Little Drummer Boy
davis/onorati/simeone Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Come, they told me (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
A new-born King to see (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
Our finest gifts we bring (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
To lay before the King (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum

Rum-pa-pa-pum, rum-pa-pa-pum)
So to honor Him (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
When we come
Baby Gesu (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)

I am a poor boy, too (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
I have no gift to bring (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
That's fit to give a King (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum
Rum-pa-pa-pum, rum-pa-pa-pum)

Shall I play for you (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
On my drum?
Mary nodded (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
The ox and lamb kept time (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)

I played my drum for Him (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
I played my best for Him (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum
Rum-pa-pa-pum, rum-pa-pa-pum)
Then, He smiled at me (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)

Me and my drum
Transcribed by Little John




These lyrics were transcribed from the specific recording referenced
Above, and are for personal use and research interest only.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Davis/Onorati/Simeone's "Little Drummer Boy" tell the story of a poor boy who follows the news of a newborn king and decides to visit him bearing a gift. Although he has nothing to offer, he thinks of his drum and decides to play for the baby Jesus. The first paragraph describes the journey of the boy and his companions, who are bringing their finest gifts to the king. The boy's gift is not material, but musical, and he hopes the king will appreciate it.


In the second paragraph, the boy introduces himself as poor and giftless, but determined to do something for the king. He offers to play his drum, although he admits it may not be a suitable gift for a king. However, Mary, the mother of Jesus, nods in approval, and the animals around them - an ox and a lamb - join in the rhythm of the drum. The boy plays his drum for the new king and gives his best performance. The last line of the song suggests that the boy and his drum were warmly received by the baby Jesus, and the experience was worth more than any material gift.


Line by Line Meaning

Come, they told me (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
They came to me and informed me (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)


A new-born King to see (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
That a newly born king has arrived to whom they want me to pay a visit (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)


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


To lay before the King (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum
To present them in front of the king as a gesture of respect and honor (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)


Rum-pa-pa-pum, rum-pa-pa-pum)
We play our drums to celebrate the occasion (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)


So to honor Him (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
We play our drums to show our reverence towards the king (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)


When we come
Whenever we arrive at the king's presence (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)


Baby Gesu (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
The baby Jesus who has just been born and is now a king (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)


I am a poor boy, too (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
Like the poor, I too don't have anything valuable to give (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)


I have no gift to bring (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
I don't possess anything noteworthy enough to offer (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)


That's fit to give a King (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum
That can be presented to a king as a worthy gift (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)


Shall I play for you (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
Would you like me to play my drum for you? (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)


On my drum?
Play the drum that I have with me (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)


Mary nodded (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
Mary gave her approval by nodding her head (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)


The ox and lamb kept time (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
The ox and lamb accompanied me by keeping rhythm with their body movements (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)


I played my drum for Him (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
I played my drum for the King (baby Jesus) (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)


I played my best for Him (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum
I played the drum to its best just to please the King (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)


Then, He smiled at me (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
The King (baby Jesus), pleased with my offering, smiled at me (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)


Me and my drum
In the end, it was just me and my drum, which was all I had, but I played it with my heart (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARRY SIMEONE, HENRY ONORATI, KATHERINE K DAVIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions