Gregg Karukas is a smooth jazz keyboardist and pianist who originally hails… Read Full Bio ↴Gregg Karukas is a smooth jazz keyboardist and pianist who originally hails from the Washington, DC-Maryland area. He experimented with keyboards as a child, but it was not until his teens that he pursued music professionally. Gradually, he developed a relaxing smooth jazz style of music that made him a mainstay on smooth jazz radio stations.

Karukas is always striving to write music that evokes strong emotions; his best-known single, "Nightshift", reflects the funky, smooth jazzy styling familiar to his fans. Karukas frequently collaborates with Brazilian composer Dori Caymmi.. With a total of eight albums released to date and many live performances with prominent jazz legends, Gregg Karukas has established himself as one of the staples of the format.

THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
Gregg Karukas Lyrics

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Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum
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

Overall Meaning

The song "The Little Drummer Boy" by Gregg Karukas is a beautiful rendition of the traditional Christmas carol that tells the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. The opening verse, "Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum" sets the scene for the story, as three wise men arrive and spread the good news about the birth of a newborn King. The lines, "Our finest gifts we bring, to lay before the King" show the reverence and respect they held for this child, who they saw as a king.

The little drummer boy then enters the story, and shares that he too is a poor boy, with no gift to bring that is fit for a king. However, he has a talent that he can share - playing his drum. In this verse, the drummer boy expresses his willingness to honor the newborn King, and asks permission to play his drum for the child. Mary nods her approval, and the ox and lamb accompany the drummer boy as he plays his drum for the baby Jesus.

The final line, "Then He smiled at me, me and my drum" carries a powerful message of hope and grace - that even those who have little can offer their talents and abilities in service of others. The drummer boy's gift of music may have seemed small, but it was offered with great love and reverence, and it was received with a smile from the newborn King.

Line by Line Meaning

Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum
They invited me to come see the newborn King with the sound of the drums

Our newborn King to see, pa-rum pum pum pum
To pay homage to our newly born King with joyous drum beats

Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum pum pum pum
We bring our most precious possessions to lay before the King with the sound of the drums

To lay before the King pa-rum pum pum pum
To place our offerings in front of the King with the sound of the drums

Rum pum pum pum. rum pum pum pum
The sound of the enthusiastic drums

So to honor Him pa-rum pum pum pum
We honor the King with the joyful sound of the drums

When we come
When we arrive to pay homage to the King with the sound of the drums

Little Baby pa-rum pum pum pum
To play the drum for the little baby King with joy and respect

I am a poor boy too, pa-rum pum pum pum
As a humble child, I also have nothing of value to offer besides the sound of the drums

I have no gift to bring pa-rum pum pum pum
I don't have any material wealth to offer to the King, except for the sound of the drums

That's fit to give our King pa- rum pum pum pum
Nothing seems worthy enough to bring for the King, except for the beat of my drum

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
The rhythm of the drums

Shall I play for you, pa-rum pum pum pum
May I play my drums for you, my King?

Mary nodded pa-rum pum pum pum
Mary approved silently with the beat of the drums

The Ox and Lamb kept time pa-rum pum pum pum
The animals kept pace with the joyful drumming

I played my drum for Him pa-rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for the King with gratitude

I played my best for Him pa -rum pum pum pum
I played the drums with all my heart and soul, to show respect to the King

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
The sound of the joyous drums

Then He smiled at me pa-rum pum pum pum
The King acknowledged my offering and gifted me with a smile

Me and my drum
I left with the beats of the drum, the only thing I had, which made the King smile

Lyrics © INTERNATIONAL KORWIN CORP, ONErpm, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Simeone, Henry V Onorati, Katherine Kennicot Davis, Lorenzo Definti

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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