BZN started out as a pop-rock band in their native Volendam in 1966, playin… Read Full Bio ↴BZN started out as a pop-rock band in their native Volendam in 1966, playing early-Bee Gees-like harmony pop. The initial line-up consisted of Jan Veerman (vocals), Cees Tol (guitar), Evert Woestenburg (guitar) Jan Tuyp (bass guitar) and Gerrit Woestenburg (drums).

In the early Seventies, the band switched to hard rock and had its first successes, including a brace of Top 40 hits. After original singer Veerman left and drummer Keizer took his place behind the microphone, the band made a musical U-turn and opted for commercial radio pop, adding female co-vocalist Annie Schilder and laying the foundation for their status as the most popular Dutch band ever (in terms of hit singles and albums). BZN has had over 50 hits in the Dutch hit parade to date.

BZN's claim to fame started with the song "Mon Amour" (1976), which held the #1 hit parade ranking for over 5 weeks. Outside of the Netherlands the band has had some success as well, amongst which several hits in South Africa (such as "Yeppa" in 1990) and minor successes with their French-language songs in Canada.

Through the years there have been many lineup changes, the most important of which have been the departure of Schilder in 1984 (replaced by Carola Smit) and in 1988 of the brothers Cees and Thomas Tol (keyboards), who until then had been responsible for most of the music and lyrics. The band remained nevertheless successful, making their last major change in strategy when they decided to write in Dutch instead of English as of 2003.

BZN are also responsible for the initial success of singer Jan Smit (singer), who was discovered by BZN at the age of 10 and went on to have pop and schlager successes in The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.

On February 15 2006, BZN announced they would do one final tour and then call it quits. This goodbye tour is scheduled to last until June 2007.

Little Drummer Boy
BZN Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Little drummer boy
(Davis/Onorati/Simeone)

Come they told me
Parampampampam
A new born King to see
Parampampampam

Our finest gifts we bring
Parampampampam
To lay before the King
Parampampampam
Rampampampam
Rampampampam

So to honour him
Parampampampam
When we come
Parampampampam

I am a poor boy too
Parampampampam
I have no gifts to bring
Rarampampampam
Rampampampam
Rampampampam

I have no gifts to bring
Parampampampam
That's fit to give our King
Parampampampam
Rampampampam
Rampampampam

Shall I play for you
Parampampampam
The ox and lamb kept time
Parampampampam

I played my drum for him
Parampampampam
I played my best for him
Parampampampam
Rampampampam
Rampampampam

Then he smiled at me
Parampampampam
Me and my drum

Parampampampam
Me and my drum

Overall Meaning

The song "Little Drummer Boy" tells the story of a young boy who is asked to come and see the newly born king. The boy is poor and has no gifts to bring, so he offers to play his drum as a way to honor the king. The chorus of the song, "parampampampam," is a sound meant to mimic the sound of the drum. The boy's drumming is accompanied by the sounds of the ox and lamb, who keep time with his beat.

Throughout the song, the boy emphasizes that he is poor and has nothing of value to give to the king except his music. By playing his drum for the king, he shows his love and respect in the best way he knows how. When the boy finishes playing, the king smiles at him and he knows that he has given a meaningful and valuable gift.

Overall, the song emphasizes the idea that the value of a gift is not in its material worth, but rather in the intentions and emotions behind it. The little drummer boy gives a humble and heartfelt performance that brings joy to the king and those around him.

Line by Line Meaning

Little drummer boy
The singer of the song

Come they told me
Someone informed the singer of the arrival of a newborn king

A new born King to see
The singer was told about a newborn king who would be arriving

Our finest gifts we bring
The artist's companions bring their best gifts to present to the newborn king

To lay before the King
The gifts are intended for the king as a token of admiration

So to honour him
The singer and his companions intend to honor the newborn king

When we come
The intention of honoring the newborn king is upon arrival

I am a poor boy too
The artist states that he is poor

I have no gifts to bring
The artist does not have any material gifts to offer

That's fit to give our King
The artist believes that the gifts he has are not suitable for the king

Shall I play for you
The singer offers to perform music for the newborn king