Pianist/composer Peter Kater is known for his scores for television, film, … Read Full Bio ↴Pianist/composer Peter Kater is known for his scores for television, film, and theater, as well as for his own recordings of light jazz and new age music. Born in Germany, Kater moved from Munich to New Jersey when he was four. He began piano lessons three years later, and studied classical music until taking up rock & roll in his early teens. At the age of 18, Kater moved to Boulder, CO, where he played improvised music and lived for over a decade before moving to rural Virginia, where he built EarthSea Studios. Until the opening of EarthSea in early 1997, Kater had recorded exclusively for the Silverwave label, starting with his debut release, Spirit, in 1983. He went on to release over 20 albums on Silverwave, including highly successful collaborations with R. Carlos Nakai that resulted in, among others, How the West Was Lost, Vols. 1-2 and Migration (1992), which also received the NAIRD Best New Age Album Indie Award. Several of Kater and Nakai's recordings rose to the Top 20 of Billboard's new age chart, and a few of Kater's own releases -- which range from solo to quintet lineup -- have charted in the Top 25. Since starting his EarthSea label, Kater has released albums including 1998's Compassion and another collaboration with Nakai entitled Winds of Devotion (1999).

Little Drummer Boy
Peter Kater 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

"Carol of the Drum" is a Christmas carol that tells the story of a young boy, who, despite his poverty, is eager to visit the newborn king with his drums. In the first verse, the boy is told to come and visit the king, and he brings his finest presents, the sound of his drums. He wants to offer something special to the king to honour him, even if it is something as simple as the sound of drums. The repetition of "pa-rum pum pum pum" throughout the song reinforces the sound and rhythm of the drums, which is the only gift the boy has to give.

In the second verse, the boy laments that he has nothing to give the king other than his drums. He identifies with the king in his poverty, and he asks Mary if he can play his drums as a gift. Mary nods, and the animals in the stable, the Ox and Lamb, keep time in the background.

The final verse describes how the young boy plays his drums for the king, offering his best performance in honour of the newborn Infant. As he plays, the king smiles at him, and the boy is filled with joy and wonder that he has been able to offer something of value to the king despite his poverty.

Line by Line Meaning

Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum
We have been summoned to visit our newly born King

Our newborn King to see, pa-rum pum pum pum
To pay reverence to the King who is born now

Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum pum pum pum
We have brought our best gifts

To lay before the King pa-rum pum pum pum
To present the gifts before the King

Rum pum pum pum. rum pum pum pum
The beat of the drum continues

So to honor Him pa-rum pum pum pum
In an effort to show respect and praise for Him

When we come
As we arrive in His presence

Little Baby pa-rum pum pum pum
The King is an innocent child

I am a poor boy too, pa-rum pum pum pum
I am also a destitute kid

I have no gift to bring pa-rum pum pum pum
I am unable to present Him with any gift

That's fit to give our King pa- rum pum pum pum
There is nothing suitable to gift our King

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
The drum's rhythm goes on

Shall I play for you, pa-rum pum pum pum
Can I play the drum for Him?

on my drum?
On this humble drum I possess?

Mary nodded pa-rum pum pum pum
Mary agreed with a nod

The Ox and Lamb kept time pa-rum pum pum pum
The beat of the drum matched with the sounds of animals

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

I played my best for Him pa -rum pum pum pum
I gave my best performance as a tribute to Him

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
The rhythm continues

Then He smiled at me pa-rum pum pum pum
In response, the King smiled at the drummer

Me and my drum
Just me and my insignificant and humble drum

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, 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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