Little Boy
Diana Krall feat. Ray Brown 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 (rest my baby)
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, yeah
Come on
Mother Mary, ooh pa rum pum pum pum, pa rum pum, pa rum pum, pa pum pum
Yeah, pa rum pa pum pum, playing on my drum
Ooh, pa rum pa pa pum, pa rum pum, pa rum pum, ah pum pum
Yeah pa rum pa pa pam, playing 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
Oh yeah
Me and my (me and my drum)
Drum drum drum drum
Mary nodded pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum
Then he smiled at me, he smiled at me
On my, on my, on my drum
Me and my, me and my, me and my drum, drum, drum
Oh yeah
Playing for Jesu, playing for Jesu, playing my drum
Pa rum pa pa pum, Pa rum pa pa pum
Playing on my drum, playing on my drum, pa rum pa pa pum, pa rum pa, pa rum pa, pa rum pa pa pum
Pa rum pa, pa rum pa
Ooh, rum pa pa pum, pa rum pa, pa rum pa, pa rum pa pa pum, pa rum pa, pa rum pa pa rum pa pa pum, pa rum pa pa pum
The song "Little Drummer Boy" is a Christmas classic that tells the tale of a little boy who visits the newborn Jesus and plays his drum for him. The first verse sets the scene and introduces the boy who has come to see the new king with his finest gifts. In the second verse, the little boy admits he is poor and has nothing to offer but his drum. The third verse describes Mary nodding her approval as the boy plays his drum, accompanied by the ox and lamb who keep time. The final line of the verse is significant as it suggests that the boy's drumming pleased the newborn Jesus, who smiled at him.
The song has a strong religious meaning as it narrates the birth of Jesus. It also highlights the importance of humility and shows that even the poorest of us have valuable contributions to make. The boy has nothing to offer except his drum, but his willingness to play it for Jesus is enough to make him smile. The song can be seen as a lesson in giving and reminds us that simple and humble offerings can be just as meaningful.
Line by Line Meaning
Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum
We have been invited to see Queen Jesu pa rum pum pum pum
Our newborn king to see, pa-rum pum pum pum
We have come to witness the birth of the new king, Jesu pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum pum pum pum
We offer our best gifts to Jesu pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the king pa-rum pum pum pum
To present our gifts before Jesu, the king pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
The beat of our drums
So to honor him pa rum pum pum pum
As a sign of respect to the king Jesu, we play our drums pa rum pum pum pum
When we come (rest my baby)
We have come to offer tribute to the Baby King Jesu pa rum pum pum pum while he sleeps.
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I am also a humble peasant who does not have any gifts suitable for the king pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring pa rum pum pum pum
I don't have any gifts to offer Jesu pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give our king pa rum pum pum pum
That is worthy of presenting to Jesu, our sovereign pa rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum
May I play my drum for you as a gift, Jesu pa rum pum pum pum
On my drum, yeah
I will play my drum, Jesu pa rum pum pum pum
Mother Mary, ooh pa rum pum pum pum, pa rum pum, pa rum pum, pa pum pum
Mary, the mother of Jesu, listens to the sound of the drums pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time pa rum pum pum pum
The animals join in, moving and swaying to the sound of our drums pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for him pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Jesu, our King pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for him pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum to the best of my ability to honor Jesu, the king pa rum pum pum pum
Then he smiled at me pa rum pum pum pum
The Baby King, Jesu, smiled at me because of my gift pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum
I continue to play my drum for Jesu, the Baby King pa rum pum pum pum
Playing for Jesu, playing for Jesu, playing my drum
I continue to play my drum for Jesu, the King pa rum pum pum pum
Pa rum pa pa pum, Pa rum pa pa pum
The beat of my drums while I play for Jesu pa rum pum pum pum
Playing on my drum, playing on my drum, pa rum pa pa pum, pa rum pa, pa rum pa, pa rum pa pa pum
The sound of my drums as I play for Jesu, our King pa rum pum pum pum
Pa rum pa, pa rum pa
The sound of my drums as I sing for Jesu, our King pa rum pum pum pum
Ooh, rum pa pa pum, pa rum pa, pa rum pa, pa rum pa pa pum, pa rum pa, pa rum pa pa rum pa pa pum, pa rum pa pa pum
The sound of my drums as I play for Jesu, the Baby King pa rum pum pum pum
Lyrics © Strictly Songs SPRL, Histoire et Chansons, Capitol CMG Publishing, Spirit Music Group, INTERNATIONAL KORWIN CORP, Integrity Music, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Fintage House Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Simeone, Henry V Onorati, Katherine Kennicot Davis, Lorenzo Definti
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind