Born in Providence, RI, Jeffrey Osborne was the youngest of 12 children and was constantly bombarded with music as he was growing up. He had five brothers and six sisters, some of whom went on to have music careers. His father, Clarence "Legs" Osborne, was a popular trumpeter who played with Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington, and died when Jeffrey was only 13. His mother, Wanita, is ancestored by a Pequot Indian sachem. His oldest brother, Clay Osborne, is a singer and pianist, and Billy, another brother, is a songwriter and producer in Los Angeles. But Osborne's father had the greatest influence on his musical career; Clarence "Legs" Osborne turned down many top band offers during his career to be with his family. It was only after receiving his mother's encouragement that Jeffrey left for Los Angeles to play with L.T.D. At the age of 15, he sat in with the O'Jays when the drummer was too tired to play, and went on to play with them for two weeks. It was at a Providence nightclub that fate brought him together with the band Love Men Ltd. in 1969.
Osborne's solo career has brought him five gold and platinum albums, including Stay With Me Tonight, Aymuk, and Only Human. He also recorded an album of duets with popular singer James Ingram, and scored an international hit with "On the Wings of Love" in 1982. Osborne's touring and recording continue to keep him busy much of the time, but he also devotes some of his time to charity work.
Little Drummer Boy
Jeffrey Osborne 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 lyrics to Jeffrey Osborne's rendition of "Little Drummer Boy" tell the story of a young boy who is invited by a group of people to come and see their newborn king. The boy, who is poor and has no gifts to bring, offers to play his drum for the baby Jesus. Mary agrees to the request, and the boy begins to play his drum. The animals in the manger, the ox and lamb, keep time with the drumming. The boy plays his best, and when he is done, the baby Jesus smiles at him.
The song is a tale of humility and the power of simple gifts. The boy recognizes his own limitations as a poor child, but his willingness to give what he has, his drumming, prompts a positive response in the baby Jesus. The animals in the manger also respond to the boy's music, showing that acts of worship can be celebrated in many forms. The joy in the baby Jesus' reaction to the drummer boy's gift acknowledges that the simple things in life can often bring the greatest pleasure and meaning to people's lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum
They invited me, saying 'pa-rum pum pum pum'
Our newborn King to see, pa-rum pum pum pum
To see our newly born King 'pa-rum pum pum pum'
Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum pum pum pum
We bring our most splendid presents 'pa-rum pum pum pum'
To lay before the King pa-rum pum pum pum
To offer them to the King 'pa-rum pum pum pum'
Rum pum pum pum. rum pum pum pum
'Pa-rum pum pum pum' is the sound of the drum
So to honor Him pa-rum pum pum pum
That's how we show respect to Him 'pa-rum pum pum pum'
When we come
On our arrival
Little Baby pa-rum pum pum pum
Little baby, I'm playing the drum
I am a poor boy too, pa-rum pum pum pum
I'm also a destitute boy 'pa-rum pum pum pum'
I have no gift to bring pa-rum pum pum pum
I don't have any present to offer 'pa-rum pum pum pum'
That's fit to give our King pa- rum pum pum pum
That is appropriate to offer to our King 'pa-rum pum pum pum'
Shall I play for you, pa-rum pum pum pum on my drum?
Should I play my drum for you 'pa-rum pum pum pum'?
Mary nodded pa-rum pum pum pum
Mary gestured 'pa-rum pum pum pum'
The Ox and Lamb kept time pa-rum pum pum pum
The Ox and Lamb were in sync with the drum beats 'pa-rum pum pum pum'
I played my drum for Him pa-rum pum pum pum
I played the drum for Him 'pa-rum pum pum pum'
I played my best for Him pa -rum pum pum pum
I played my most excellent for Him 'pa-rum pum pum pum'
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Pa-rum pum pum pum (sound of drum beats)
Then He smiled at me pa-rum pum pum pum
Then He smiled at me 'pa-rum pum pum pum'
Me and my drum
Just me with my drum
Lyrics Β© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Henry Onorati, Katherine K. Davis, Harry Simeone
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind