Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

Jonathan Anderson • September 22, 2025

“Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” is more than just a song — it’s a cry from the soul. It speaks of hope beyond suffering, of rest beyond struggle, and of a heavenly home where peace awaits. There’s a quiet strength in its simplicity, and a deep, spiritual longing that has carried this hymn through generations.

The Story Behind the Hymn

This hymn is a spiritual, rooted in the African American experience during the time of slavery in the United States. Though its exact origin is uncertain, it was most famously popularized by Wallace Willis, a freedman from Oklahoma in the mid-1800s. Inspired by the story of Elijah being taken to heaven in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11), the song blends biblical imagery with the longing for freedom — both earthly and eternal.

“Swing Low” became a song of hope for those who suffered deeply but held on to the promise of deliverance — whether that meant freedom from slavery, or the promise of heaven itself. It was later adopted into folk and gospel traditions and is now one of the most well-known spirituals in the world.


What Makes It Powerful

The strength of this hymn lies in its simplicity and sincerity. It doesn’t try to impress — it speaks straight from the heart. The lyrics carry a quiet anticipation of heaven, but also reflect the burdens of life on earth. It’s a song for anyone who has ever felt tired, homesick for heaven, or in need of comfort.


A verse that captures this longing is John 14:2–3 (NIV):

My Father’s house has many rooms… I am going there to prepare a place for you… I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

This hymn echoes that promise — a reminder that Christ will come again to bring His people home.


My Violin Cover

When I arranged “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” for violin, I wanted to keep the spirit of the original spiritual — soulful, steady, and full of longing. I didn’t add much flair, just gentle phrasing and a sense of movement, like a chariot slowly rolling through the sky. It’s a song you feel as much as you hear.

With Violin Hymns, I try to stay true to the emotion behind each melody. This one called for hopeful reverence — a sound that reaches upward.


Listen and Reflect

The video is below. As you listen, let this hymn remind you that heaven is not far. Christ is preparing a place. Whether your heart is light or heavy today, remember that the journey doesn’t end here. Swing low, sweet chariot — coming for to carry me home.

Lyrics


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. 


I’m sometimes up and sometimes down,

Coming for to carry me home,

But still my soul feels heavenly bound,

Coming for to carry me home.

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