Peace on Earth/The Little Drummer Boy
Bing Crosby / David Bowie Lyrics
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Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
A new born 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
Years from now, perhaps we'll see
See the day of glory
See the day when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again
Peace on earth, can it be
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
For my child and your child too
He'll see the day of glory
See the day when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again
Peace on earth, can it be
Can it be
The lyrics of Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy is a collaboration between David Bowie and Bing Crosby, and it is a unique version of the traditional Christmas song Little Drummer Boy with lyrics added to convey a message of peace. The song starts with the drummer being summoned to see a newborn king and being asked to play his drum, and then shifts to the idea of peace on earth. The lyrics question the possibility of peace on earth and suggest that it may take years or longer for it to be realized. The song then emphasizes the importance of teaching children to care for others and to give love to help achieve peace on earth. The lyrics end with the hopeful tone of a prayer for peace to come true for all children and for a day of glory when people of good will can live in peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Come they told me
I was informed to come
Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
The beats of my drum
A new born king to see
To visit a newly arrived king
Our finest gifts we bring
We have brought our best gifts
Rum-pum-pum-pum
The beats of my drum
Peace on earth, can it be
Is it possible to have peace on earth?
Years from now, perhaps we'll see
In the future, it may be possible
See the day of glory
Witness a day of honor
See the day when men of good will
Observe the day when people who desire goodness
Live in peace, live in peace again
Live together in serenity, once more
Every child must be made aware
Every child should comprehend
Every child must be made to care
Every child should show compassion
Care enough for his fellow man
Have enough concern for others
To give all the love that he can
To give as much love as possible
I pray my wish will come true
I pray that my desire comes true
For my child and your child too
For both my child and your child
He'll see the day of glory
They will be able to witness a day of honor
See the day when men of good will
Observe the day when people who desire goodness
Live in peace, live in peace again
Live together in serenity, once more
Peace on earth, can it be
Is it possible to have peace on earth?
Can it be
Is it possible?
Lyrics © PHRASER MORTON MUSIC
Written by: HARRY SIMEONE, HENRY ONORATI, KATHERINE K DAVIS
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.