“Swing Low”

Description

"Star in the east, swing low, Star in the west, swing low, Stars shining in my breast, Swing low, chariot, swing low. "My father's gone, swing low... Angels took him...." "My mother's gone...." "I got a letter... it was sent from heaven...."

Notes

Bascom Lamar Lunsford thinks this a forerunner of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," and it's likely enough that I decided to include the song even though I'm not sure how strong it is in tradition. On the other hand, it is possible that it is a filed-down version, without the strong freedom motif of the better-known song. - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"
• cf. "Job, Job" (a few lines)

Recordings

• Bascom Lamar Lunsford, "Swing Low" (on BLLunsford01)