The Marching Saints - Live

In American folklore
We find a great deal of the
European influence of music
And oft times I wonder what would happen
If songs which are truly indigenous to America
Had in fact gotten there start somewhere else

To illustrate the point we've chosen as our theme
When the saints go marching in
Now if this had originated in England
It could have sounded
Like an old English madrigal

Oh, when the Saints go marching in
Oh, when the Saints go marching in
Oh I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in
Good show, good show

But it wasn't meant to be a madrigal
It was meant to be exactly what it was
An historical opportunity for a group of Negro musicians
Down in New Orleans

To play and to celebrate on some festive occasion
And at the time that this song came about
What could have been more festive during that period
Than a funeral

Oh, when the Saints go marching in
Yes, when the Saints go marching in
Oh Lord I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in

Yes, when the Saints go marching in
Yes, when the Saints go marching in
Oh Lord I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in

Yes, when the Saints go marching in
Yes, when the Saints go marching in
Oh Lord I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in

Oh yes, I had a dear old mother
And if you should see her before I do
Won't you tell her that you saw me coming
And I was marching straight on through

Yes, when the Saints go marching in
Yes, when the Saints go marching in
Oh Lord I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in

When the Saints go marching in
Yes, when the Saints go marching in
Oh Lord I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in

Oh, when the Saints go marching in
Yes, when the Saints go marching in
Oh Lord I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in