Meaning of "When the saints go marching in"

中文譯名︰《當聖徒進入天家》
詩歌充份表現出對聖經所講的將來要降臨的「新天新地」的盼望。

副歌歌詞︰
「When the saints go marching in (the hevean),
Lord, I want to be in that number
當聖徒進入天家(新天新地)﹐
主﹐我願亦在他們當中。」

這裏應該取材自聖經啟示錄提到﹐
將來有14萬4千個信徒要
在天上頌唱榮耀的新歌來讚美他們的神﹐
作者想像當時情境﹐
有如大軍﹐浩浩蕩蕩的﹐
一面唱著聖歌﹐一面進入新的聖城﹐
想到這裏﹐他就說︰「主﹐我願亦在他們當中...」

The song is apocalyptic, taking much of its imagery from the Book of Revelation, but excluding its more horrific depictions of the Last Judgment. The "trumpet" is the way in which the end of times is announced. As the hymn expresses the wish to go to Heaven, picturing the saints going in (through the Pearly Gates), it is entirely appropriate for funerals.
Changes in the wording (eg: "And when the sun begins to shine") alters the meaning to a hope for a better world in the here and now.
The version performed by Haley (and others) removes most religious imagery in favor of references to musicians (i.e. "When that rhythm starts to go/I want to be in that number/When that rhythm starts to go.").