Notes

Ryan Brooks sent another version with a note:

My mother used to sing me to sleep with this old song. Its original use was to keep a rhythm while working, tho' it has been used as a Hymn for over a century now. Sorry it's so long. This song is from the Southern region of the USA.

Swing Low Sweet Chariot

Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me,
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.

Well I looked over Jordan and what did I see
Coming for to carry me home?
It was a band of angels,

they was coming after me,
Coming for to carry me home.

Sometimes I'm up, and sometimes I'm down,
(Coming for to carry me home)
But still my soul feels heavenly bound.
(Yes they was coming after me)

Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me,
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.

Well I looked over Jordan and what did I see
Coming for to carry me home?
It was a band of angels,

they was coming after me,
Coming for to carry me home.

The brightest day that I can say,
(Coming for to carry me home)
When Jesus washed my sins away.
(Yes they was coming after me)

Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me,
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.

Well I looked over Jordan and what did I see
Coming for to carry me home?
It was a band of angels,
they was coming after me,
Coming for to carry me home.

The mp3 recording of Swing Low Sweet Chariot below is by the Fisk University Jubilee Quartette in 1921. The quality isn't great, but I thought it was interesting to hear an early rendition.

Download

MP3 sung by Fisk University Jubilee Quartette at Edison Labs on December 07, 1921.

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Thanks to Ryan Brooks for the second version of this song!