Little Drummer Boy
Jackson 5 (Holiday) 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 Jackson 5's version of "Little Drummer Boy" describes the journey of the three wise men (or Magi) who were informed of a newborn king and went to visit him. They bring him gifts, including frankincense, myrrh, and gold, and play their drums to show their adoration. The singer of the song is a poor boy with no gift to bring, but he offers to play his drum for the baby. Mary, the mother of Jesus, nods her approval, and even the animals present (an ox and lamb) keep time to the beat. The boy plays his drum as best as he can, trying to honor the infant king, and is rewarded with a smile from the baby.
Line by Line Meaning
Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum
We were invited to meet our newly born King, and the sound echoed pa-rum pum pum pum.
Our newborn King to see, pa-rum pum pum pum
We came to visit our King, who had just arrived as a newborn, with the sound echoing pa-rum pum pum pum.
Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum pum pum pum
We brought the best gifts we could, with the sound echoing pa-rum pum pum pum.
To lay before the King pa-rum pum pum pum
We wanted to offer our gifts as a tribute to the King, with the sound echoing pa-rum pum pum pum.
Rum pum pum pum. rum pum pum pum
The sound of our footsteps and our beating hearts accompanied each other with the rhythm of pa-rum pum pum pum.
So to honor Him pa-rum pum pum pum
We came to honor the King with the sound echoing pa-rum pum pum pum.
When we come
We came to meet the King with the sound echoing pa-rum pum pum pum.
Little Baby pa-rum pum pum pum
The King was just a little baby, and the sound echoed pa-rum pum pum pum.
I am a poor boy too, pa-rum pum pum pum
I was just a poor boy, and the sound echoed pa-rum pum pum pum.
I have no gift to bring pa-rum pum pum pum
I couldn't offer any gifts worthy of the King, and the sound echoed pa-rum pum pum pum.
That's fit to give our King pa- rum pum pum pum
I had nothing that was worthy enough to offer to the King, and the sound echoed pa-rum pum pum pum.
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
However, I could play my drum with the sound echoing pa-rum pum pum pum.
Shall I play for you, pa-rum pum pum pum
May I play my drum in honor of you, with the sound echoing pa-rum pum pum pum?
Mary nodded pa-rum pum pum pum
Mary gave me permission to play, with the sound echoing pa-rum pum pum pum.
The Ox and Lamb kept time pa-rum pum pum pum
Even the animals kept the rhythm with the sound echoing pa-rum pum pum pum.
I played my drum for Him pa-rum pum pum pum
I played my drum as a gift to the King, with the sound echoing pa-rum pum pum pum.
I played my best for Him pa-rum pum pum pum
I played my drum as skillfully as I could, as a tribute to the King, with the sound echoing pa-rum pum pum pum.
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
The sound of my drumming filled the air with the rhythm of pa-rum pum pum pum.
Then He smiled at me pa-rum pum pum pum
The King smiled at me, as if to acknowledge and appreciate my gift, with the sound echoing pa-rum pum pum pum.
Me and my drum
I left with nothing more than my drum, but it was an honor to have played it as a gift to the King, with the sound echoing pa-rum pum pum pum.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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@user-ys9hc6nk5p
I can't believe that this was little Michael Jackson singing. Awww I always tear up when he sings. Rip king and legend ❤️😢
@Airsoftcleaner
The Boy who would be King
@latoyaboyd3754
In 2023 I'm still playing my 🥁🥁🥁 this version touches the soul.
@nicholasbrinkley4453
Right here witcha
@youcantalwaysgetwhatyouwan6687
This is the best and the most iconic version for me
@j.brown70
Me too. Hands down the best.
@tonyktown
Michael's incredible voice, his brothers excceptional harmony...damn... This (in my opinion) is handsdown the best Christmas song ever recorded.
@jayskicksnfits9372
exceptional
@CHILL-bk7fy
Michael was so gifted and so were Jackie, Tito and the rest of the brothers singing in the background. And let's not forget the orchestra!
@emmaelonis8989
Michael is the only one who truly did this song justice