Carols

The Little Drummer Boy

5 mins

An American Christmas carol written by teacher in 1941, The Little Drummer Boy was based on her own English translation and re-writing of a Czech Christmas carol as a choral piece. Little Drummer Boy tells the story of a poor child seeing angels witnessing the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. He comes to “greet the newborn king” but, being poor, doesn’t have an appropriate gift for the occasion, so offers to play his drum.

Pentatonix performing Little Drummer Boy from the album PTXmas (Deluxe Edition).
The song uses the choral parts of alto harmony, tenor and bass voices to make the “pa rum pum pum pum” percussive sounds. The song is traditionally performed without any actual percussion instruments. It was recorded by the Austrian Trapp Family Singers (the family that inspired “The Sound of Music”) and later by Bing Crosby, Johnny Mathis, Johnny Cash, Joan Baez, and Stevie Wonder. Today, The Little Drummer Boy remains a poignant message for the Christmas season.

Lyrics

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

Then He smiled at me
Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum