Oh, me name is McNamara, I’m the leader of the band

Although we’re few in number, 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 of Saul

CHORUS

Oh, the drums go bang, and the cymbals clang, and the horns they blaze away

McCarthy pumps the old bassoon, while I the pipes do play

And Hennessey Tennessee tootles the flute, and the music is something grand

A credit to old Ireland is McNamara’s band

Right now we are rehearsing 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 McNamara’s band

Oh, my name is Uncle Yulius and from Sweden I have come

To play in McNamara’s band, and beat the big bass drum

And when I march along the street, the ladies think I’m grand

They shout, there’s Uncle Yulius playing with an Irish band

Oh, I wear a bunch of shamrocks and a uniform of green

I’m the funniest looking Swede that you have ever seen

There’s O’Briens and Ryans and Sheehans and Meehans, they come from Ireland

But I tell you I’m the only Swede in McNamara’s band