He was born in Hamburg, Germany, and studied at the School of Music there. A multi-instrumentalist, he was hired by Hans Busch to play with his orchestra before serving as a bandsman in the German Navy during World War II. He later formed his own big band, toured with them, then worked as an arranger and producer, making hit records with Freddy Quinn and Ivo Robic. In 1961, he hired The Beatles to back Tony Sheridan on "My Bonnie (Lies Over the Ocean)," "When the Saints Go Marching In," "Ain't She Sweet" and "Cry for a Shadow," in a session for Polydor. These turned out to be the Beatles' first commercial recordings. When Beatles manager Brian Epstein asked Kaempfert about further promoting The Beatles, Kaempfert informed Epstein that the company was only interested in The Beatles as Tony Sheridan's backup group. (It also turned out British Decca executive Dick Rowe turned them down in favor of local beat combo Brian Poole and the Tremeloes.) He then released The Beatles from their contract with Polydor.
The Little Drummer Boy
Bert Kaempfert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
The Little Drummer Boy is a Christmas song that tells the story of a little boy playing his drum for the newborn King, Jesus Christ. At the beginning of the lyrics, the boy is invited to see the King and brought the finest gifts he had in honor of him. However, being a poor boy, he had no valuable gift to offer the King except for his musical talent. Thus, he asks the King whether he could play the drum for him, and Mary allows him to do so. The boy performs his best and plays his heart out for the little King, receiving a warm smile from him in return.
The lyrics of the song encapsulate the true meaning of Christmas, which is about humility and selfless love. The boy's willingness to share his talent without expecting anything in return represents the essence of this holiday: giving and sharing with others from the heart. The song encourages people, regardless of their financial status, to offer their best selves to others and, most importantly, to focus their attention on the one who gives life, the newborn King, Jesus Christ.
Line by Line Meaning
Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum
They invited me to come with them by saying pa-rum pum pum pum
Our newborn King to see, pa-rum pum pum pum
They want to see the newborn King and pay respects by saying pa-rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum pum pum pum
They bring their best gifts to present to the King by saying pa-rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King pa-rum pum pum pum
They intend to place their best gifts before the King by saying pa-rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum. rum pum pum pum
The sound of their footsteps are heard as they walk by saying rum pum pum pum
So to honor Him pa-rum pum pum pum
They do this to show respect and honor to the King by saying pa-rum pum pum pum
When we come
They plan to do this when they arrive
Little Baby pa-rum pum pum pum
They see the newborn King as a tiny baby and refer to him as pa-rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa-rum pum pum pum
The drummer boy also declares that he is poor by saying pa-rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring pa-rum pum pum pum
He admits to not having any gifts worthy of the King by saying pa-rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give our King pa- rum pum pum pum
He feels that his gifts are not appropriate for the King by saying pa-rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for you, pa-rum pum pum pum
He offers to play the drum for the King by saying pa-rum pum pum pum
on my drum?
He asks the King if it's okay to play his drum
Mary nodded pa-rum pum pum pum
Mary gave her permission by nodding her head and saying pa-rum pum pum pum
The Ox and Lamb kept time pa-rum pum pum pum
The drummer boy kept a steady rhythm with help from the ox and lamb by saying pa-rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him pa-rum pum pum pum
He played the drum for the King and referred to Him as 'Him' by saying pa-rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him pa -rum pum pum pum
He gave his best effort while playing the drum for the King by saying pa-rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
The sound of the drum can be heard with its rhythmic beat by saying rum pum pum pum
Then He smiled at me pa-rum pum pum pum
The King smiled at the drummer boy as he played the drum by saying pa-rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum
The drummer boy and his drum were happy and content to have played for the King
Lyrics © INTERNATIONAL KORWIN CORP, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Henry Onorati, Katherine K Davis, Harry Simeone
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind