Hi,

I'm Thomas O'Connor's grandson, the music writer of McNamara's band. I am an heir member of the UK Performer's Rights Society. We (myself and 5 other heirs) get a few pounds a year in royalties.

His real name was Thomas, on the sheet music given an Irish flavour by calling himself 'Shamus".

He wrote the song in Barnet, North London - his wife was Ethel McNamara. There are a few tales about how it got to be written : for a William Ashcroft; after the American group "McNamara's band"; but it is more likely he wrote it for his wife. He was born 8 Aug 1878 in Liverpool, his father was born in Cheshire, and Thomas's grandfather was born in Ireland, possibly in Roscommon.

Firstly - the word is "Bassoon". I have a copy of the original music as published by J H Larway in 1917, an "authorised" copy. The song was actually first sold in 1914 to Larway. They were taken over by Edwin Ashdown Music, and are now part of the Music Sales publishers in Frith Street in London.

The actual words (and spellings, caps and punctuation) were as follows and they clarify the bassoon / "pumps" questions etc.

MACNAMARA'S BAND
(Stamford / O'Connor)

My name is Macnamara, I'm the Leader of the Band,
And tho' we're small in number we're the best in all the land.
Oh! I am the Conductor, and we often have to play
With all the best musicianers you hear about to-day.
       When the drums go bang, the cymbals clang, the horns will blaze away,
       MacCarthy puffs the ould bassoon while Doyle the pipes will play;
       Oh! Hennessy Tennessy tootles the flute, my word 'tis something grand,
       Oh! a credit to Ould Ireland, boys, is Macnamara's Band!

Tra - la la lah, etc.

Whenever an election's on, we play on either side-
The way we play our fine ould airs fills Irish hearts with pride.
Oh! if poor Tom Moore was living now, he'd make yez understand
That none could do him justice like ould Macnamara's Band.
       When the drums go bang, etc.

We play at wakes and weddings, and at every county ball,
And at any great man's funeral we play the "Dead March in Saul,"
When the Prince of Wales to Ireland came, he shook me by the hand,
And said he'd never heard the like of "Macnamara's Band."
       When the drums go bang, etc.

The American version is correctly attributed above as 'by Red Latham, Wamp Carlson and Guy Bonham (The Three Jesters) . . . c 1940, Jerry Vogel Music Co., Inc." The words are very different, the politics of "Ould Ireland" are removed; the words are made more "Irish" (Me name is . . . rather than My name is . . .). The racial stereotypes of the final two verses are completely added, turning it into a comedy song!

Oh!, me name is Macnamara, I'm the Leader of the Band,
And tho' we're few in numbers we're the finest in the land.
We play at wakes and weddings, and at every fancy ball,
And when we play at funerals we play the march from Saul.
       Oh! the drums go bang, and the cymbals clang, and the horns they blaze away,
       McCarthy pumps the old bazoon while I the pipes do play;
       And, Hennessey Tennessey tootles the flute, and the music 'tis somethin' grand,
       A credit to old Ireland is Macnamara's Band!

Right now we are rehearsin' for a very swell affair,
The annual celebration, all the gentry will be there.
When General Grant to Ireland came, he took me by the hand,
Says he, "I never saw the likes of "Macnamara's Band."
       Oh! the drums go bang etc.

Oh me name is Uncle Yulius and from Sweden I have come,
To play with Macnamara's Band and beat the big bass drum,
And when I walk along the street the ladies think I'm grand,
They shout "There's Uncle Yulius playing with an Irish band".

(no chorus here)

Oh! I wear a bunch of shamrocks and a uniform of green,
And I am the funniest looking Swede that you have ever seen.
There's O'Briens and Ryans and Sheehans and Meehans, they come from Ireland,
But by Yimminy I'm the only Swede in Macnamara's Band.

Hope this long email helps - I plan to add this and more details to Wikipaedia soon!

Mike.