Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me home
Swing low
Sweet, sweet, sweet chariot, chariot
Comin’ for to carry me home, home, yeah-yeah
Swing down, chariots, won’t you let me ride?
Oh, swing
Swing down, chariots, stop and let me ride, oh
Rock me Lord, rock me Lord (Rock me, rock me Lord, ooh-hey)
Calm and easy (I got a home)
I got a home on the other side (Hey)
Oh, six white horses standin’ side by side
Oh, sing
Six white horses present (Sing)
Side by side, oh
Rock me Lord, rock me Lord (Rock me, rock me)
Calm and easy (I got a home)
I got a home on the other side (Hey)
Swing low, swing low, swing low, swing low and let me ride
Why don’t you let me ride?
(Why oh why oh why, don’t you let me ride?)
Why don’t you let me ride, ride, ride, ride, ride?
Why don’t you let me ride, let me ride, let me ride?
Ride, ride, ride, ride, ride
Swing down, chariots, won’t you let me ride?
Oh, swing
Swing down, chariots, stop and let me ride, oh
Rock me Lord, rock me Lord (Rock me, rock me Lord)
Calm and easy (Hey, hey, hey)
I got a home on the other side (Got a home)
I got a home on Him (You got a home)
I got a home on Him (We got a home)
I got a home on Him (I got a home)
I got a home on Him (I got a home)
I got a home on Him (You got a home)
I got a home on Him (We goin’ home)
I got a home on Him (Goin’ home)
I got a home on Him (Yes, Lord)
I got a home on Him (Sweet Lord)
I got a home on Him (Sweet chariot)
I got a home on Him (Take me home)
I got a home on Him (Take me home)
I got a home on Him
I’m (I)
Going (Am going)
Home (Home)
Interpreting the Spiritual Journey in “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”
Beyoncé’s rendition of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” breathes new life into this timeless spiritual, blending gospel roots with her soulful delivery. The lyrics evoke a yearning for transcendence and comfort, with the chariot symbolizing a passage to peace and a promised home beyond life’s struggles. Beyoncé’s repeated pleas to “let me ride” and references to “six white horses” reinforce themes of hope, liberation, and spiritual assurance. The song’s call-and-response style, coupled with powerful gospel harmonies, creates a sense of communal uplift, inviting listeners to find solace and strength in faith and the idea of a home on the “other side.”
Song Credits
“Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” is a traditional African-American spiritual. Beyoncé’s version appears on her 2024 album Cowboy Carter. As a traditional composition, the songwriters are unknown.