Swing Low Sweet Chariot Essay & Criticism

Swing Low Sweet Chariot Critical Overview

In his Black Song, John Lovell, Jr., discusses all aspects of "Swing Low Sweet Chariot." He con­siders its origins, structure, interpretations, poetic techniques, recordings, performances, and literary and artistic uses. He refers to studies of African sources for the spiritual, citing a Bantu song, 'The Story of Tangalimlibo," and an unnamed Rhode­sian song that uses the same refrain and response. Lovell also addresses the theory that one person composed "Swing Low Sweet Chariot"; he quotes the famous scholar H. L. Mencken, who has theo­rized that probably one poet composed "Swing Low Sweet Chariot." Mencken believes the poet "was one of the greatest poets we have ever pro­duced, and he came so near being our greatest mu­sician that I hesitate to look for a match for him."

Many authorities have analyzed the meaning of the "chariot" and the word "home" in this spir­itual. On a metaphoric level, "chariot" may stand...
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