The song is associated with Ireland and often performed on St. Patrick's Day in the United States and at the end of half time in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
"[1][2] Irish music hall historians Watters and Murtagh described Ashcroft's performance of the routine: "Here 'McNamara' breaks into a dancing quick-step March up and down the Stage, his nimble fingers snatching up one instrument after another, blowing the bassoon, tootling the flute, beating the drum with the knob of his baton - A One-Man Band.
"[3] Modern listeners associate the song with the version recorded on 6 December 1945 by Bing Crosby,[4] with a set of lyrics credited to "The Three Jesters."
Stanley Holloway leads the crowd in a pub close to a Royal Air Force base during World War II.
In the late 19th century the band featured four brothers, Patrick, John, Michael and Thomas McNamara, and became famous for playing shows all across Ireland.
The book included two CDs with 44 of the 48 recordings McNamara made in New York from 1921 up to 1927, which add to the musical contribution of The Leader of the Band.
The most widely used set of lyrics is the adaptation by Crosby's "Three Jesters" (Red Latham, Wamp Carlson and Guy Bonham).
if poor Tom Moore was living now, he'd make yez understand That none could do him justice like ould McNamara's Band.
The Three Jesters' version is different: The politics of "Ould Ireland" are removed; the words are made more "Irish," e.g. "Me name is..." rather than "My name is...;" and stereotypes are added in the final lines to make the selection essentially a comedy song.
adopted the song as their club anthem, with one verse changed:[citation needed] Oh the whistle blows the cockerel crows, and now we're in the game, It's up to you, you Lilywhites, to play the Tottenham way.