Braxton was born in Severn, Maryland to Michael and Evelyn Braxton. The youngest of the Braxton's six children, Tamar started singing as a toddler. Evelyn, herself an opera singer, recognized her children's talents when one day, Tamar, sang "Can you please get me some toilet paper!" Evelyn quickly started training her girls, and eventually enrolled them in singing lessons. The Braxton children also would eventually enter in their church choir, where Michael Braxton was pastor.
Brought up in a strict Christian household, secular music was initially frowned upon, causing the children to sneak and sing along to Soul Train when the parents were out of the house. They would soon start harmonizing, forming a girl group. Tamar says of this period "I was always the highest note." Her voice was in sharp contrast to her older sister's husky contralto. One day, A Toni was pumping gas at a local gas station while singing along, when she caught the attention of a producer. He heard her sing and was amazed, and decided to pull the five sisters into a group; he envisioned a female version of the Jackson 5. They released a single on Atlantic Records in 1990 as "The Braxtons," and caught the attention of producers Antonio "L.A" Reid and Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds. The two had just started a then fledgling record label, LaFace, with Arista Records. The guys passed on the group, as they had just signed a new trio named TLC, but they were looking for a solo female artist and loved Toni's voice. So the girls talked it over, and Toni decided to embark on her now famous solo career.
The sisters worked as backup singers for Toni (you can see them in Toni's video Seven Whole Days). Eventually, the girls (minus Toni) would release an album for Atlantic, to which the group was still signed, in 1996 entitled So Many Ways.
In 1999, Tamar first explored her gospel side on T.D Jakes Love Songs album. Later, Tamar would meet up with Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, a rapper/producer (also famous for bringing Blu Cantrell to national attention) based in Atlanta, Georgia. She recorded her solo debut album, Ridiculous, so named because of the many different musical styles on the album. The album would be retooled and released by Dreamworks as Tamar on January 18, 2000. It was lead in by the first single for the album, "Get None" with guest appearances by Jermaine Dupri and rapper Amil and featured the second single, If You Don't Wanna Love Me. The singles failed to gain significant radio & video airplay and ultimately the album didn't sell well, and Tamar was dropped from her contract,it is also worth noting that tamar proved that she could do the whistle register on money can't buy you love on tamar's deut album.
Tamar sang for the Kingdom Come soundtrack, with Toni Braxton appearing in the movie as Juanita Slocumb. Currently she sang background for Toni's album More Than A Woman (released 2002),and 2005 album Libra and resides in Atlanta. She also negotiated a new contract with Tommy Mottola's Casablanca Records, and is working to record a new album. She also sang backup in her sister Toni's famous headlining show in Las Vegas entitled, "Toni Braxton: Revealed" but has been replaced by singer Sparkle. She is currently working on a new album and her own record company with fiance, producer Vincent Herbert.
Away In A Manger / Little Drummer Boy
Tamar Braxton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head,
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love you, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky,
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay
Close by me for ever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in your tender care,
And fit us for heaven, to live with you there.
Come they told me
Pa rum pum pum pum
A new born 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
The He smiled at me
Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum
The lyrics to Tamar Braxton's song "Away In A Manger / Little Drummer Boy" are a combination of two traditional Christmas songs, each with a different theme. The first verse of the song talks about the birth of Baby Jesus in a manger with no crib for a bed. As the baby is laying down on the hay, the bright sky with shining stars is the only light that is there to witness the miracle of his birth. The second verse talks about how the baby is awakened by the cattle but doesn't cry. The singer expresses her love for Lord Jesus and requests him to stay by her side until morning.
The third verse of the song talks about how the singer asks Lord Jesus to be near her always and love her. She also asks him to bless all the children in his tender care and prepare them to live with him in heaven. The chorus talks about how some people came to tell a poor boy about the birth of the new king. Although the boy doesn't have any gift to offer the king, he decides to play his drum to honor him. The final verse talks about how Mary nods to the boy's drumming while the ox and lamb kept time. The boy played his best for the king, and the king smiled at him.
Overall, the song is about celebrating the birth of Jesus and how different people come to pay homage to the king in their own ways, regardless of their status, wealth, or the value of their gifts.
Line by Line Meaning
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus had no place to sleep but a cradle made of hay.
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head,
The baby Jesus lay down on a soft bed of hay.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The bright stars above shone down on the baby Jesus as he slept in the manger.
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The baby Jesus slept peaceably on the bed of hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
The baby Jesus woke up to the sound of the cattle mooing.
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
The baby Jesus did not cry despite waking up to the mooing of cattle.
I love you, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky,
The singer tells Jesus that she loves him and asks him to look down from heaven.
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.
She asks Jesus to stay with her till the morning comes.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay
The singer asks Jesus to stay close by her side.
Close by me for ever, and love me, I pray.
She then asks Jesus to love her and be with her for eternity.
Bless all the dear children in your tender care,
She prays to Jesus to bless all the children that he loves.
And fit us for heaven, to live with you there.
Finally, she asks Jesus to prepare them for heaven so they could live with him eternally.
Come they told me
The singer recalls being told to go and see a new-born king.
Pa rum pum pum pum
The sound of the drum that the singer is playing.
A new born King to see
The reason why the singer was told to go and see the new-born king.
Our finest gifts we bring
The singer and his companions bring their best gifts for the king.
To lay before the king
The gifts were meant to be presented to the king.
So to honor Him
The reason why the singer and his companions brought their gifts.
When we come
A reminder of their arrival to see the king.
Little baby
Refers to the baby Jesus.
I am a poor boy too
The singer acknowledges that he is poor.
I have no gift to bring
The singer admits that he does not have a gift to present to the king.
That's fit to give our King
The singer believes that he has nothing worthy to give to the king.
Shall I play for you
Asks the king if he can play his drum for him.
On my drum
The singer's drum, which he offers to play for the king.
Mary nodded
In approval of the singer playing the drum.
The ox and lamb kept time
The ox and lamb in the manger responded to the sound of the drum.
I played my drum for Him
The singer played his drum for the baby Jesus.
I played my best for Him
The singer gave his best performance for the baby Jesus.
The He smiled at me
The baby Jesus smiled at the singer for his performance.
Me and my drum
The singer and his drum, which brought joy to the baby Jesus.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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