Drummer Boy
MercyMe 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 "Drummer Boy" by MercyMe tells the story of a young boy, a poor drummer, who comes to pay homage to the newborn king by playing his drum. The first verse depicts the players' journey to behold the king and the gifts they bring to lay at his feet. However, they realize that the most precious gift they can give is honoring him with what they have, which is why the chorus repeats the line "pa-rum pum pum pum" throughout, as if to amplify the significance of this message.


The second verse describes the drummer's humility in realizing that he has nothing to offer the king compared to the rich gifts of the other players. But he knows how to play his drum, and he asks if he can do that for the baby Jesus. Although he is poor and has nothing of material value to give, he still wants to pay tribute to the king in the best way he can, using his talent.


The last verse depicts the boy playing his drum while Mary and the animals, the Ox and Lamb, are keeping time. The boy plays his best for the king and Jesus smiles at him, perhaps recognizing the authenticity of the child's offering. In this way, the song portrays a touching story of how even the most humble gifts can be valued and accepted, making it a joyful song that underscores the spirit of Christmas, which is all about giving and sharing.


Line by Line Meaning

Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum
I was told to come and see the newborn King with a respectful drumbeat


Our newborn King to see, pa-rum pum pum pum
We have come to see our new King with great reverence and awe


Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum pum pum pum
We are bringing our most valuable gifts to lay before the King as an honor


To lay before the King pa-rum pum pum pum
The purpose of bringing gifts is to lay them before the King as a sign of respect and admiration


Rum pum pum pum. rum pum pum pum
The drumbeat continues as a rhythmic accompaniment to our respectful tribute


So to honor Him pa-rum pum pum pum
We are doing all of this to show honor and respect to the new King


When we come
We are ready to show our respect and admiration when we arrive


Little Baby pa-rum pum pum pum
The newborn King is a precious and innocent baby, worthy of our respect


I am a poor boy too, pa-rum pum pum pum
I may not have valuable gifts, but I still want to show my respect and honor to the King


I have no gift to bring pa-rum pum pum pum
Despite my lack of valuable gifts, I still want to present something to the King as a mark of my respect and admiration


That's fit to give our King pa-rum pum pum pum
I want to present the King with something that is worthy of his greatness and majesty


Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
The drumbeat continues to show my respect and desire to honor the King


Shall I play for you, pa-rum pum pum pum on my drum?
The only thing I can offer to the King is the musical sound of my drum, but I offer it with all of my heart


Mary nodded pa-rum pum pum pum
Mary, the mother of the newborn King, gave me permission to play my drum in homage to her child


The Ox and Lamb kept time pa-rum pum pum pum
The animals in the stable where the King was born moved to the rhythm of my drumbeat, providing a backdrop for my tribute


I played my drum for Him pa-rum pum pum pum
I played my drum as a sign of my respect and tribute to the newborn King


I played my best for Him pa-rum pum pum pum
I gave my best performance possible, hoping to honor the King to the best of my abilities


Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
The drumbeat continued as a sign of my ongoing respect and devotion to the King


Then He smiled at me pa-rum pum pum pum
The newborn King recognized my tribute and smiled in response, accepting my gift with gratitude


Me and my drum
I will always remember the moment when I was able to pay tribute to the great and majestic King with nothing more than my humble drum




Lyrics © CONSALAD CO., Ltd., INTERNATIONAL KORWIN CORP, 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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Comments from YouTube:

Healthy and Loving Life

Little Drummer Boy always makes me cry but this version takes it to a whole new level.

Jeannie Key

Kk

Karen Sanborn

Agreed! Goosebumps on goosebumps!
I love the guitar

Jaime Castellanos

Healthy and Loving Life
I truly never cared for this song, but now I do

Desmond Lake

I never truly understood this song until I heard this version. It has now become my favorite song on my favorite Christmas album. Good work, guy!

Rio Bird

Same for me!! It’s the only version I like.

Brian Shepherd

This is by far my favorite version of the little drummer boy!!

Robert Gaw

Loved this since I was a little boy and still do , it gives me hope

Carol Shehan

You guys are awesome in everything you put out ... keep up the good work ... we're lovin' it! Merry CHRISTmas!!

Freedom

This song always seemed childish to me, (never looked at the lyrics) until I heard this version. Very well done!

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