When The Saints Go Marching In - Chords, Lyrics And Origins

Origins

When the Saints Go Marching In is a song that just about everybody can sing along to, and it's a cinch to play on the guitar. There are only five chords (if you count G7 as a separate chord). And the C minor chord at the end of the third line is pretty much optional - some people put it in and others leave it out. Just do whatever feels right for you.

Given its subject matter, When the Saints Go Marching In clearly has gospel origins, and in the popular imagination it's closely associated with African-American performers, such as Louis Armstrong and Fats Domino. It is so frequently requested at Preservation Hall in New Orleans that the jazz musicians there charge extra when it is requested. You can find more about the origins of the song at this Mudcat thread.

Chords

Capo at 1st Fret                     GO when the Saints go marching in                                                      D7When the Saints go marching in                 G   G7        C            CmI want to be in that number                  G               D7            GWhen the Saints go marching in

Lyrics

O when the Saints go marching inWhen the Saints go marching inI want to be in that numberWhen the Saints go marching inAnd when the sun begins to shineAnd when the sun begins to shineI want to be in that numberWhen the sun begins to shineWhen the moon turns red with bloodWhen the moon turns red with bloodI want to be in that numberWhen the moon turns red with bloodOn that hallelujah dayOn that hallelujah dayI want to be in that numberOn that hallelujah day

O when the trumpet sounds the callO when the trumpet sounds the callO Lord, I want to be in that numberWhen the trumpet sounds the call

O when the Saints go marching inWhen the Saints go marching inI want to be in that numberWhen the Saints go marching in