"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"

   In the song "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", it describes slavery and the hardships the slaves had to endure. The song was written in the 1840s, which was during the duration of slavery, also. It says, "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". The slave(s) singing this song, along with the composer, can practically see freedom. The song also shows reference to a story in the Bible where Elijah was taken to Heaven by a chariot.
   Along with a vast majority of songs involving slavery, "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" talks about the glories and dreams of escaping slavery and being able to escape to the North. Even though the slave(s) singing/composer had a tough life, they knew Heaven offered better opportunities and treatment for them, and they'd be relieved of all of their earthly pains. "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" was a song about optimism for better days. The slaves knew their pain was only temporary.
   It can still be used to relate to today, because even though slavery has been abolished, the citizens of America still have hardships. There's abuse, cancer and other life-threatening diseases, mental illnesses, starvation, and many more things that are only temporary pain. Whether they choose to outwardly sing about it or not like the slaves did, people know that after they die, the pain will no longer exist. Whether they go to Heaven or not is completely up to them, though.




(I used this website, along with this one to get information on the song and the topics discussing.)