Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series that showcases the African American Spiritual "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" and two of its Gospel forms: "Swing Down Chariot & Let Me Ride" and "Take A Ride".
Part II of this series showcases another YouTube video of the Gospel song "Take A Ride" and includes the lyrics to that song.
Selected comments from that video's discussion thread are included in this post.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/03/examples-of-spiritual-swing-low-sweet.html for Part I of this series. Part I showcases YouTube examples of the Spiritual "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" as well as videos of the Gospel song "Swing Down Chariot & Let Me Ride" and The Gospel song "Take A Ride". Links to the lyrics for these songs are included in this post.
****
The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners
Thanks to Chevela Garvin for composing this song and thanks to Delvin Robinson for leading the version of this song that is showcased in this post. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this post on YouTube.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Old School - Let Me Ride ( Reprise )
Truth Gospel Singers, Nov 16, 2018
Old School - Let Me Ride ( Reprise )
-snip-
"Old school" is a usually complimentary African American Vernacular English term that means something or someone from the past. This song appears to have been composed in 2008 which isn't all that old. However, the way the lead singer and the congregation sung that song, and the way they clapped in accompaniment of their singing is "old school" (from the early to mid 20th century if not older).
"Repise" means to repeat a song, which implies that this church congregation sung this song earlier in that program. Note that several commenters wrote that this was a "home going service" [funeral] for the man who was the lead singer.
****
LYRICS - TAKE A RIDE*
(Chevela Garvin)
I wanna take a ride
Ride [word elongated]
I wanna take a ride
Ride [word elongated]
I'm singing oh angels
Oh [word elongated] angels
Slow down
Slow down your chariot
And let me ride
I wanna see king Jesus
Jesus [word elongated]
I wanna see king Jesus
Jesus[word elongated]
I'm singing oh angels
Slow down your chariot
Let me ride
I wanna go home
Home [word elongated]
I wanna go home
Home [word elongated]
I'm crying oh angels
oh [word elongated angels
Slow down your chariot
oh [word elongated] angels
And let me ride
[Vamp]
Let me ride
Let me ride
Let me ride
Oh [word elongated] angels
Oh [word elongated] angels
Oh [word elongated] angels
Slow down your chariot
Slow down your chariot
Slow down your chariot
[Repeat vamp]
-snip-
This is my transcription of this video. This transcription is largely based on the comment posted by QUE MAC, 2019 in the discussion thread for https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqd1KAOzTgI lyric [Example #1 of "Take A Ride", given in Part I of this pancocojams series.]
The words that are given in italics are singing directions.
****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR THE VIDEO THAT IS EMBEDDED IN THIS POST
Many of these comments include the African American Vernacular English (AAVE) present tense verb "sang". The AAVE verb "sang" which is also given as "sangin[g]" means "to sing very well, and especially to sing soulfully very well". Other commenters note that many churches no longer sing this type of Gospel music (or sing Gospel music this way).
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
1. James Singleton, 2018
"the song is by the Spiritual voices of Washington Dc the Title is Take a Ride .its on YouTube"
-snip-
Two examples of this song by the Spiritual Voices Of Washington, D.C. are showcased in Part I of this pancocojams series.
**
2. Mama Lou, 2018
"I luv this. Do anyone knows his name?
**
REPLY
3. GREG STOVER, 2018
"Mama Lou Delvin Robinson"
-snip-
A number of commenters referred to Delvin Robinson by his nickname "Heavy".
**
4.Corey Clemons, 2018
"If the (reprise) was that good, then I know the first part was on fire as well! Brotha got happy towards the end. Nothing but church!!!"
**
REPLY
5. Nia Graham, 2019
"Old school! This is the way I remember when I was a kid!"
**
6. Dr. Armani Trosclair, 2018
"I was a little boy the last time I heard this. But this rendition right here. I remember my Pastor would PAST THE MICROPHONE Looka here if the Brotha woulda kept going CALLING ON THAT chariot. I would mess something up in here. That congregation is on the background! I miss this kinda chuch.. those little country churches is where it is!"
-snip-
The word "chuch" in that comment is probably an approximation of the Black Southern American way of pronouncing the word "church".
**
REPLY
7. jingle fabb, 2019
"You said something right here... Nothing like a good ole country churchππΎ♀ππΎ♀ππΎ♀ππΎ♀ππΎ♀"
**
REPLY
8. Setory Taylor, 2019
"Man the way he sanging! I would’ve been rolling over that floor. BAPTIST FIT‼️"
-snip-
"Baptist fit" is a play on the medical condition "epilepsy" and the term "epileptic fit" which describes seizures that cause the body to jerk and shake.
**
REPLY
9. Barbara Phillips, 2019
"@Setory Taylor And this was at his Mother's homegoing service...I went in on this
-snip-
"Went in" means to "get happy" [to entirely go into [give in to] the experience of feeling the Holy Spirit.
**
10. Phyllis Taylor, 2019
"My,my,my, I feel the Holy Ghost. What an anointed singer. Churchin the way we used to do it in Savannah GA at Mt. Olive Holiness church under the leadership of Elder Isaac Newkirk. Hallelujah Praise God."
**
11. The band of praise and worship, 2019
"Is this greater new mount olive in statesville nc"
**
REPLY
12. Cody McCain, 2019
"It's at Antioch out in Cleveland (right below Statesville)"
**
13. carlp718, 2019
"This is that congregational singing and church sound that i miss hearing. It is so rare these days."
**
REPLY
14. zerenitee, 2019
"It saddens me somewhat to know that people no longer have church like this or say they miss having church like this. I'm in a lil small town in Georgia and this is the kind of church that still goes on"
**
REPLY
15. Lavender dc, 2018
"In DC, and church is always thumping!
I think it depends on what churches people go to.π€·π½♀"
-snip-
I think this commenter is saying that [some] churches in Washington, D. C. still sing that way. Remember that the original group that recorded this song "Spiritual Voices" are from Washington, D.C.
**
16. James Jenkins, 2019
"The kind of music that blesses the soul! ππΎ"
**
17. Charles Graves, 2019
"Please tell the guy on the guitar that He is a bad boy!!!"
**
18. Nique Lasster, 2019
"Never heard this song at all, BUT I LOVE IT!!!! I honestly miss Ole Time Church like this.... HE SUNGGGG THE HECK OUT OF THIS SONG..."
**
REPLY
19. BOSS HOGG SNARE, 2019
"We don't have church like this anymore"
**
20. Queen B, 2019
"I felt this in my soul"
**
21. sean phifer, 2019
"He took me back to 1989 friendship baptist in cooleemee nc about 20 mins from Statesville nc. This youg sang the slop out of this song"
**
22. Shellie Carter, 2019
"Who is he? Does he sing in a group?"
**
REPLY
23. Angel Farris, 2019
"@Shellie Carter Delvin Robinson. Yes he's in a group with his family. The Still Boyz"
**
24. Latasha Jiggetts
"You Better Sang!!!!"
**
25. c tharpe, 2019
"Sing BROTHER"
**
26. Mz. Grace, 2019
"You better sannnnnnnnnnggggggggg HEAVY!!!!!!!!!!!!"
**
27. R Smith, 2019
"Nothing compares to singing under God's anointing. Praise God π"
**
28. Fredrequez Smith, 2019
"Man, Heavy you owned this oneππΎ!"
**
29. Holliman McFatten, 2019
"Sang sir!!!!"
**
30. Brandon Mills, 2019
"Yesssssaaaah!!!!!! Sannng boy!!!"
**
31. Reginald A. Bell Sr., 2019
"YES LORD!!!!!! ππΏππΏππΏππΏπΆπ΅π΅ My man WENT IN when he "CUPED" that π€ mic!!!!π₯π₯π₯ππΏππΏππΏ"
**
33. Benjamin Hicks, 2020
"THIS BROTHA CAN SHO-NUF SANG.....WHEN HE STARTED DOING THAT HOLY GHOST BOUNCE, BRUH-MAN WAS READY.....I LIKE THE WAY THIS DUDE SANG; NOT SING, BUT SANG....WHAT'S HIS NAME, AND WHERE IS HE FROM???"
**
34. Jay David, 2020
"If this family ain’t in South Carolina or Georgia!!"
**
35. Christina Ridgeway, 2020
"Home going celebration if I ever saw oneππ½"
**
36. Sierra Dawson, 2020
"πππππππ u betta sangggggg ..... Love the oldschool Gospel .ππππππππ"
**
37. Kimmy Skeeter, 2020
"Sing y'all"
**
38. William Brower, 2020
"This man can sang!!!!!!!!
**
39. Pierre Stevens, 2020
"That boy sung the HELL out that song!!!!
I love listening to him sing this song"
**
40. neika kirts, 2020
"I've never heard this song before, but it sure did bring back memories from my country home town in Louisiana.
I can see me beating my tambourine on this songππ½ππ½"
**
41. Cedric Murdaugh, 2020
"Can I get a witness? This right here is my kind of carrying on!"
**
42. Henrietta Parks, 2020
"JESUS! JESUS! JESUS!! THAT BROTHER!! WAS FEELING THAT SONG!! HE TOUCHED MY SPIRIT!!! LET ME RIDE!!!!"
**
43. Spirit of 1778, 2020
"I ain't gonna lie, when I saw the wood panel walls and the red pews my first thought was, "this is that good ol' country church folks used to have."
**
44. Life with Eric, 2020
"Who else hear that good ole clapping"
**
45. Christian Paige, 2020
"My boy heavy famous out here lol. I see you bro"
**
46. Dewayne Galaxy, 2020
"You. Better. Sing. My. Son. In. Spirit"
**
47. Vida Barrett, 2020
"This was awesome! I can’t stop listening to this song. Looks like everyone was on one accord and Jesus definitely showed up!!!!!! ππ½ ❤️❤️"
****
This concludes Part II of this two part pancocojams post>
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Showing posts with label Swing Low Sweet Chariot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Swing Low Sweet Chariot. Show all posts
Sunday, March 1, 2020
Examples Of The Spiritual "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" & The Gospel Songs "Swing Down Chariot & Let Me Ride" and "Take A Ride"
Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series that showcases the African American Spiritual "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" and two of its Gospel forms: "Swing Down Chariot & Let Me Ride" and "Take A Ride".
Part I of this series showcases YouTube examples of the Spiritual "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" as well as videos of the Gospel song "Swing Down Chariot & Let Me Ride" and The Gospel song "Take A Ride". Links to the lyrics for these songs are included in this post.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/03/old-school-african-american-gospel-song.html Part II of this series showcases another YouTube video of the Gospel song "Take A Ride" and includes the lyrics to that song. Selected comments from that video's discussion thread are included in that post, with a focus on the use of the African American Vernacular English word "sang" which means "to sing very well, and especially to sing soulfully very well".
****
The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Wallis Willis, a Black man who was a Choctaw [Native American] freedman, who is documented as the composer of the song "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot". Thanks to all those who composed Gospel songs that are based on the song "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot". Thanks to all those who are featured in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
Click the "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" tag for previous pancocojams posts about this African American Spiritual.
****
TWO YOUTUBE EXAMPLES OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SPIRITUAL "SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT"
Example #1: "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" (1958)- The Caravans
JayEm86, May 21, 2008
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", originally from the "Mary Don't You Weep" LP, with Albertina Walker and Shirley Caesar providing lead vocals. This is Shirley Caesar's first recording session with the Caravans, beginning a career that would launch her, as well as fellow Caravans Inez Andrews, Albertina Walker, and Delores Washington into some of the most successful and influential solo gospel artists of the past 50 years (1958-2008).
-snip-
Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swing_Low,_Sweet_Chariot for information about Wallis Willis, the composer of the Spiritual "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" (as well as the composer of the Spiritual "Steal Away". Note: I believe that these are the only African American Spirituals that have an identified composer.
The traditional lyrics to "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" are also included in that Wikipedia article.
****
Example #2: "Swing Low Chariot"- Clara Ward Singers
Rowoches, Aug 15, 2008
*DISCLAIMER- I don't own the rights to this video. This is just a fan post, sharing history with all who want to learn*
Clara Ward and her singers raise the roof with this rendition of "Swing Low Chariot" in this video. Y'all go head on!
From left to right: Malvilyn Statham (tambourine), Vermettya Royster, Clara Ward (lead), Adele Schofield, and Geraldine Jones. Viola Crowley is on piano. Bernard Davis on the organ.
****
THREE YOUTUBE EXAMPLES OF "SWING DOWN CHARIOT AND LET ME RIDE"
Video #1: [Gospel song]
The Staple Singers -Let Me Ride
The Staple Singers, Jul 30, 2018
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Let Me Ride · The Staple Singers
Uncloudy Day & Will The Circle Be Unbroken?
℗ 1960 Concord Music Group, Inc.
-snip-
Click https://www.metrolyrics.com/swing-down-chariot-lyrics-the-staple-singers.html for the lyrics for the song "Swing Down Chariot And Let Me Ride".
****
Video #2 - [Funk/Gospel music]
Parliament Funkadelic - Swing Down Sweet Chariot - Mothership Connection - Houston 1976
GravityLimited , Jul 24, 2010
http://gravityworld.tv/Video_Content/
It was Halloween night and Parliament Funkadelic was about to tear the roof off the Houston Summit, ready to bless the crowd with their cosmic brew of interplanetary funk. George Clinton, Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins and the rest of the P-Funk collective were riding the success of their first Top 5 R&B hit, "Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)," a track that had earned them the kind of radio play that
would bring the masses out to see them live in a stadium-sized arena. The group was only five dates into the tour when they arrived in Houston, but they were definitely ready to take it to the stage for an out-of-this-world show like no other.
Taped on October 31, 1976, these seldom-seen performances at the Houston Summit represent Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic in their ΚΌ70s prime, in the era of their Mothership Connection and The Clones Of Dr. Funkenstein LPs—a rare opportunity for everyone to get their proper dose of The P-Funk.
****
Video #3 [American Movie Clip: Spiritual/Gospel]
swing low beyonce
Ronie Batiste, Jun 25, 2011
beyonce killed it
-snip-
This scene is from the movie The Fighting Temptations.
Here’s information about that movie from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fighting_Temptations
"The Fighting Temptations is a 2003 American musical comedy film directed by Jonathan Lynn, written by Elizabeth Hunter and Saladin K. Patterson, and distributed by Paramount Pictures and MTV Films. The main plot revolves around Darrin Hill (Cuba Gooding Jr.) who travels to his hometown of Monte Carlo, Georgia as he attempts to revive a church choir in order to enter a gospel competition with the help of a beautiful lounge singer, Lilly (BeyoncΓ©), with whom he falls in love.[1] Through the choir's music, Darrin brings the church community back together all the while seeking a relationship with Lilly.
The film is notable for its soundtrack and ensemble cast. The film received mixed reviews upon release."...
****
EXAMPLES OF THE GOSPEL SONG "TAKE A RIDE"
Example #1: Take a Ride
The Spiritual Voices of Washington, Dc – Topic, Oct 23, 2015
Take a Ride · The Spiritual Voices of Washington, Dc
Satisfied
℗ 2008 CHEVELA GARVIN
-snip-
This video is copyrighted to Chevela Garvin 2008. Several commenters in another YouTube video for this song (that is showcased in Part II of this pancocojams series) wrote that Chevela The Spiritual Voices of Washington, Dc were the original group that recorded this song.
"Satisfied" may be the title of that album.
The lyrics for this song are included in Part II of this pancocojams series.
****
Example #2: Chevela and The Spiritual Voices
Long Live Pat Seigler Mar 23, 2017
Live at Gma Pat Benefit Concert!
****
This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series that showcases the African American Spiritual "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" and two of its Gospel forms: "Swing Down Chariot & Let Me Ride" and "Take A Ride".
Part I of this series showcases YouTube examples of the Spiritual "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" as well as videos of the Gospel song "Swing Down Chariot & Let Me Ride" and The Gospel song "Take A Ride". Links to the lyrics for these songs are included in this post.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/03/old-school-african-american-gospel-song.html Part II of this series showcases another YouTube video of the Gospel song "Take A Ride" and includes the lyrics to that song. Selected comments from that video's discussion thread are included in that post, with a focus on the use of the African American Vernacular English word "sang" which means "to sing very well, and especially to sing soulfully very well".
****
The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Wallis Willis, a Black man who was a Choctaw [Native American] freedman, who is documented as the composer of the song "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot". Thanks to all those who composed Gospel songs that are based on the song "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot". Thanks to all those who are featured in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
Click the "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" tag for previous pancocojams posts about this African American Spiritual.
****
TWO YOUTUBE EXAMPLES OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SPIRITUAL "SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT"
Example #1: "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" (1958)- The Caravans
JayEm86, May 21, 2008
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", originally from the "Mary Don't You Weep" LP, with Albertina Walker and Shirley Caesar providing lead vocals. This is Shirley Caesar's first recording session with the Caravans, beginning a career that would launch her, as well as fellow Caravans Inez Andrews, Albertina Walker, and Delores Washington into some of the most successful and influential solo gospel artists of the past 50 years (1958-2008).
-snip-
Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swing_Low,_Sweet_Chariot for information about Wallis Willis, the composer of the Spiritual "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" (as well as the composer of the Spiritual "Steal Away". Note: I believe that these are the only African American Spirituals that have an identified composer.
The traditional lyrics to "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" are also included in that Wikipedia article.
****
Example #2: "Swing Low Chariot"- Clara Ward Singers
Rowoches, Aug 15, 2008
*DISCLAIMER- I don't own the rights to this video. This is just a fan post, sharing history with all who want to learn*
Clara Ward and her singers raise the roof with this rendition of "Swing Low Chariot" in this video. Y'all go head on!
From left to right: Malvilyn Statham (tambourine), Vermettya Royster, Clara Ward (lead), Adele Schofield, and Geraldine Jones. Viola Crowley is on piano. Bernard Davis on the organ.
****
THREE YOUTUBE EXAMPLES OF "SWING DOWN CHARIOT AND LET ME RIDE"
Video #1: [Gospel song]
The Staple Singers -Let Me Ride
The Staple Singers, Jul 30, 2018
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Let Me Ride · The Staple Singers
Uncloudy Day & Will The Circle Be Unbroken?
℗ 1960 Concord Music Group, Inc.
-snip-
Click https://www.metrolyrics.com/swing-down-chariot-lyrics-the-staple-singers.html for the lyrics for the song "Swing Down Chariot And Let Me Ride".
****
Video #2 - [Funk/Gospel music]
Parliament Funkadelic - Swing Down Sweet Chariot - Mothership Connection - Houston 1976
GravityLimited , Jul 24, 2010
http://gravityworld.tv/Video_Content/
It was Halloween night and Parliament Funkadelic was about to tear the roof off the Houston Summit, ready to bless the crowd with their cosmic brew of interplanetary funk. George Clinton, Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins and the rest of the P-Funk collective were riding the success of their first Top 5 R&B hit, "Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)," a track that had earned them the kind of radio play that
would bring the masses out to see them live in a stadium-sized arena. The group was only five dates into the tour when they arrived in Houston, but they were definitely ready to take it to the stage for an out-of-this-world show like no other.
Taped on October 31, 1976, these seldom-seen performances at the Houston Summit represent Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic in their ΚΌ70s prime, in the era of their Mothership Connection and The Clones Of Dr. Funkenstein LPs—a rare opportunity for everyone to get their proper dose of The P-Funk.
****
Video #3 [American Movie Clip: Spiritual/Gospel]
swing low beyonce
Ronie Batiste, Jun 25, 2011
beyonce killed it
-snip-
This scene is from the movie The Fighting Temptations.
Here’s information about that movie from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fighting_Temptations
"The Fighting Temptations is a 2003 American musical comedy film directed by Jonathan Lynn, written by Elizabeth Hunter and Saladin K. Patterson, and distributed by Paramount Pictures and MTV Films. The main plot revolves around Darrin Hill (Cuba Gooding Jr.) who travels to his hometown of Monte Carlo, Georgia as he attempts to revive a church choir in order to enter a gospel competition with the help of a beautiful lounge singer, Lilly (BeyoncΓ©), with whom he falls in love.[1] Through the choir's music, Darrin brings the church community back together all the while seeking a relationship with Lilly.
The film is notable for its soundtrack and ensemble cast. The film received mixed reviews upon release."...
****
EXAMPLES OF THE GOSPEL SONG "TAKE A RIDE"
Example #1: Take a Ride
The Spiritual Voices of Washington, Dc – Topic, Oct 23, 2015
Take a Ride · The Spiritual Voices of Washington, Dc
Satisfied
℗ 2008 CHEVELA GARVIN
-snip-
This video is copyrighted to Chevela Garvin 2008. Several commenters in another YouTube video for this song (that is showcased in Part II of this pancocojams series) wrote that Chevela The Spiritual Voices of Washington, Dc were the original group that recorded this song.
"Satisfied" may be the title of that album.
The lyrics for this song are included in Part II of this pancocojams series.
****
Example #2: Chevela and The Spiritual Voices
Long Live Pat Seigler Mar 23, 2017
Live at Gma Pat Benefit Concert!
****
This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Two Videos Of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" Sung At Rugby Games In England & Selected Comments From A 2017 New York Times Article About This Custom
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases two videos of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" sung by attendees at United Kingdom rugby games.
This post also provides selected examples of comments from a March 2017 New York Times article entitled "
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/11/fisk-jubilee-singers-1909-sound-file-of.html for a related pancocojams post entitled
"Fisk Jubilee Singers' 1909 Sound File Of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" (with three other renditions of this Spiritual)"
The content of this post is presented for historical and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the author of this featured New York Times article and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these YouTube examples.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO EXAMPLES
Example #1: The story of how Swing Low, Sweet Chariot became England Rugby's anthem
England Rugby, Published on Apr 9, 2015
"It would be a day that would go down in English Rugby folklore". Watch the story of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot and meet the people who started it at Twickenham.
****
Example #2: Stoke City - Swing Low vs. Arsenal
Redstokie828, Published on Dec 20, 2016
Stoke City fans singing during the game against Arsenal.
10/12/16
Arsenal 3 - 1 Stoke City
****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS ARTICLE'S DISCUSSION THREAD
All of these comments are from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/07/sports/rugby-swing-low-sweet-chariot.html "How a Slave Spiritual Became English Rugby’s Anthem" By Andrew Keh, March 7, 2017
These selected comments are given in chronological order, with the earliest comments given first except for replies. I've numbered these comments for referencing purposes only.
1. Sam Allison
Montreal, Canada; March 7, 2017
"Swing Low Sweet Chariot" has been around since at least the 1960s when I watched rugby internationals in Scotland, Wales and England. The English were always out-sung by the Celtic nations and did not really have much of a voice since they had no one song to sing. Eventually, "Swing Low" won out as the "national English song". However, it still pales to the likes of "Flower of Scotland" and the various Welsh anthems sung in harmony.
There is absolutely nothing racist about the crowds singing "Swing Low". By the way, "Hail to the Chief" originally refers to a Highland chief and is an old Scottish tune adopted by an Englishman for the musical "The Lady of the Lake". The words are, of course, by Sir Walter Scott."
**
2. Maxwell De Winter
N.Y.C., March 7, 2017
"Crazy! It's being sung in complete ignorance, however not in any shape or form of racism. As ironic is another African American anthem, Amazing Grace which was written by an English slave trader! Go figure."....
**
REPLY
3. Jeannie
WCPA; March 7, 2017
"Since we're talking historical accuracy, let's be accurate. After his conversion, John Newton, the English slave trader who wrote Amazing Grace, saw slavery as sin. The song was his testimonial to the salvation he believed was available to him despite his past. Because African-Americans embraced and breathed such passion into the song is probably why you mistakenly perceive it to be an African-American anthem."
**
4. Stuart Cumella
Worcestershire, England; March 8, 2017
"Not entirelay accurate. John Newton wrote Amazing Gace in 1772, but did not speak a word against slavery until his conscience was awakened by Anti-Slavery movement over ten years later. See Adam Hochschild's excellent book Bury the Chains."
**
REPLY
5. brion
Connecticut; March 9, 2017
"Lest there be more confusion - after Jeannie's comment - about who wrote WHICH song, THIS article is referring to "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." "Swing Low" was written by Wallace Willis, A Black man. A Free Black man. "Amazing Grace" was written by the slave trader Newton. a White British man. This article is bout the former, not the latter.
As for "US" (as in the United States) taking drinking songs from the British, the British did not use the colonists as slaves, beat them, shoot them without a second thought (the Civil War Black Union regiment, where the white soldiers were kept prisoner, but the Black ones shot to death), or hanged them.
Just noting that for the sake of 'historical accuracy,' you know."
**
REPLY
6. brion
Connecticut; March 9, 2017
"Thank you for that, Mr. Cumella. Selective memory about our historical past allows history to be, again, re-written."
**
7. Emily Booth
Chicago; March 7, 2017
"They don't sing the entire song, do they? Only the chorus, not the stanzas. The British pronunciation of "chariot" is different, too, pronouncing the 1st syllable like "char" as in charburger."
**
8. @blueskysinking
HK; March 7, 2017
"SLSC goes beyond bawdy - it is racist parody, pure and simple. There is a fine tradition across all sports of appropriation, usually taking a tune and reworking the lyrics. By all means make these new lyrics lewd and crude, but using the same tune and lyrics to gesture and demean is deeply cynical."
**
9. OM
Boston, MA; March 7, 2017
"It's troubling that such heartbreaking yet uplifting song has been twisted into a drinking chant. And its history in being sung when black players were on the field is even more distressing. After singing it at funerals and prayer services my entire life, to hear it sung with no context of its meaning is painful."
**
10. Mark Whitton
Ottawa, Canada; March 7, 2017
"Many English sports chants use tunes and sometimes words from popular and religious songs. You'll Never Walk Alone is the song of the Liverpool soccer club. There are a few nasty chants that seem to use the tune of the hymn Jesus Loves The Little Children. When the Saints go Marching In is often sung. I don't think the English are trying to insult the song, they are usually trying to insult the other team or inspire their team and their fans or provide some comic relief. My favorite chant is "You're not special, We lose every week!" sung by the fans of hapless teams."
**
11. Billy
Out in the woods; March 7, 2017
"Most rugby anthems wouldn't be printable at all here."
**
12. mancuroc
Rochester; March 7, 2017
"Maybe the writer is unaware of the irony of the Brits importing "Swing Low..." as a rugby/drinking song.
It's a two way street. The melody for the Star Spangled Banner was imported from a British drinking song. Which explains why its melodic range is beyond many people in a sober state."
**
13. Philip Lees
Melbourne; March 7, 2017
"Bawdy rugby songs were sung on the team coach going to and from school and club rugby games and Swing Low was a non-bawdy one until it was accompanied by hand gestures. It was taught in music classes (sans gestures) in my UK school in the 1970’s along with Campdown Races and I don’t recall that there was any perception that our singing these songs these might be deemed offensive. This was an era when the Black & White Minstrel Show was on BBC TV and ran until 1978. I wouldn’t hold out much hope that cultural sensitivities will see the anthem now dropped, another favourite of this cohort is Blake’s Jerusalem, set to music in 1911, which is premised on Jesus having surely visited England."
**
14. Charlie Mike
Nyc; March 7, 2017
"Our national anthem melody came from an English pub song. Things evolve. So must we. Why would any American care what rugby fans in another country sing? The songs are not directed at us and are not intended to be offensive. For people to be "shocked" seems a bit of a stretch, even for liberals. Come on. Would you rather the song fade into obscurity?"
**
REPLY
15. brion,
Connecticut; March 7, 2017
It is not "people" who are shocked: it is US (and that don't mean the United States: it means BLACK PEOPLE) the people who originated the song when we were being obliterated thru beatings, lynching and hatred. (And yes, I meant "don't" not "doesn't". It's a Black thing: you wouldn't understand it.)
Would you then take a song that the Jews sang amongst themselves (if they did) to keep their spirits up while interred in concentration camps and use that for a sports anthem??
As for the song fading into obscurity, wow. Just. WOW. That is just plain stupid to think a song that connected us spiritually to God and helped us endure suffering as something WE fear "fading into obscurity." Obviously you've given this all the thought of which you are capable. Which is: not much.
This is how racism propogates: marginalization of another culture's inherent traits."
**
REPLY
16. Malcolm Clark
London; March 8, 2017
"I agree we shouldn't be glib about the origins of this beautiful and haunting song. The Welsh choirs which probably first spread the song through the UK...and into the world of rugby (in Wales rugby is the national sport) were often based in tough mining communities with a strong socialist tradition. So I suspect all this started with fellow feeling and empathy. But the meme spread. At least in this case- unlike others- the appopriation was never intended to offend. Maybe that "innocence" (or ignorance) about the song's origins is something English Rugby can address. Why can't the game's authorities use this link (gently) to point its supporters towards the origins of the song and the experences that inspired it; as part of the game's professed desire to tackle racism. Perhaps after the next game at Twickenham they can urge English fans to take a trip ....just up the road from the stadium to Marble Hill, the last of the great Georgian villas that was funded by slavery.
https://content.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/slavery
**
REPLY
17. Ian Maitland
WayzataMarch 8, 2017
"No, this is how racism propagates: When you refer to black or white people's "inherent traits." It's called stereotyping.
The history of humanity has been marked by cultural borrowings between different people -- gastronomic, musical, technological, and so on. That attests to our common humanity.
True, cultural borrowings have always been adapted and changed and applied in contexts unimagined by their creators. Just like this spiritual. But to call this "marginalization" is insane -- it is the sincerest form of flattery."
**
18. Susan Anderson
Boston; March 7, 2017
"For heaven's sake. What about My Country 'Tis of Thee from God Save the Queen (King). Who cares!"
**
REPLY
19. Thomas,
Branford, Florida; March 8, 2017
"I guess I care because the spiritual was about a painful subject and that is getting lost by the rugby use of it. I care in the same way that hearing Beethoven used to sell merchandise on TV makes me wince.
So , I care."
**
20. BTRnut
NY; March 7, 2017
"I understand the inclination to be offended by this. My initial reaction was "oh no." But honestly, now I just think it's nice that anyone is keeping this song alive. It's so beautiful and, sadly, I don't think it's well known to American youth anymore. Last time I heard it was at a funeral about seven years ago. Gives me goosebumps when sung by someone who really has a feel for the history and origin of the song. Maybe someday the Brits will be lucky enough to hear a version like that."
**
21. Ben Edwards
San Jose; March 7, 2017
"As a Brit who has lived in America for these past sixteen years, I have experienced first hand the many ways in which this country has improved upon British practices in society, politics and the law. But this growing obsession from the American left in policing our thought and speech (and now song!) is not one of them.
We sing "swing low, sweet chariot" as our rugby team pulverizes its adversaries (17-0 for the last 17 games, for the record) because it's a great crowd anthem. It's as innocent and as joyfully ignorant as this. Surely, there are more "troubling" things about our world for American journalists and academics to spend their time and spill their ink agonizing over."
**
REPLY
22. marie
bronx, new york; March 8, 2017
"It's not your history so you do not care; it is that simple.
Have a bit of respect. Your comment reeks of white, colonial era privilege."
**
REPLY
23. Eric
Dover, NH; March 8, 2017
"Ben, using a British accent to "Whitesplain" doesn't make it any more dignified."
**
24. Tatum
Allentown, PA; March 8, 2017
"As a rugby player, I've heard far more offensive things sung in pubs after matches...
Music evolves, and I think the author is reading too much into this. Is Sweet Caroline for the Red Sox condoning the politics of JFK? Since Stoke City is mentioned here, does their rendition Tom Jones's "Delilah" condone violence against women? Southampton, to my knowledge, sings "When the Saints Go Marching In" - a Christian ballad about the coming apocalypse..."
**
25. Floyd Norton
Washington: March 8, 2017
"I recall this song being sung after rugby games in Washington in the mid- to late-seventies, usually at the instigation of players from Australia and New Zealand. I think part of its appeal is that it is pitched low and occupies a narrow vocal range, which suits most rugby players. Also, it usually never got past the chorus and first verse, words that all the players knew."
**
26. Stephen Brake
Boston; March 8, 2017
"As at least one reader correctly comments, the origin of the English adopting Swing Low as their rugby anthem lies in their demonstrated inferiority in this respect to the Celtic nations,particularly Wales. In Wales since the 19th century rugby has been an obsession( " morbid footbalism" in the words of David Lloyd George). An obsession was music was long another Welsh cultural fact. The two mixed,with Welsh rugby crowds cycling through around eight beautiful Welsh hymns. This tradition was captured in the 1970s by a Welsh comedic performer, Max Boyce, in the song " Hymns and Arias". That song now is itself sung at Wales's matches. Even in the years where England's team expected victory they faced a wall of sound all match long and generally lost( England's won lost record at Cardiff is notably poor).
Since the Hymnal of the Anglican Church had no really appropriate hymns ( Onward Christian Soldiers? I don't think so), they appropriated one. Given Britain's 19th century record on slavery think of William Wilberforce and let them use this one."
**
27. K Fellows
West Midlands, UK; March 8, 2017
"I am a US citizen married to a UK citizen and have lived in Britain for almost twenty years. While I love Britain and now feel more "at home" here than I do in the States, one tendency which never fails to annoy me is the assumption among some (not all, by any means) British people that any cultural artifact shared by the two countries *must* have had its origins in England.
Thus, when once in conversation i had reason to point out to a co-worker that "Swing Low" was in fact a spiritual, rooted in the horrors of African-American slavery, I was saddened but not terribly surprised when this was vigorously denied. "Surely not! It's always been a rugby song! They [meaning, i can only assume, African slaves] must have picked it up from here [meaning England] somehow!"
Sigh."
**
28. Here
There; March 8, 2017
"Perhaps one of the more disquieting points of this article is the claim of "cultural appropriation", that somehow songs or other matters deriving from the cultures of favored minorities must not be used by whites, whereas blacks are under no such restrictions, and may freely use things written by whites. This is part of what I call Reverse Jim Crow, that blacks have privileges whites do not. It's one of the things we elected President Trump to end."
**
REPLY
29. Vanequa
Ellicott City, MD; March 8, 2017
"Trump's election ends nothing... cultural appropriation has historically benefitted whites economically (especially in the music industry). But our cultures are closely intertwined and it's useless to try to separate the delicious stew in our American melting pot. Until you truly know what Jim Crow was, how can you claim Reverse Jim Crow...? Can hurt feelings be considered reverse discrimination? Almost comical...almost... not quite Suggestion: See "The 13th" by Ava DuVernay"
**
30. Krausewitz
Oxford, UK; March 8, 2017
"I'm an immigrant from America and a rugby fan (cymru am byth!) and I still am shocked when I hear 'Swing Low'. I hate it. I passionately hate it. Hearing a bunch of drunk louts profane a song that is basically sacred all but makes me want to cry. I've tried explaining this to English friends and hey absolutely will not hear it. Like most people they utterly refuse to change, even slightly, when their hurtful and inconsiderate ways are politely pointed out. People are short-sighted, selfish and mean.
As a Wales supporter (with genes that come from the Welsh valleys) it is just one more reason to hate the English......"
**
31. Colin
Hexham, England; March 11, 2017
"Ok, here we go. A group of school children first sang the song in 1988 when Chris Oti scored three tries for England against Ireland. Other spectators then joined in. Most (if not all) rugby players, and supporters, know it is an African/American spiritual anthem. It is sung to galvanize support and encourage the players, and I would submit, is not sung to offend anyone but to celebrate hard endeavour in the face of adversity."
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post showcases two videos of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" sung by attendees at United Kingdom rugby games.
This post also provides selected examples of comments from a March 2017 New York Times article entitled "
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/11/fisk-jubilee-singers-1909-sound-file-of.html for a related pancocojams post entitled
"Fisk Jubilee Singers' 1909 Sound File Of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" (with three other renditions of this Spiritual)"
The content of this post is presented for historical and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the author of this featured New York Times article and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these YouTube examples.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO EXAMPLES
Example #1: The story of how Swing Low, Sweet Chariot became England Rugby's anthem
England Rugby, Published on Apr 9, 2015
"It would be a day that would go down in English Rugby folklore". Watch the story of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot and meet the people who started it at Twickenham.
****
Example #2: Stoke City - Swing Low vs. Arsenal
Redstokie828, Published on Dec 20, 2016
Stoke City fans singing during the game against Arsenal.
10/12/16
Arsenal 3 - 1 Stoke City
****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS ARTICLE'S DISCUSSION THREAD
All of these comments are from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/07/sports/rugby-swing-low-sweet-chariot.html "How a Slave Spiritual Became English Rugby’s Anthem" By Andrew Keh, March 7, 2017
These selected comments are given in chronological order, with the earliest comments given first except for replies. I've numbered these comments for referencing purposes only.
1. Sam Allison
Montreal, Canada; March 7, 2017
"Swing Low Sweet Chariot" has been around since at least the 1960s when I watched rugby internationals in Scotland, Wales and England. The English were always out-sung by the Celtic nations and did not really have much of a voice since they had no one song to sing. Eventually, "Swing Low" won out as the "national English song". However, it still pales to the likes of "Flower of Scotland" and the various Welsh anthems sung in harmony.
There is absolutely nothing racist about the crowds singing "Swing Low". By the way, "Hail to the Chief" originally refers to a Highland chief and is an old Scottish tune adopted by an Englishman for the musical "The Lady of the Lake". The words are, of course, by Sir Walter Scott."
**
2. Maxwell De Winter
N.Y.C., March 7, 2017
"Crazy! It's being sung in complete ignorance, however not in any shape or form of racism. As ironic is another African American anthem, Amazing Grace which was written by an English slave trader! Go figure."....
**
REPLY
3. Jeannie
WCPA; March 7, 2017
"Since we're talking historical accuracy, let's be accurate. After his conversion, John Newton, the English slave trader who wrote Amazing Grace, saw slavery as sin. The song was his testimonial to the salvation he believed was available to him despite his past. Because African-Americans embraced and breathed such passion into the song is probably why you mistakenly perceive it to be an African-American anthem."
**
4. Stuart Cumella
Worcestershire, England; March 8, 2017
"Not entirelay accurate. John Newton wrote Amazing Gace in 1772, but did not speak a word against slavery until his conscience was awakened by Anti-Slavery movement over ten years later. See Adam Hochschild's excellent book Bury the Chains."
**
REPLY
5. brion
Connecticut; March 9, 2017
"Lest there be more confusion - after Jeannie's comment - about who wrote WHICH song, THIS article is referring to "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." "Swing Low" was written by Wallace Willis, A Black man. A Free Black man. "Amazing Grace" was written by the slave trader Newton. a White British man. This article is bout the former, not the latter.
As for "US" (as in the United States) taking drinking songs from the British, the British did not use the colonists as slaves, beat them, shoot them without a second thought (the Civil War Black Union regiment, where the white soldiers were kept prisoner, but the Black ones shot to death), or hanged them.
Just noting that for the sake of 'historical accuracy,' you know."
**
REPLY
6. brion
Connecticut; March 9, 2017
"Thank you for that, Mr. Cumella. Selective memory about our historical past allows history to be, again, re-written."
**
7. Emily Booth
Chicago; March 7, 2017
"They don't sing the entire song, do they? Only the chorus, not the stanzas. The British pronunciation of "chariot" is different, too, pronouncing the 1st syllable like "char" as in charburger."
**
8. @blueskysinking
HK; March 7, 2017
"SLSC goes beyond bawdy - it is racist parody, pure and simple. There is a fine tradition across all sports of appropriation, usually taking a tune and reworking the lyrics. By all means make these new lyrics lewd and crude, but using the same tune and lyrics to gesture and demean is deeply cynical."
**
9. OM
Boston, MA; March 7, 2017
"It's troubling that such heartbreaking yet uplifting song has been twisted into a drinking chant. And its history in being sung when black players were on the field is even more distressing. After singing it at funerals and prayer services my entire life, to hear it sung with no context of its meaning is painful."
**
10. Mark Whitton
Ottawa, Canada; March 7, 2017
"Many English sports chants use tunes and sometimes words from popular and religious songs. You'll Never Walk Alone is the song of the Liverpool soccer club. There are a few nasty chants that seem to use the tune of the hymn Jesus Loves The Little Children. When the Saints go Marching In is often sung. I don't think the English are trying to insult the song, they are usually trying to insult the other team or inspire their team and their fans or provide some comic relief. My favorite chant is "You're not special, We lose every week!" sung by the fans of hapless teams."
**
11. Billy
Out in the woods; March 7, 2017
"Most rugby anthems wouldn't be printable at all here."
**
12. mancuroc
Rochester; March 7, 2017
"Maybe the writer is unaware of the irony of the Brits importing "Swing Low..." as a rugby/drinking song.
It's a two way street. The melody for the Star Spangled Banner was imported from a British drinking song. Which explains why its melodic range is beyond many people in a sober state."
**
13. Philip Lees
Melbourne; March 7, 2017
"Bawdy rugby songs were sung on the team coach going to and from school and club rugby games and Swing Low was a non-bawdy one until it was accompanied by hand gestures. It was taught in music classes (sans gestures) in my UK school in the 1970’s along with Campdown Races and I don’t recall that there was any perception that our singing these songs these might be deemed offensive. This was an era when the Black & White Minstrel Show was on BBC TV and ran until 1978. I wouldn’t hold out much hope that cultural sensitivities will see the anthem now dropped, another favourite of this cohort is Blake’s Jerusalem, set to music in 1911, which is premised on Jesus having surely visited England."
**
14. Charlie Mike
Nyc; March 7, 2017
"Our national anthem melody came from an English pub song. Things evolve. So must we. Why would any American care what rugby fans in another country sing? The songs are not directed at us and are not intended to be offensive. For people to be "shocked" seems a bit of a stretch, even for liberals. Come on. Would you rather the song fade into obscurity?"
**
REPLY
15. brion,
Connecticut; March 7, 2017
It is not "people" who are shocked: it is US (and that don't mean the United States: it means BLACK PEOPLE) the people who originated the song when we were being obliterated thru beatings, lynching and hatred. (And yes, I meant "don't" not "doesn't". It's a Black thing: you wouldn't understand it.)
Would you then take a song that the Jews sang amongst themselves (if they did) to keep their spirits up while interred in concentration camps and use that for a sports anthem??
As for the song fading into obscurity, wow. Just. WOW. That is just plain stupid to think a song that connected us spiritually to God and helped us endure suffering as something WE fear "fading into obscurity." Obviously you've given this all the thought of which you are capable. Which is: not much.
This is how racism propogates: marginalization of another culture's inherent traits."
**
REPLY
16. Malcolm Clark
London; March 8, 2017
"I agree we shouldn't be glib about the origins of this beautiful and haunting song. The Welsh choirs which probably first spread the song through the UK...and into the world of rugby (in Wales rugby is the national sport) were often based in tough mining communities with a strong socialist tradition. So I suspect all this started with fellow feeling and empathy. But the meme spread. At least in this case- unlike others- the appopriation was never intended to offend. Maybe that "innocence" (or ignorance) about the song's origins is something English Rugby can address. Why can't the game's authorities use this link (gently) to point its supporters towards the origins of the song and the experences that inspired it; as part of the game's professed desire to tackle racism. Perhaps after the next game at Twickenham they can urge English fans to take a trip ....just up the road from the stadium to Marble Hill, the last of the great Georgian villas that was funded by slavery.
https://content.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/slavery
**
REPLY
17. Ian Maitland
WayzataMarch 8, 2017
"No, this is how racism propagates: When you refer to black or white people's "inherent traits." It's called stereotyping.
The history of humanity has been marked by cultural borrowings between different people -- gastronomic, musical, technological, and so on. That attests to our common humanity.
True, cultural borrowings have always been adapted and changed and applied in contexts unimagined by their creators. Just like this spiritual. But to call this "marginalization" is insane -- it is the sincerest form of flattery."
**
18. Susan Anderson
Boston; March 7, 2017
"For heaven's sake. What about My Country 'Tis of Thee from God Save the Queen (King). Who cares!"
**
REPLY
19. Thomas,
Branford, Florida; March 8, 2017
"I guess I care because the spiritual was about a painful subject and that is getting lost by the rugby use of it. I care in the same way that hearing Beethoven used to sell merchandise on TV makes me wince.
So , I care."
**
20. BTRnut
NY; March 7, 2017
"I understand the inclination to be offended by this. My initial reaction was "oh no." But honestly, now I just think it's nice that anyone is keeping this song alive. It's so beautiful and, sadly, I don't think it's well known to American youth anymore. Last time I heard it was at a funeral about seven years ago. Gives me goosebumps when sung by someone who really has a feel for the history and origin of the song. Maybe someday the Brits will be lucky enough to hear a version like that."
**
21. Ben Edwards
San Jose; March 7, 2017
"As a Brit who has lived in America for these past sixteen years, I have experienced first hand the many ways in which this country has improved upon British practices in society, politics and the law. But this growing obsession from the American left in policing our thought and speech (and now song!) is not one of them.
We sing "swing low, sweet chariot" as our rugby team pulverizes its adversaries (17-0 for the last 17 games, for the record) because it's a great crowd anthem. It's as innocent and as joyfully ignorant as this. Surely, there are more "troubling" things about our world for American journalists and academics to spend their time and spill their ink agonizing over."
**
REPLY
22. marie
bronx, new york; March 8, 2017
"It's not your history so you do not care; it is that simple.
Have a bit of respect. Your comment reeks of white, colonial era privilege."
**
REPLY
23. Eric
Dover, NH; March 8, 2017
"Ben, using a British accent to "Whitesplain" doesn't make it any more dignified."
**
24. Tatum
Allentown, PA; March 8, 2017
"As a rugby player, I've heard far more offensive things sung in pubs after matches...
Music evolves, and I think the author is reading too much into this. Is Sweet Caroline for the Red Sox condoning the politics of JFK? Since Stoke City is mentioned here, does their rendition Tom Jones's "Delilah" condone violence against women? Southampton, to my knowledge, sings "When the Saints Go Marching In" - a Christian ballad about the coming apocalypse..."
**
25. Floyd Norton
Washington: March 8, 2017
"I recall this song being sung after rugby games in Washington in the mid- to late-seventies, usually at the instigation of players from Australia and New Zealand. I think part of its appeal is that it is pitched low and occupies a narrow vocal range, which suits most rugby players. Also, it usually never got past the chorus and first verse, words that all the players knew."
**
26. Stephen Brake
Boston; March 8, 2017
"As at least one reader correctly comments, the origin of the English adopting Swing Low as their rugby anthem lies in their demonstrated inferiority in this respect to the Celtic nations,particularly Wales. In Wales since the 19th century rugby has been an obsession( " morbid footbalism" in the words of David Lloyd George). An obsession was music was long another Welsh cultural fact. The two mixed,with Welsh rugby crowds cycling through around eight beautiful Welsh hymns. This tradition was captured in the 1970s by a Welsh comedic performer, Max Boyce, in the song " Hymns and Arias". That song now is itself sung at Wales's matches. Even in the years where England's team expected victory they faced a wall of sound all match long and generally lost( England's won lost record at Cardiff is notably poor).
Since the Hymnal of the Anglican Church had no really appropriate hymns ( Onward Christian Soldiers? I don't think so), they appropriated one. Given Britain's 19th century record on slavery think of William Wilberforce and let them use this one."
**
27. K Fellows
West Midlands, UK; March 8, 2017
"I am a US citizen married to a UK citizen and have lived in Britain for almost twenty years. While I love Britain and now feel more "at home" here than I do in the States, one tendency which never fails to annoy me is the assumption among some (not all, by any means) British people that any cultural artifact shared by the two countries *must* have had its origins in England.
Thus, when once in conversation i had reason to point out to a co-worker that "Swing Low" was in fact a spiritual, rooted in the horrors of African-American slavery, I was saddened but not terribly surprised when this was vigorously denied. "Surely not! It's always been a rugby song! They [meaning, i can only assume, African slaves] must have picked it up from here [meaning England] somehow!"
Sigh."
**
28. Here
There; March 8, 2017
"Perhaps one of the more disquieting points of this article is the claim of "cultural appropriation", that somehow songs or other matters deriving from the cultures of favored minorities must not be used by whites, whereas blacks are under no such restrictions, and may freely use things written by whites. This is part of what I call Reverse Jim Crow, that blacks have privileges whites do not. It's one of the things we elected President Trump to end."
**
REPLY
29. Vanequa
Ellicott City, MD; March 8, 2017
"Trump's election ends nothing... cultural appropriation has historically benefitted whites economically (especially in the music industry). But our cultures are closely intertwined and it's useless to try to separate the delicious stew in our American melting pot. Until you truly know what Jim Crow was, how can you claim Reverse Jim Crow...? Can hurt feelings be considered reverse discrimination? Almost comical...almost... not quite Suggestion: See "The 13th" by Ava DuVernay"
**
30. Krausewitz
Oxford, UK; March 8, 2017
"I'm an immigrant from America and a rugby fan (cymru am byth!) and I still am shocked when I hear 'Swing Low'. I hate it. I passionately hate it. Hearing a bunch of drunk louts profane a song that is basically sacred all but makes me want to cry. I've tried explaining this to English friends and hey absolutely will not hear it. Like most people they utterly refuse to change, even slightly, when their hurtful and inconsiderate ways are politely pointed out. People are short-sighted, selfish and mean.
As a Wales supporter (with genes that come from the Welsh valleys) it is just one more reason to hate the English......"
**
31. Colin
Hexham, England; March 11, 2017
"Ok, here we go. A group of school children first sang the song in 1988 when Chris Oti scored three tries for England against Ireland. Other spectators then joined in. Most (if not all) rugby players, and supporters, know it is an African/American spiritual anthem. It is sung to galvanize support and encourage the players, and I would submit, is not sung to offend anyone but to celebrate hard endeavour in the face of adversity."
****
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