A Brief History of a Terrace Song

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot -

The Making of a Terrace Song

"Swing low, sweet Chariot, ... " are words you've no doubt heard many times before, as they are the words to the popular "Negro spiritual" of the same name. Since first being written sometime prior to 1862 by Wallace Willis, "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" has certainly seen its fair share of use over the years, including the use, in relatively recent years, as a popular "Terrace Song"; or, a song that is commonly sung amongst the cheering crowds of a Rugby Stadium ... in this particular case, an English Rugby Stadium. What first began as the spontaneous cheering on of an exciting Hat Trick during the Second Half of a Championship game, quickly developed into an England Rugby tradition that has spanned nearly 3 decades.  

In the year 1988, in Twickenham Stadium, a fateful game was being played between England and Ireland. It was the last, Championship-winning Match of The Five Nations Championship, and a disheartened England had entered the bleak-looking event feeling very low indeed, having just lost 15 of the 23 Matches that were previously held within the same tournament.

To add insult to injury, the still-loyal Fans of England had only seen a single, solitary Try exhibited from their National Team, at Twickenham, over the past 2 years.

The First Half of this dreaded game took none of England's critics by surprise; and the agonizing forty minutes expired with England down 3-0.

Then, all of a sudden, an incredible thing happened: A now fired-up England Team came out onto the field for the Second Half and proceeded to mow over its bewildered challengers in a gripping, edge-of-your-seat, epic battle that included no less than 6 Tries from England!

It was during this triumphant come-back, that English Rugby history was about to be made:

Christopher C. "Chris" Oti, a Left Wing player for England, was fast earning a famous reputation for being quite the "Speedster" on the Rugby Pitch.

Scoring a remarkable 3 of the 6 Tries scored during the Second Half of the game, Chris had Twickenham's crowds practically barmy with jubilation at this exciting turn of events!

Among the cheering crowds was an excited group of boys from the Benedictine school, Douai.

Following in the tradition laid out by their School games, the Douai boys would sing out a chorus of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" whenever a Try was scored.

When Oti managed to score his second Try, another well-versed chorus rung out from the enthusiastic School chaps; and a few of the amused spectators that witnessed the frivolity, decided to join in on the fun.

Soon after, Otis scored his Hat Trick (his 3rd Try) and the now-famous Terrace Song filled the air, as the entire Stadium joined together in the singing of another chorus ...

In the end, England won the enthralling game, 35-3; and the rest, as they say, is history.