Bruce Springsteen with the Sessions Band - When the Saints Go Marching In

Album: Live in Dublin (2006)
Genre: New Orleans Jazz Revival

I imagine the traditional arrangement of this song has been played millions of times in churches over the years. And if you’ve spent any time in a Christian community, this song title would likely conjure memories of a large performative band. That’s certainly how I always experienced it at church.

Yet, it's history is not so happy clappy. The first known recording of the song was in 1923, which probably explains why the earliest popular versions of the song are Swing, Jazz and Jump numbers by the likes of Louis Armstrong. It's an African-American spiritual that has been widely appropriated by white churches for nearly one hundred years.

Which is why I love this version so much; because it is the polar opposite of all of those things. Bruce and his band take it back to its roots. It’s not jumpy or horn-driven. It’s sparse, spiritual and raw.

Ironically, on this particular album it is nestled in amongst an infamous line-up of bold, rousing gospel covers. It is, in fact, used masterfully to create dynamics for the album, recorded live in Dublin in 2006.

For this arrangement, Springsteen strips away the majority of the band and leaves us with just a handful of voices, some majestic acoustic guitar, and a powerful cameo by the trumpet. This is all set, perhaps appropriately, against the eerie backbone of church organ. The three distinct vocalists range from gritty to haunting and give the track tangible soul.

When I realised that I got the same shivers from listening to this song as I did when waving my hands about in church, I knew things were changing for me. Springsteen’s rendition of this classic spiritual is both harrowing and hopeful at the same time. When Bruce sings it with that almost belligerent tone like only he can, I’m filled with hope. Which is more than I can say for how church pastors generally made me feel. As a spiritual experience, it’s better than Sunday mass.