Original Version

"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" is an African American spiritual song and one of the best known gospel hymns.

Originating in the early African American oral and musical traditions, the date on which it was composed is unknown.

It was composed by Wallis Willis, (a former African American slave who emancipated himself after the American Civil War) sometime after 1865.

The performances of the Hampton Singers and Fisk Jubilee Singers made it possible for the song to reach a wider audience in the late 19th century, being heard in more realms, not just religious.

The stylistic elements and thematic content are very typical of those of other spirituals.

The song was traditionally performed as a call and answer melody.

It is characterized by the use of repetition as a key poetic element, powerful images, personal rhetoric, and potentially coded lyrics.

Its free-form structure intentionally allows for improvisation and momentary changes to bring performers and audiences into a state of ecstasy.

The melody is pentatonic (consisting of 5 musical notes).

The song enjoyed a resurgence during the civil rights struggle of the 1960s and the folk renaissance; has been performed by several artists.

Perhaps the most famous performance of this period was that of Joan Baez during the legendary Woodstock Festival of 1969.

British rock musician Eric Clapton recorded a reggae version of the song for his 1975 studio album There's One in Every Crowd which reached several singles charts, including Japan, Holland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

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