The Little Drummer Boy is an American carol by composer Katherine Kennicott Davis, written in 1941 after an old Czech carol. It was first known as “Carol of the Drum” when it was included in the repertoire of the famous Trapp singers in 1951. The most popular version of this carol is an arrangement by composer Harry Moses Simeone, for which he also received a co-author credit. It became a real Christmas hit in 1959 when it was released together with his album “Sing We Now of Christmas”.
With a message as simple as it is powerful, Little Drummer Boy is a story about the value of giving from what you have, even if you think that what you can give is too little.
The Little Drummer Boy Lyrics
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