The Story Behind When the Saints Go Marching In

One of the best-known examples of an African-American spiritual, When the Saints Go Marching In is also a Christian Hymn, pop song, jazz standard and more. Performed in churches, jazz and pop concerts it has also found its way into advertising, the movies and even onto football terraces (not to mention nearly forty arrangements here on 8notes!) Here then is the story of one of the world’s best-known, best-loved and most-played melodies.

Christian origins

The song likely originated as a Christian hymn, written towards the end of he 19th century. An early version was titled ‘When the Saints Are Marching In.’

Though bearing only a passing melodic resemblance to the version we know today, its call and response chorus is nevertheless strongly suggestive of it. Though a number of composers would subsequently try to lay claim to the copyright of the work, the piece likely emerged from this hymn through a process of repetition and refinement in African-American musical communities, especially those based in New Orleans, with which the song is particularly associated.

Christian hymn to jazz standard

One of the first recordings that is recognisably the version we know today was made in 1924 by The Four Harmony Kings:

It is still resembles a Christian hymn in this version, as do a number of other versions from the 1920s, including those by the Wheat Street Female Quartet (1925) and the Pace Jubilee Singers (1928).

An early recording by Bo Weavil Jackson, however, shows how the song could also be performed as a solo work more akin to a pop song:

The piece also became one of the best known examples of a ‘jazz standard,’ a melody used as a basis for improvisation amongst jazz groups. One of the most important recordings in this vein was by New Orleans musician Louis Armstrong and his orchestra in 1938:

Apocalyptic import

Whilst the song gradually loosened its links with the church, they were never entirely severed. The lyrics derive from the book of Revelation. Despite their apocalyptic tone they embody the hope and promise of Christian salvation:

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.

Oh, when the moon turns red with blood

Oh, when the moon turns red with blood
Oh Lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in.


Similarly, whilst the song has developed a life of its own in the arenas of jazz and popular music, it has always remained popular amongst church gospel choirs. It is also commonly used in jazz funerals, being played in sombre fashion on the way to the church and then in lively fashion afterwards:

Later versions and appearances in popular culture

After the thirties the song was covered by a number of other famous musicians, eventually turning it into the iconic work we know today. These include performance by Fats Domino, Elvis Presley, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby and others.

Unsurprisingly, the work soon also found is way into movies, including ‘The Haunted Mansion’ (2003) and most recently ‘A Haunting in Venice’ (2023), and onto TV, in the Muppet show performed by Herbie the One-Octopus Band and in an episode of ‘The Danny Thomas Show’ entitled ‘The Saints Come Marching In.’

The song is also popular as a football and rugby chant, especially for teams that contain the word ‘Saint’ as part of their name (e.g. St Johnstone F.C., St Albans City F.C., and St Patrick's Athletic F.C.) or have the nickname ‘The Saints’, as is the case for Southampton F.C.: