Here's a little more on the authorship and history of LDB, plus the lyrics to the countermelody "Peace On Earth" from the Bing Crosby/David Bowie duet.

Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth
Duet originally recorded by David Bowie and Bing Crosby

The Little Drummer Boy
(Katherine K. Davis ©1941; originally titled "The Carol Of The Drum.")

"Come," they told me, - pa rum pa pum pum -
"Our newborn King to see. - pa rum pa pum pum -
Our finest gifts we bring - pa rum pa pum pum -
To lay before the King, - pa rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum -
So to honor HIM - pa rum pa pum pum -
When we come."

"Baby Jesu," - pa rum pa pum pum -
"I am a poor boy, too. - pa rum pa pum pum -
I have no gift to bring - pa rum pa pum pum -
That's fit to give a king - pa rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum -
Shall I play for you? - pa rum pa pum pum -
On my drum?

Mary nodded. - pa rum pa pum pum -
The ox and lamb kept time. - pa rum pa pum pum -
I played my drum for HIM, - pa rum pa pum pum -
I played my best for HIM, - pa rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum
Then He smiled at me, - pa rum pa pum pum -
Me and my drum.

Canticle
Peace on Earth
(Lyrics by Buz Kohan; Music by Grossman, Fraser)

Peace on earth, can it be?
Years from now, perhaps we'll see,
See the day of glory,
See the day when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again.

Peace on earth, can it be?

Every child must be made aware,
Every child must be made to care,
Care enough for his fellow man
To give all the love that he can.

I pray my wish will come true
For my child and your child too,
He'll see the day of glory,
See the day when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again.

Peace on earth, can it be?
Can it be?

Bing Crosby:"It's a pretty theme, isn't it?"



Links to more sites w/ lyrics and info on this Bing Crosby/David Bowie duet: http://web.ask.com/web?q=%22Little+Drummer+Boy%22%2Flyrics%2F%22Bing+Crosby%22&o

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Info on the history of both songs:
History of Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth

You can also find a video of another version of that duet here:
http://www.airplaycentralmedia.org/videoarchive.htm#N
(It's under Nickelodeon Specials: Clay Sings with Bing.)
This duet lends itself very well to a choral arrangement for a youth choir.