Swing Low Sweet Chariot

Lyrics: Traditional
Music: Traditional

Chorus
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

[Chorus]

If you get to heaven before I do
Coming for to carry me home
Tell all my friends I'll be coming there too
Coming for to carry me home

[Chorus]

Jerry Garcia Recordings
	Date	Album	Recorded By
	31 Oct 1987	Pure Jerry 2: Lunt-Fontanne	Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band
	3 Dec 1987	Almost Acoustic	Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band

New Riders Recording (with Garcia and Weir)
	18 Mar 1973	Felt Forum, NYC

Background
According to Wikipedia, "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot was composed by Wallis Willis, ... 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. ... Alexander Reid heard Willis singing [this song] and transcribed the words and melody. 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. Thanks to Eric Levy for sending the Jubilee Singers' recording from 1909, with lyrics:

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

[Chorus]

I'm sometimes up and I'm sometimes down
Coming for to carry me home
Still my soul feels heavenward bound
Coming for to carry me home

[Chorus]

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

[Chorus]
[Chorus]

Since I wrote that, Eric Levy has found reference to an earlier 1894 wax cylinder recording by the Standard Quartet.

Further Information
For more information on recordings see Matt Schofield's Grateful Dead Family Discography
For details of every time played by the Grateful Dead, see Chris Edwards Grateful Sets site
For details of every time played by the Jerry Garcia Band, see Chris Edwards JGB Sets site
For sheet music, see:
Jerry Garcia Songbook (vocal line and chords)