Text

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

The gospel hymnal is one of the classic Negro spirituals that have transformed generations. In this song, the Fisk Jubilee Singers sing about the figurative journey of enslaved people to their "home" in heaven.

Author

The Fisk Jubilee Singers

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

Text Type

Multimedia

Topic

Slavery

Subject

History

Key Concepts

This text is part of the Teaching Hard History Text Library and aligns with Key Concept 9. The video below may be retrieved from Nashville Public Television.

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

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

Sometimes I'm up sometimes I'm down
Coming for to carry me home
But still my soul feels heavenly bound
Coming for to carry me home

Coming for to carry me home

Source

This text is courtesy of Nashville Public Television and PBS. It can be accessed at https://video.wnpt.org/video/swing-low-sweet-chariot-songs-stories-tn-civil-war-150-6ldy5/

Text Dependent Questions

Question

What is the resounding message of this song?

Answer

Swing low, the chariot is coming to take you home.
Question

What spiritual references were used in this song to empower the singer, or listener, of this hymnal?

Answer

Lord, Jordan, carry me home.
Question

The singers of this song wanted to tell a story. What story do you think they were aiming to express?

Answer

Answers will vary and may include reference to being together again in heaven.
Question

What hidden messages can be found in the lyrics that speak to the nature of struggle, survival and perseverance?

Answer

Answers will vary and may include “I’m sometimes up and I’m sometimes down” but “If I get there before you do … I’ll cut a hole and pull you through."

Reveal Answers

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

0 COMMENTS

Sign in to save these resources.

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

Print this Text

0 COMMENTS

Sign in to save these resources.

New Virtual Workshops Are Available Now!

Get the Learning for Justice Newsletter