a 1896 popular song
words and music traditional
arranged by Dave Bartholomew and Fats Domino
From the book The Songs We Sang: “Somewhere during the latter half of the nineteenth century this song came into being as a deeply religious spiritual. It seems that the Holy Rollers, a religious sect given to rather high keyed revival meetings, established the tradition of starting this song rather quietly and then building chorus after chorus until it became a frenzy of excitement. Another tradition strongly influenced this song around the turn of the century in New Orleans. Almost all African-Americans there belonged to benevolent societies, fraternities, and burial clubs. On the occasion of a death these organizations provided a funeral parade.” They would play When the Saints Go Marching In.
Accompaniment – player piano roll:
Lyrics
Oh, when the Saints go marchin’ in
Oh, when the Saints go marchin’ in
I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marchin’ in
Oh, when the sun refuses to shine
Oh, when the sun refuses to shine
I still want to be in that number
When the sun refuses to shine
Oh, when the Saints go marchin’ in
Oh, when the Saints go marchin’ in
I’m goin’ to sing as loud as thunder
Oh, when the Saints go marchin’ in
Sung here by Fred Feild: