1632. When the Saints Go Marching In (Traditional American)

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I thought it was time I introduced my six-year-old grandson to this song. He didn't quite get the tune right, but he showed plenty of enthusiasm. Not bad for a first try.

The song began as a gospel hymn called "When the Saints are Marching In", written by Katherine Purvis in 1896, with music by James Milton Black. It was changed to its present form in 1927, and soon became a jazz staple. It was traditionally used as a funeral march in New Orleans, where it woud be played as a slow dirge as the coffin was carried to the cemetery, and then as an upbeat "Dixieland"-style tune on the way back. The New Orleans football team named themselves the Saints, after the song.

Early versions of the song are apocalyptic, using imagery from "Revelations", though it is often watered down in modern versions. For example, in the version I sing, "when the sun refuse to shine" is sung as "when the sun begins to shine" which tends to render the apocalyptic message meaningless.

Louis Armstrong was the first to popularise the song nationally in the 1930s, to the dismay of his sister who thought it was blasphemous to treat a church hymn as a jazz band tune. It was also brought into the rock and roll repertoire by Fats Domino and also by Bill Haley and His Comets. Others who have recorded it include The Weavers, Judy Garland, Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Beatles, B.B. King, Dolly Parton and Bruce Springsteen.

You can see a playlist of my gospel songs here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=PL5444D35A2AD94845

Lyrics and chords:
E .......... E7...... A ................................ E ............................. B7
We are travling in the footsteps of those who’ve gone before,
.............. E ....... E7 A .............. E .......... B7 ...... E
But we’ll all be reunited on a new and sunlit shore.

........................ E
Oh, when the saints go marching in,
...................................................... B7
Oh, when the saints go marching in,
................... E ........ E7 ........... A
Oh, Lord, I want to be in that number,
.................. E ............ B7 ......... E
When the saints go marching in.

And when the sun begins to shine,
And when the sun begins to shine,
Oh, Lord, I want to be in that number,
When the sun begins to shine.

Oh, when the trumpet sounds a call,
Oh, when the trumpet sounds a call,
Oh, Lord, I want to be in that number,
When the trumpet sounds a call,

Some say this world of trouble is the only one we need,
But I’m waiting for that morning when the new world is revealed.

Oh, when the new world is revealed,
Oh, when the new world is revealed
Oh, Lord, I want to be in that number,
When the new world is revealed.

Oh, when the saints go marching in,
Oh, when the saints go marching in,
Oh, Lord, I want to be in that number,
When the saints go marching in.


Lyrics and chords of many of my songs are no longer available, as my website has expired. I am currently posting lyrics to the information panels on all my videos and those that are too long to post in full will be found on my new website: https://raymondsfolkpage.wordpress.com