When The Saints Go Marching In

This lively jazz tune, popularized by Louis Armstrong, evolved out of a traditional Black spiritual that inspired many variations. Originally known by the title "When De Saints Come Marchin' In," the hymn was born as a message of hope for African American slaves who longed for a release from their suffering. Without going into detail about the horrors of the Last Judgment, the traditional lyrics use apocalyptic imagery from the bible's Book of Revelation to signal a jubilant release from bondage. The stars falling from the sky, the moon turning red with blood, the trumpet sound calling, and the horsemen beginning to ride are all references to John's biblical account of the final days. Armstrong's 1938 rendition is a repetition of just the first verse: 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

The "Saints" of the title are referring to devout Christian believers rather than the official saints of the Roman church.

The first published version, titled "When The Saints Are Marching In," was issued in June 1896 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, by James Milton Black and Katharine Purvis. Another variation cropped up in January 1908, copyrighted by Harriet E. Jones and James D. Vaughan as "When The Saints March In For Crowning." The most familiar rendition was published by song collector Edward Boatner in 1916. Boatner's copyright was first recorded in 1923 by the Paramount Jubilee Singers as "When All The Saints Come Marching In," followed by the Elkins-Payne Jubilee Singers in 1924. By the time Louis Armstrong recorded it with his orchestra on May 13, 1938, it was a staple among bands in his hometown of New Orleans, where it was played by noted jazz leaders like Buddy Bolden and Kid Ory. Armstrong joined Ory's combo in 1919 but was already familiar with the hymn from his reform-school days at New Orleans' Colored Waif's Home; the institution's band (featuring Armstrong on cornet) played it every Sunday to accompany the less-than-saintly boys to church service.