Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy
Bing Crosby / David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hahaha! Well, it's been a long time since I've been the new anything!
What's happened to Hudson?
I guess he's changing
Oh!
Sir Percival lets me use his piano when he's not around. He's not around, is he?
I can honestly say I haven't seen him, but come on in! Come here!
Come on in!
Are you related to Sir Percival?
Well, distantly, yeah
Oh, you're not the, uh, poor relation from America, right?
Ha! Gee, news sure travels fast, doesn't it? I'm Bing
Oh, I'm pleased to meet you. You're the one that sings, right?
Well, right or wrong, I sing either way
Oh well, I sing too
Oh good! What kind of singing?
Well, mostly the contemporary stuff. Do you, uh, do you like modern music?
Oh, I think it's marvelous! Some of it really fine
But tell me, have you ever listened to any of the older fellas?
Oh, yeah, sure. I like ah, John Lennon and the other one with, eh, Harry Nilsson
Mmm, you go back that far, huh?
Yeah, I'm not as young as I look
Haha! None of us is these days
In fact, I've got a six year old son
And he really gets excited around the Christmas holiday-thing
Do you go in for any of the traditional things in the Bowie household, Christmas time?
Oh, yeah, most of them really. Presents, tree, decorations, agents sliding down the chimney
What?
I was just seeing if you were paying attention
Haha!
Actually our family do most of the things other families do. We sing the same songs
Do you?
I even have a go at 'White Christmas'
You too, huh?
And this one. This is my son's favorite. Do you know this one?
Oh, I do indeed, it's a lovely thing
Come they told me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
A newborn king to see pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum
Peace on Earth can it be? (Come they told me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
Years from now, perhaps we'll see? (A newborn king to see pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
See the day of glory (our finest gift we bring pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
See the day, when men of good will (to lay before the king pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
Live in peace, live in peace again (rum-pum-pum-pum)
Peace on Earth (so to honor him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
Can it be (when we come)
Every child must be made aware
Every child must be made to care
Care enough for his fellow man
To give all the love that he can
I pray my wish will come true (little baby pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
For my child and your child too (I stood beside him there pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
He'll see the day of glory (I played my drum for him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
See the day when men of good will (I played my best for him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
Live in peace, live in peace again (rum-pum-pum-pum)
Peace on Earth (then he smiled at me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
Can it be (me and my drum)
Can it be
It's a pretty thing, isn't it?
I'm sure glad you came by to work out on the piano today
The opening lines of the song reveal a playful, light-hearted conversation between two musicians- Bing Crosby and David Bowie. Crosby plays the role of an old-time singer while Bowie represents the generation of modern-age music. The conversation begins with a friendly banter about how Bowie is not the new butler in the house, and he clarifies that he is a self-proclaimed neighbor who comes to play Sir Percival's piano when the host is away. Crosby and Bowie then talk about their musical tastes, where Crosby asks Bowie if he likes old-school music; and Bowie admits that he loves both contemporary and classic tunes. Crosby then asks Bowie about his Christmas celebrations, and Bowie reveals that he loves the traditional holiday celebrations, including the family feast, Christmas trees, and gifts.
The song's overall message about the hopeful vision of peace once again rekindles as the duo begins to cover the Christmas classic, "Little Drummer Boy." They sing in unison about the journey of the Magi coming to see the newborn king with the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The lyrics shift toward a hopeful future where every child is made aware of the lessons of the past, where all people live in peace, and the world can stay in harmony without violence. The message that the two legends convey through their music is that if we love and care for our fellow beings, we can create a beautiful, peaceful world.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello, you the new butler?
Bowie greets the new butler and starts a conversation
Hahaha! Well, it's been a long time since I've been the new anything!
Bowie humorously acknowledges how long it's been since he was in a new position
What's happened to Hudson?
Bowie inquires about the previous butler, Hudson
I guess he's changing
The current butler believes Hudson is changing or evolving
Yeah, he does that a lot doesn't he? Umm, oh, I'm David Bowie. I live down the road
Bowie jokes that Hudson changes a lot and introduces himself as a neighbor of Sir Percival who's down the road
Oh!
The butler responds to Bowie's introduction
Sir Percival lets me use his piano when he's not around. He's not around, is he?
Bowie asks if he can use Sir Percival's piano since he's not around
I can honestly say I haven't seen him, but come on in! Come here!
Come on in!
The butler invites Bowie in although he hasn't seen Sir Percival
Are you related to Sir Percival?
The butler asks Bowie if he's related to Sir Percival
Well, distantly, yeah
Bowie reveals that he's distantly related to Sir Percival
Oh, you're not the, uh, poor relation from America, right?
The butler assumes Bowie is not the poor relation from America
Ha! Gee, news sure travels fast, doesn't it? I'm Bing
Bing Crosby enters the conversation and responds humorously to the butler's assumption
Oh, I'm pleased to meet you. You're the one that sings, right?
The butler greets Bing Crosby and acknowledges his singing career
Well, right or wrong, I sing either way
Bing Crosby acknowledges that he sings regardless of being right or wrong
Oh well, I sing too
The butler reveals that he also sings
Oh good! What kind of singing?
Bing Crosby shows interest in the butler's singing and asks about his style
Well, mostly the contemporary stuff. Do you, uh, do you like modern music?
The butler reveals his preferences for contemporary music and asks Bing Crosby about his preferences
Oh, I think it's marvelous! Some of it really fine
Bing Crosby expresses his appreciation for modern music and recognizes its quality
Oh, I do indeed, it's a lovely thing
Bing Crosby acknowledges that he knows the song that Bowie sings and describes it as a lovely thing
Come they told me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
A newborn king to see pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum
Bowie sings the Little Drummer Boy song
Peace on Earth can it be? (Come they told me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
Years from now, perhaps we'll see? (A newborn king to see pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
See the day of glory (our finest gift we bring pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
See the day, when men of good will (to lay before the king pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
Live in peace, live in peace again (rum-pum-pum-pum)
Peace on Earth (so to honor him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
Can it be (when we come)
Bing Crosby adds lyrics about wishing for peace on earth and hoping to see the day when men of good will live in peace again to the Little Drummer Boy song
Every child must be made aware
Every child must be made to care
Care enough for his fellow man
To give all the love that he can
Bowie sings about the importance of spreading awareness, care, and love for fellow individuals
I pray my wish will come true (little baby pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
For my child and your child too (I stood beside him there pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
He'll see the day of glory (I played my drum for him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
See the day when men of good will (I played my best for him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
Live in peace, live in peace again (rum-pum-pum-pum)
Peace on Earth (then he smiled at me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
Can it be (me and my drum)
The final part of the song mentions Bowie's desire for peace on earth for both his and Bing Crosby's child while playing the drum alongside the Little Drummer Boy song
Can it be
Bowie repeats the line from the Little Drummer Boy song regarding peace on earth as a hopeful message
It's a pretty thing, isn't it?
I'm sure glad you came by to work out on the piano today
Bing Crosby concludes the conversation by complimenting the Little Drummer Boy song and expressing his gratitude for having Bowie over to practice the piano
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., PHRASER MORTON MUSIC
Written by: Alan Buz Kohan, Ian Fraser, Lawrence A. Grossman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@laurensavard6506
Thank you for sharing, John! Your words really resonated with me and my own sentiments regarding this song, and I wondered if you might appreciate an additional fact on it.
In late 2020, I learned through an ordinary internet search for facts about this song that it was recorded on September 11, 1978. To think that exactly 24 years to the day before 9/11 occured, two men from two different generations and countries would get together and sing such a beautiful song praying for peace on earth and goodwill among humanity gets me every time it comes to mind!
Something that especially touches me is when David Bowie shares before they sing that his son was 6 at the time they recorded the song, and he soon sings the line that his child would see a "day when men of goodwill would live in peace again." Interestingly, I've felt called to serve in response to 9/11 longer-term and plan to move from my home in Maryland to greater NYC (likely North Jersey) to do so. Since I was born in 1995, I was the age his son was on 9/11 (age 6). I've started listening to this song year-round as my sense of calling has developed, as it reminds me to do my part to work towards the vision Bing Crosby and David Bowie sang about all those years ago and to do what I can to encourage others to do the same thing.
While I've always loved it, this song has become so dear to me with these thoughts in mind over the past two years. I hope and pray their masterpiece can help many others in their own ways! 💙🙏🏻🇺🇸🇬🇧🌏
Best wishes and blessings for you and your loved ones from Harford County, MD, for Christmas, 2023, and always! 🙏🏻🎄☃️
@dorisblack7631
This song touches my soul everytime I hear it! Still listening in 2023! Two phenomenal artists. May they both rest in peace!!
@bottletree33
Yeah it’s beautiful. I try to listen to it every year. Great voices coming from two very different worlds.
@christinehughes6928
So magical love it ❤
@majorthumbsup8563
The finest!
@72mossy
It was like passing the old to new,
@DeborahAbelha
Me too 😢😢😢❤❤love
@EriksAngel15
Whoever came up with the idea to pair these two singers together was an absolute genius.
@bren4061
Took the word's out of my head
@I_Am_The_Paulrus
Bing Crosby's kids apparently
@stone1andonly
It was the combination of a couple very quirky tv producers and Bowie's mother's love of Bing Crosby that made it happen. They get the credit for putting together the icons of two different ages to create one of the holiday season's most immortal duets, one that will outlive us all. I was fortunate enough to be watching that show that night.