The Little Drummer Boy
davis/onorati/simeone Lyrics
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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
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.
The lyrics of "The Little Drummer Boy" tell the story of a poor boy who has no gift to bring to the newborn King. Nonetheless, he arrives to see the Baby Gesu with his friends bringing their finest gifts. Feeling out of place among the wealthy visitors, the boy asks if he could play the drum he brought with him for the baby Jesus. Mary nodded, and the boy began to play. Remarkably, the drummer could see that the infant Jesus enjoyed the sound of his drumming and even smiled at him while he played. The boy left content in the knowledge that he had given the best he could give, and his music had pleased the child-like King.
Lyrically, "The Little Drummer Boy" is a beautiful Christmas song about the true meaning of Christmas. It emphasizes the importance of giving whatever we can, regardless of how small or insignificant it may seem, and doing it with sincerity and from the heart. Despite his poverty, the little drummer boy was determined to offer something to the son of God and gave his best on his drum. The song serves as a reminder that we can all come to the Lord as we are: the rich and the poor, the gifted and the simple, the wise and the foolish; we only need to offer our whole selves to the King.
Line by Line Meaning
Come, they told me (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
I was informed to come and see the new King that was born with the sound of the drums playing (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum).
A new-born King to see (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
I was told to come and see the newly born King with the sound of the drums playing (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum).
Our finest gifts we bring (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
We bring our very best gifts to lay before the newborn King with the sound of the drums playing (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum).
To lay before the King (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum
We will present our finest gifts as an offering to the King that we will see with the sound of the drums playing (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum).
So to honor Him (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
We play our drum to show our honor to the King with the sound of the drums playing (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum).
Baby Gesu (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
The newborn King that we come to visit is Baby Gesu with the sound of the drums playing (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum).
I am a poor boy, too (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
I myself am a poor boy just like Baby Gesu with the sound of the drums playing (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum).
I have no gift to bring (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
I don't have any gift that's fit for the King Baby Gesu with the sound of the drums playing (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum).
That's fit to give a King (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
I don't have any gift that's worthy enough to present to the King Baby Gesu with the sound of the drums playing (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum).
Shall I play for you (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
I ask Baby Gesu if it's okay to play my drum for Him with the sound of the drums playing (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum).
On my drum?
I ask Baby Gesu if it's okay to play my drum for Him.
Mary nodded (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
Mary gave me permission to play my drum for Baby Gesu with the sound of the drums playing (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum).
The ox and lamb kept time (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
The animals in the stable kept a rhythm for me to play my drum for Baby Gesu with the sound of the drums playing (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum).
I played my drum for Him (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
I played my drum for Baby Gesu as a gift for Him with the sound of the drums playing (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum).
I played my best for Him (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum
I played my drum as well as I could for Baby Gesu as a special gift for Him with the sound of the drums playing (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum).
Then, He smiled at me (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
Baby Gesu smiled at me as a sign of his acceptance and approval for the gift that I gave Him with the sound of the drums playing (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum).
Me and my drum
I leave with just me and my drum, content with having played for Baby Gesu with the sound of the drums playing (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum).
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