Learn About the Broome County Celtic Kazoo Band Before Seeing Them on Parade Day

What is the Broome County Celtic Kazoo Band?
Well, they are one of the most favorite parts of the annual Binghamton Saint Patrick's parade, held the first Saturday on March, annually. These 'musicians,' wearing their white shirts with green emblazoned sashes and plastic Irish hats, don;t just show up on parade day. They actually,  practice, practice and practice.

But how did it all begin?

During the winter of 1991/1992, Spike Creamer and Loretta Sullivan were discussing a plan to get a group of people together and joining the Saint Patrick's Parade celebrations, by marching in the parade. The big question apparently was, what were they skilled enough to do?

Spike suggested, Lets Start a Kazoo Band!

According to their website (www.celtickazoos.com) , they theorized that if they could get a group of at least twenty people together they would march. So the phone calls began! And so did the practice.

The first parade day back in 1992, 26 people showed up to march. Each was given a green satin sash, a green plastic hat and a plastic kazoo. When they rounded that first corner, they raised their plastic kazoos up to their mouths, and the tradition had begun.

Now, the group numbers about 130 kazooers, plus they have a 14 piece percussion section consisting of everything from drums to cymbals... even a cowbell!

When you are at the parade, make sure you salute the greatest band to ever do-do-do (a reference to how to blow into a kazoo), in our St. Paddys parade. If you want to join in all the fun, find out more at (www.celtickazoos.com)

And so you are prepared at the St. Patrick's Parade, Below are the lyrics you can print out, so you and all your friends can sing along to,  the Broome County Celtic Kazoo Band.

Song List

1) H-A-R-R-I-G-A-N
H-A, double-R I, G-A-N spells HARRIGAN
Proud of all the Irish blood that's in me
Devil a man can say a word agin' me
H-A, double-R I, G-A-N you see...
It's a name that a shame never
has been connected with...
HARRIGAN, that's me !

2) WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN (everyone knows this)

3) MACNAMARA'S BAND
Oooooo, Me name is Macnamara,
I'm the leader of the band.
And though we're few in number,
We're the finest in the land.
We play at wakes and weddings,
And at every fancy ball.
But when we play a funeral,
We play the best of all.

Daaah dat da da dat da da's

4) YANKEE DOODLE DANDY
I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy,
A Yankee Doodle do or die.
A real live nephew of my uncle Sam's,
Born on the Fourth of July.
I've got a Yankee Doodle sweetheart,
She's my Yankee Doodle joy !
Yankee Doodle came to London
Just to ride the ponies...
I am a Yankee Doodle boy !

5)  A NATION ONCE AGAIN
A Nation once again...         ( ARM )
A Nation once again...      ( ARM )
And Ireland, long a province, be
A Nation once again.        ( ARM )

6) GOD BLESS AMERICA
God Bless America, land that I love...
Stand beside her, and guide her,
Through the night with the light from above.
From the mountain, to the prairie,
To the ocean white with foam...
God Bless America my home sweet home...
God Bless America my home sweet home.

7) THE ONE ROAD
We're on the one road, Sharing the one load,
We're on the road to God knows where.
We're on the one road, It may be the wrong road,
But we're together now, who cares.
North men, South men, Comrades all,
Dublin, Belfast, Cork, or Donegal
We're on the one road, Swingin' along,
Singing a soldiers song

8) GOD SAVE IRELAND
God save Ireland, said the heroes
God save Ireland, said they all
Whether on the scaffold high
Or the battlefield we die
Oh what matter when for Erin dear we fall

9) GRAND OLD FLAG
You're a grand old flag,
You're a high flying flag,
And forever in peace may you wave.
You're the emblem of, the land I love,
The home of the free and the brave,
Every heart beats true for the red white and blue,
Where there's never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.