SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME
SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME

Verse 1
I LOOKED OVER JORDAN AND WHAT DID I SEE
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME?
A BAND OF ANGELS HOVERING OVER ME
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME
Chorus
SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME
SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME

Verse 2
IF YOU GET THERE BEFORE I DO
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME
TELL ALL MY FRIENDS I’LL BE COMING HOME TOO
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME
Chorus
SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME
SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME

Verse 3
I CAME TO SEE A BRIGHTER DAY
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME
WHEN GOD HE WASHED ALL MY SINS AWAY
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME
Chorus
SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME
SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME

Verse 4
SOMETIMES I’M UP & SOMETIMES I’M DOWN
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME
BUT STILL MY SOUL IS HEAVENLY BOUND
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME
Chorus
SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME
SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME

Verse 5
I'VE NEVER BEEN TO HEAVEN BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME
THE STREETS OF HEAVEN ARE PAVED WITH GOLD
COMIN' FOR TO CARRY ME HOME
Chorus
SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME
SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT
COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME