Little Drummer Boy
[Verse 1]
Come thy told me
Pa rum pum pum-pum
A 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 com
[Verse 2]
[Verse 3]
Just because the song "Little Drummer Boy" is beloved by people the world doesn't mean its backstory is very well known to the public. In this overview, learn about the holiday song's origins, including the controversy around its authorship and where its roots are. The lyrics and some chart history are also here.
Who Wrote 'The Little Drummer Boy?'
Before it became world famous as the "Little Drummer Boy," the song was originally titled "Carol of the Drums" because of the repeating line "pa rum pum pum pum," which imitates the sound of a drum.
It's not certain who wrote the song, but the "Little Drummer Boy" is believed to have been written by Katherine K. Davis in 1941. The song lyrics are said to be based on an old Czech carol. It was recorded for Decca as "Carol of the Drum" by the Trapp Family Singers in 1951 and credited to Davis. But Davis isn't the only person credited with writing the song. According to some reports, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone penned the lyrics to the song.
Just as it's not entirely certain who deserves lyrical songwriting credit for the "Little Drummer Boy," questions surround the music composition credits for the song as well. Jack Halloran recorded it in 1957. His daughter, Dawn, stated in a letter to famous music collector Jerry Osborne that her father "did the original choral arrangement and recorded it for Dot Records in 1957." She added, "Dot, unfortunately, didn't put the single out for the 1957 Christmas season, and Simeone succeeded in getting composing credit (along with Henry Onorati and Davis) for a piece he had nothing to do with."
Chart Highlights
Over the years, it's been recorded by many artists, some of whom have even charted with it on Billboard's singles charts. Pentatonix hit No. 1 with it in the winter of 2013–2014, and David Bowie and Bing Crosby's beloved version peaked at No. 3 in the United Kingdom (Official Singles Chart), spending 10 weeks on the chart in 1982–1983.
The Harry Simeone Chorale hit No. 13 on Billboard's Hot 100 with it in 1959–60, No. 24 in 1960–61, No. 22 in 1961–62, and No. 28 in 62–63. The Jack Halloran Singers' version made it only to No. 96 in January 1961.
There have been hundreds of recorded versions of the song, and even actors Jack Black & Jason Segel, believe it or not, reached No. 45 with it in 2010 on Billboard's holiday digital sales chart.
Fun Fact
Decades ago, stop-motion animation was all the rage in television ("Rudolph," anyone?), so a version of "Little Drummer Boy" was produced by Rankin-Bass for television in 1968 with the voice of Eileen Evelyn Greer Garson narrating. If you're of a certain age, you may have seen this version when it debuted.
"Little Drummer Boy" Lyrics
Although the "Little Drummer Boy" is often remembered for the lines that famously imitate a drum, a review of the song's lyrics reveal why it is indeed a Christmas carol. It is about the birth of Jesus Christ and the gifts presented to the newborn king on this momentous day
(source: The Story Behind the 'Little Drummer Boy' Christmas Carol)
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This is a favorite Christmas Carol and I would add a very sweet one. There is little more I can add to what Espie Estrella wrote about it.
Thanks for coming by today Friends
Have a blessed day!
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