the Little Drummer Boy
Bing Crosby / David Bowie 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
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 popular Christmas carol that tells the story of a young boy who is summoned by the Magi to play his drums for the newborn baby Jesus. The boy is poor and doesn't have any gifts to present to the baby, so he offers to play his drum as a tribute. The song is a beautiful ode to humility, simplicity, and how everyone has something to offer, whether rich or poor.
The first stanza begins with the call to action: "Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum, our newborn King to see, pa-rum pum pum pum." The boy is excited to see the baby Jesus and to honor him. In the second stanza, the boy realizes he doesn't have anything to bring as a gift, but suggests that he could play his drum as a tribute. Mary nods in agreement, and the animals in the stable keep time with the boy's drumming.
The final stanza is the most poignant and emotional: "I played my drum for Him pa-rum pum pum pum; I played my best for Him pa-rum pum pum pum. Then He smiled at me pa-rum pum pum pum, me and my drum." The young boy realizes that the greatest gift he can offer is himself, his talents, and his heart. This song is a beautiful reminder that everyone has something to offer, and that the simplest of gifts can be the most meaningful.
Line by Line Meaning
Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum
They invited me with a drumbeat
Our newborn King to see, pa-rum pum pum pum
To see the newly born King
Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum pum pum pum
We bring our best gifts
To lay before the King pa-rum pum pum pum
To present them before the King
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Drumming sound
So to honor Him pa-rum pum pum pum
To pay tribute to Him
When we come
As we arrive
Little Baby pa-rum pum pum pum
Small infant with a drumbeat
I am a poor boy too, pa-rum pum pum pum
I am also a poor boy
I have no gift to bring pa-rum pum pum pum
I have no gifts worthy of offering
That's fit to give our King pa- rum pum pum pum
Suitable to be presented to our King
Shall I play for you, pa-rum pum pum pum
May I offer my drumming skills to you?
on my drum?
Playing the drum
Mary nodded pa-rum pum pum pum
Mary agreed with a nod
The Ox and Lamb kept time pa-rum pum pum pum
The Ox and Lamb joined in the rhythm
I played my drum for Him pa-rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for the infant
I played my best for Him pa -rum pum pum pum
I played the best I could
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
The sound of drumming
Then He smiled at me pa-rum pum pum pum
Then the infant smiled at me
Me and my drum
Me with my drum
Lyrics © DistroKid, INTERNATIONAL KORWIN CORP, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Simeone, Henry V Onorati, Katherine Kennicot Davis, Lorenzo Definti
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.