SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot was composed by Wallis Willis, a one-time slave for the Choctaw Indians in the old Indian Territory. 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. Some latter day sources[1] imply that this song and Steal Away Jesus—also composed by Willis—had some hidden lyrics referring to the Underground Railroad. That is unlikely, however, since neither song was heard outside the Choctaw Nation until after the Civil War. That is when Alexander Reid, a minister at a Choctaw boarding school heard Willis singing the songs and transcribed the words and melodies. 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.
Coming into the last match of the 1988 season, against Ireland at Twickenham, England had lost 15 of their previous 23 matches in the Five Nations Championship. The Twickenham crowd had only seen one solitary England try in the previous two years and at half time against Ireland they were 0-3 down. During the second half the floodgates opened and England scored a remarkable six tries in a thumping 35-3 win. Three of the tries came in quick succession from Chris Oti, a black player making his Twickenham debut. A group from the Benedictine school Douai started to sing a rugby club favourite – the gospel hymn Swing Low, Sweet Chariot – in honour of their new hero, the whole crowd joined in. In 2003 the England national rugby union team returned from the 2003 World Cup triumph in Australia on a plane dubbed 'Sweet Chariot'.
The song is still regularly sung at matches by supporters. There are also a series of gestures that accompany the song, many of which are sexual. This is also used as a drinking game by fighter pilots. The first person to incorrectly give the gestures for this song is required to buy the next round of drinks. Swing Low is also the "Hash Hymn" and 'official' ending to many Hash House Harriers circles. The basic lyrics and gestures are the same as described here although there are many, many variations including: Scooby-Doo, Helen Keller, Stevie Wonder, silent, humming and harlots.
Hash Hymn
(Same tune
as the lyrics. Sing with gestures, as actions
speak much louder than words. Standard hash benediction closing
down-downs.
(Song master says, 'Respect for the Hash Hymn')
Chorus
Swing low, sweet char-i-o-ot,
Cumin' four two carry me home...
Swing low, sweet char-i-o-ot,
Cumin' four two carry me home.
I looked over Jordan,
And what did I see-ee,
Cumin' four two carry me home...
A band of An-gels,
Cumin' after me-ee,
Cumin' four two carry me home...
(Song master says, '2nd verse')
If you get there be-four I doo,
Cumin' four two carry me home...
Tell all my friends I'm cumin' twoo,
Cumin' four two carry me home...
Options:
Song master says, 'Harlots', then women do chorus in high
pitched voices, screaming in high pitched, exaggerated climax at
the each pause.
Song master says, 'Real Men', then men do chorus in low, deep
voices, exaggerating the size of their penis in the 'cumin'
gesture by hold both hands apart in sweeping, two-handed
masturbating gesture and swinging hands low to the ground with
'swing low'
Song master says, 'Ray Charles', then pack closes eyes and
sings chorus with gestures, moving head from side to side with
the beat.
Song master says, 'Humming', then pack hums chorus with
gestures.
Song master says, 'Silently', then pack does chorus silently
with gestures only, following the lead of the song master.
Song masters who screw up the gestures significantly are
traditionally awarded a down down after the song.
Song master says, 'Helen Keller', then pack closes eyes and
does chorus with gestures only, saying "Wa Wa" whenever Jordan
comes up.
Song master says, 'Fast Finish', then pack sings loud and fast
with gestures)
Song master says, 'Christopher
Reeve', then pack sings a fairly normal version but each line ends with
a loud, gasping, painful inhalation - i.e. Christopher Reeve on his ventilator
Hash Hymn Gesture Dictionary
All - Make wide sweeping gesture with hands outward.
Angels - Flap hands to side as though flying.
Band - Hold hands in front of you, cuffing the fingers and making
a gesture as though playing the slide of a trombone.
Be-four - hold up four fingers.
Carry - Put hands together in front and briskly swing them back
and forth as though cradling a baby.
Cumin' - Cuff hand and make a masturbation gesture. (Some hashers
mask the motion with slight of hand by first moving the other
hand behind their head and patting it a split second before the
masturbating gesture, sometimes coughing at the same time).
Chariot - Shake both hands outward as though holding the reins
and make horse whinnying noises.
Doo - Put hands on hips and squat as though taking a crap.
Down - Put index and thumb together near crotch as if holding a
small penis then move the hand downward slightly and wiggle it
briskly.
Four - Hold up four fingers.
Friends - Cuff fingers of left hand held outward in front, with
thumb and index finger forming a circle. Rapidly insert and
withdraw the index finger of the right hand into the circle in a
universal fornication gesture.
Home - Hold arms above your head, fingers extended and touching
together forming a 'roof' over your head.
I - Point to your eye with your index finger
I'm - Point to your chest with your index finger
Heavenly Bound - With hand holding foot, swing it into the air.
Jordan - (River Jordan, traditional) Move hands outward, then
right to left, wiggling fingers in a wave motion. (Michael
Jordan, U.S.) Make a basketball jump shot motion.
Looked - Shading eyes with hand and moving head back and forth as
if searching.
Me or My - Point to your chest with your index finger.
Over - Sweep hand from 'Looked' position outward.
See - Point index finger from 'I' position outward.
Sole - Point to bottom of shoe.
Still - (as in distiller) Make drinking gesture with hand, moving
head backward.
Sweet - Kiss 1st and 2nd finger and thumb together, throwing the
kiss outward.
Swing Low - Intertwine fingers forming a cradle and with arms
down, swing them back and forth.
Tell - Put back of hand to mouth, rapidly moving thumb with
fingers as in speaking gesture.
There - Point back over your shoulder with your index finger.
Two - Hold up two fingers.
Up - Cuff fingers in front as holding a long penis then move the
hand upward.
What - Hands out to side, palms up as in a question.
You - Point outward with index finger.
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