The Little Drummer Boy
Marlon Jordan 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 Christmas song that tells the story of a young boy who visits the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. The song signifies a humble and pure offering to the newborn king. The boy, though poor, desires to offer the baby Jesus a gift but has nothing to give. He humbly asks Mary if he may play his drum for the baby Jesus. Mary consents, and the boy proceeds to play with all his might, for he knows that the only gift that he can give his best gift. The animals in the stable are drawn to the sound of the drum and keep time to the beat. After playing his drum, the boy notices that the baby Jesus is smiling at him, and he is filled with joy and contentment. The song is an ode to the pure and simple offering of oneself as a gift to the Savior.
Line by Line Meaning
Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum
They summoned me with a certain urgency, singing a rhythmic tune
Our newborn King to see, pa-rum pum pum pum
To witness the arrival of our recently born monarch
Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum pum pum pum
We offer our very best pens that sing, in hopes of paying homage
To lay before the King pa-rum pum pum pum
To place them at the feet of the ruler as tribute
Rum pum pum pum. rum pum pum pum
The repeated sound of our drums as accompaniment
So to honor Him pa-rum pum pum pum
To pay due respect to the respected king
When we come
When we come to greet Him
Little Baby pa-rum pum pum pum
Tiny infant who deserves our attention, perpetuated by the drums' march
I am a poor boy too, pa-rum pum pum pum
I, too, lack resources and affluence
I have no gift to bring pa-rum pum pum pum
I don't carry any presents to proffer to the King
That's fit to give our King pa- rum pum pum pum
That's appropriate and worthy of presenting to our Sovereign
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
The unmistakable resonance of my drum's timbre
Shall I play for you, pa-rum pum pum pum on my drum?
May I enthrall Him with my music-making vessel?
Mary nodded pa-rum pum pum pum
The Lady acknowledged my tune's sincerity and fervor
The Ox and Lamb kept time pa-rum pum pum pum
The animals in attendance embraced the percussive beats and were synced, relishing it with me
I played my drum for Him pa-rum pum pum pum
I bestowed the gift of my harmony on Him
I played my best for Him pa -rum pum pum pum
I presented my most excellent concert to Him
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
The repetition symbolizing the steady drum soundscape
Then He smiled at me pa-rum pum pum pum
The King acknowledged and rewarded me with a grin and validation
Me and my drum
The bond between my musical instrument and me
Lyrics © INTERNATIONAL KORWIN CORP, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Simeone, Henry V Onorati, Katherine Kennicot Davis, Lorenzo Definti
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind