101 Strings was an umbrella term for a highly successful easy listening sym… Read Full Bio ↴101 Strings was an umbrella term for a highly successful easy listening symphonic music organization, with a discography exceeding a hundred albums and a creative lifetime of roughly thirty years. Their LPs were individualized by the slogan "The Sound of Magnificence", a puffy cloud logo and sepia-toned photo of the orchestra. According to the photograph, the 101 Strings orchestra was composed of 124 string instruments (all male except for the harpist) and was conducted by Wilhelm Stephan. The orchestra's famous official photograph was taken in the Musikhalle Hamburg. In reality, of course, the recordings also featured a full brass, woodwind and percussion section, and not quite as many strings as are shown in the photograph. In later years (right up to the 80's), the recordings were made by a session orchestra in London, with a line-up including a modern "pop" rhythm section. In the late 1990's, the 101 Strings Orchestra was revived with "The New 101 Strings Orchestra" for a series of modern recordings.

The Little Drummer Boy
101 Strings Orchestra Lyrics

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Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum
Our newborn King to see, pa-rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King pa-rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum. rum pum pum pum
So to honor Him pa-rum pum pum pum
When we come

Little Baby pa-rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa-rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring pa-rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give our King pa- rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for you, pa-rum pum pum pum
on my drum?

Mary nodded pa-rum pum pum pum
The Ox and Lamb kept time pa-rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him pa-rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him pa -rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum

Then He smiled at me pa-rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum

Overall Meaning

The Little Drummer Boy, as sung by the 101 Strings Orchestra, tells the story of a little boy who is out and about when he hears about a newborn king. The boy is poor and does not have any gifts for the newborn king, but he wants to pay his respects, so he offers to play his drum for the baby. Mary nods in agreement, and the boy begins to play for the king. The ox and lamb kept time, and the boy played with all of his might, hoping to play his best for the newborn king. After he plays, the king smiles at the boy and his drum.

The song is about humility and the idea that everyone can offer something to the world. Even the little drummer boy, who has nothing material to give, can still use his talents to honor the king. The song also emphasizes the importance of music and how it can bring people together in celebration and worship. The ox and lamb kept time to the boy's drumming, and the little drummer boy played his best for the king.

In conclusion, The Little Drummer Boy is a heartwarming tale of a poor boy who uses his music to honor a newborn king. It is a story of humility, gratitude, and the importance of using our talents to contribute to the world.

Line by Line Meaning

Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum
We were informed to come through the sound of the drum

Our newborn King to see, pa-rum pum pum pum
To witness the arrival of the new king

Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum pum pum pum
We carry our most valuable offerings

To lay before the King pa-rum pum pum pum
So that we can present them before the monarch

Rum pum pum pum. rum pum pum pum
The continuous rhythm of the drums

So to honor Him pa-rum pum pum pum
As a way of paying respect to our worthy leader

When we come
As soon as we arrive

Little Baby pa-rum pum pum pum
The infant king who we pay homage to

I am a poor boy too, pa-rum pum pum pum
I am also impoverished and cannot offer grand gifts

I have no gift to bring pa-rum pum pum pum
I do not have any tokens to present

That's fit to give our King pa- rum pum pum pum
That is worthy enough to offer to our ruler

Shall I play for you, pa-rum pum pum pum
May I perform music as a substitute for a gift?

on my drum?
Using my percussion instrument?

Mary nodded pa-rum pum pum pum
Mary consented

The Ox and Lamb kept time pa-rum pum pum pum
The animals present kept tempo with my playing

I played my drum for Him pa-rum pum pum pum
As an homage to the infant king, I used my drum to produce music

I played my best for Him pa -rum pum pum pum
I performed to the best of my abilities as an offering to the king

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
The continuous beat of the drum

Then He smiled at me pa-rum pum pum pum
The infant king granted me with a smile

Me and my drum
My drum became a part of the tribute

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, INTERNATIONAL KORWIN CORP, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Simeone, Henry V Onorati, Katherine Kennicot Davis, Lorenzo Definti

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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