Lyr Req: Little Drummer Boy / Carol of the Drum

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Drummer Boy / Carol of the Drum
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Dec 23 - 09:08 AM

the song little drummer boy was written in 1941 by catherine davis she was writing this as a school girl. in 1941 no folks did not like this song and the first words of this song has never appeared at all the notes said she was born in new york usa but never became remembered as a song writer. the song was not first recorded until 1951 by a black gosbel and him singing group formed by jester hairston called the trapp family singers i do not know if that recording still made the low end of the usa charts but a more remembered recording in 1957 did make the charts and got to number 23. they were called harry simone choral thay were formed back in 1956 by jack gildening and retitled the song to what we know it now. this single is the first camershow recording of this song. meanwhile jester hairston who formed the trapp family singers who first recorded the first vesion of the song also wrote mary's boy child in 1956 for harry belafonte that recording also features the same singers who first recorded drummer boy 6 years earlier. this song has been covered by lots of artists over the years. one is by ray coniff singers that got to number 9 in britain in 1958 this recording entered the charts at the same time when harry simone had the usa recording. simone did enter the british charts at the same time as well. other people who did this song in 1976 david bowie recorded the song peace on earth with bing crosby this got to number 5 in the charts just before he died in the next year. i have sung this song many times for this time of year at school the first show i did for christmas was the baby jesus in 1987 i sung on the line purup but did not sing the verses. some of the songs were originals but often we wood put a cover of an old christmas song in that show. in 1998 when i moved to england i did another recording of this song for redhill colege for the blind and have still got it to this day. the backing of this recording is a soundalikehow this song came to us in the 1950s. but with the new 1980s synth sound.

Subject: Videos: Little Drummer Boy/Carol of the Drum duet
From: Genie
Date: 14 Dec 09 - 03:21 PM

Well, Ann, I doubt that the kid's drum was a snare drum or timpani.   The kind of drum a kid in Bethlehem would have had back then could have been played softly (and maybe even mimicked the sound of a heartbeat?). Ya never know.

I really do like this version of the Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth duet.

But I wish people would use Davis's original title. All you'd have to do is change "poor boy too" to "poor child too," and it could just as easily be a little drummer girl! : D






Of course, if you think it's too saccharine, check out this 'remix':
Bing, Clay and Tupac
*g*

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Drummer Boy / Carol of the Drum
From: CapriUni
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 08:39 PM

For what it's worth, I really liked this song when I was a kidling. For one thing, the drummer boy was the only one who actually seemed interested in giving something the baby could appreciate, rather than bringing fancy gifts of status, to impress the parents. And there was also child-to-child exchange going on.

It's only as an adult, after hearing a dozen too many sacherine arrangements of this song that I've come to happily leave it off my listening list.

As for the wisdom of playing a drum for a baby, well, these days, newborns are soothed by the sounds of vaccuum cleaners and car engines (reminds them of the inside of the womb, which is, in fact, rather loud). And with the right sort of thrumming, a skilled drummer might reproduce the sound of the mother's heartbeat.

As for the theme of the carol itself, it reminds me of the final verse of "In the Bleak Mid-Winter":

What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb.
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part.
Yet what can I give him? I shall give my heart.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Drummer Boy / Carol of the Dru
From: Keefy
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 06:56 PM

Try this:

C                                    G                     C
Come, they told me, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
                                             G                     C
A new-born king to see, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
G                                           C                     G
Our finest gifts we bring, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
                                           C                     F
To lay before the king, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
                         C                              G
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum
C                                 G                   C
So to honour him, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
G             C
When we come.


(C)                     G                     C
Baby Jesus, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
                                       G                   C
I am a poor boy too, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
G                                     C                     G
I have no gift to bring, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
                                           C                     F
That's fit to give a king, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
                         C                               G
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum
C                                  G                   C
Shall I play for you, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
G         C
On my drum?


(C)                        G                     C
Mary nodded, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
                                                 G                     C
The ox and lamb kept time, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
G                                             C                     G
I played my drum for him, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
                                              C                   F
I played my best for him, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
                         C                              G
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum
C                                          G                   C
Then, he smiled at me, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
G                C
Me and my drum. (Repeat to fade)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Drummer Boy / Carol of the Drum
From: Mr Happy
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 03:24 AM

My thoughts too, & have sought some've these out during the holiday to inflict these excruciatingly sugary items on unsuspecting victims!!

Little Donkey & Mary's Boy Child

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Drummer Boy / Carol of the Drum
From: GUEST,Ebor_fiddler
Date: 28 Dec 08 - 12:07 PM

Is this the most boring "Holidays" song (it's certainly not a carol and I even hesitate to connect it with Christ-tide) or are there other strong contenders?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Drummer Boy / Carol of the Drum
From: Mr Happy
Date: 28 Dec 08 - 08:22 AM

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=I1JfNtsbmp4

I sang this last night at one've our xmas gatherings.

Our accordianist said he first heard it when he was around 5 years old & had nightmares about it for ages after!!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: Scrump
Date: 24 Dec 06 - 06:25 AM

Is this song about a wee lad from the village of Dummer (not far from Basingstoke in Hampshire, England)?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: GUEST,simona
Date: 10 Dec 06 - 02:11 AM

i would like the words to the little drummer boy in Italian please.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: GUEST,Mimika
Date: 15 Dec 04 - 02:12 PM

HEYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!1

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 15 Dec 04 - 02:09 PM

I was looking for "LDB" notes. Piano note keys, but did Not find it

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: Metchosin
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 05:21 PM

There is a sound file at Low's website here but I'm not certain as to availbility of sheet music for it, unlike the Huron Carol, which is readily available.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 03:46 PM

Always interesting how a song can have real meaning and significance for one person and be anathema to another. Perhaps Christmas songs bear this burden more than any other.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: Metchosin
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 03:18 PM

Rebecca, you might consider Long Way Around the Sea as performed by the group Low or an arrangement of the Huron Carol, to name a couple.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: Metchosin
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 02:33 PM

Come to think of it, she did go on to be a very accomplished bass guitar player, winning a gold medal in a west coast jazz festival in her last year of high school. I'd never connected it until just now, but perhaps Little Drummer Boy may have just set the stage.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: Metchosin
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 02:09 PM

I love this Carol, but for reasons probably not shared by others. Many years ago, when our very shy youngest daughter was in grade 4, she came home and proudly announced that she was going to play this piece on the piano for her class the following week.

I was a bit nonplussed, as she didn't know how to play the piano and when I pointed out that that might be a bit of a handicap, she stated,   "Of course I can play the piano!" and promptly ran over to ours and knocked out the tune of Mary had a Little Lamb with one finger saying, "See!"

I suggested that the class might expect something with a few more notes attached and that if she wanted, I could show her how to use more than one finger to play the tune and she thought that would be OK.

There wasn't much intervening time between then and her piano solo debut, so I marked out the three chord notes with numbers on the keys for her left hand to drum out a bass line and she promptly learned the melody in the right hand by ear.

The following week she went off merrily to perform her masterpiece. When she got home I asked her how it went and she said that the class really enjoyed it and her teacher had commented that she must have been taking piano lessons for quite awhile.

She decided after that, that maybe she would like to take piano lessons and the following year she played Carol of the Bells for the class using a more orthodox method. Sometimes kids have a lot of jam. LOL

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 12:37 PM

Thank whatever powers there be for online shopping!
One need no longer go to the malls and hear that horrid little dumber boy played over the loudspeakers. May Santa Claus throw that 'nine-pound hammer' on his noggin.
Here are some better lyrics:

Lyr. Add: THE LITTLE SPAMMER BOY

"Spam," they told me
Pa rup a pum pum
"A fortune in six weeks"
Pa rup a pum pum
"Our finest list we bring"
Pa rup a pum pum
"Soon you will hear ka-ching"
Rup a pum pum, rup a pum pum, rup a pum pum
"We have not lied to you"
Pa rup a pum pum
"(Boy are you dumn)"

So I played the game
Pa rup a pum pum
Landed in the Hall of Shame
Pa rup a pum pum
Lost my driobox and site
Pa rup a pum pum
Work in Burger King tonight
Rup a pum pum (3x)
What a fool am I
Pa rup a pum pum
(Yes, I was dumb)

By Leah Roberts. From Hymns and Carols of Christmas. Little Spammer Boy

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 11:40 PM

Come, they told me (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
A 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.

Little baby (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
I am a poor boy too (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
I have no gifts 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

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: Wolfgang
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 06:00 AM

en francais

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: Joybell
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 08:34 PM

A drum for Christmas sounds like a Grandma's revenge present.

"Children Go Where I send Thee" is a good song for kids to sing at Christmas. Should be really easy to find. It works best without accompaniment, I reckon, perhaps handclaps.
Also "The Twelve Days of Christmas" if you can stand it after a few repeats. Joy

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 08:13 PM

Katherine K. Davis is supposed to have based "Carol of the Drum" (Little Drummer Boy) on a Czech carol. Anyone have information or possibly this carol?

Although Davis bios say that she composed the song in 1941, the first recording seems to have been issued on DOT DLP-3076 in 1957 in an arrangement by Jack Halloran. Any earlier?

Couldn't find a French translation, but there is one in Spanish, "La Canción del Tamborilero." Saw an adv. for sheet music.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 06:08 PM

I still prefer the other song of that title: Little Drummer Boy by Michael MacConnell of 'Only Our Rivers' fame.

Subject: Lyr Add: LITTLE DUMMER BOY and PEACE ON EARTH
From: Genie
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 04:14 PM

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

---

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.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: Genie
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 03:48 PM

Actually, Little Drummer Boy works fine with just the chords D, G and A, and it's pretty easy to "hear" where the chord changes go.

I imagine you can "jazz up" the chords if you like, but I sing the song in 3-part harmony with just those chords.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From:
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 01:27 PM

I'm looking for a version of the "The Little Drummer Boy" in French.
Can anyone give me the translation of the "little drummer boy"
It's "en petite garcon" something something?
What's the word for drummer?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 09:40 PM

Rebecca wrote,

"I am looking for the lyrics and chords for Little Drummer Boy. I am also looking for lyrics and chords for other music that it a little untraditional for a teenage group to sing with guitars during the Christmas season. Any ideas?"

Once you get the chords for LDB, if you're still looking for something a little untraditional, you can sing these words to that tune:

Oseh shalom, bim'ramov
Hu ya'aseh shalom, aleinu
V'al kol yisrael, v'imru amen.
V'al kol yisrael, v'imru amen, v'imru amen, v'imru amen.
Oseh shalom, v'imru amen, v'imru amen.

You have to stretch the "aleinu" a bit, a-lei-ei-ei-nu.
Untraditional, and multicultural, and a prayer for peace.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: GUEST,Mike
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 10:58 AM

I found some at this link:

http://guitar.about.com/library/blsongs_littledrummerboy.htm

Hope it helps

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: kendall
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 01:11 PM

I have a hard time picturing a mother allowing a little boy to beat a drum for her baby...

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: IvanB
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 12:55 PM

A Google search on "little drummer boy" resulted in a ton of hits, most of which contained only lyrics or midi. Didn't have time to look at all, but this site did have a guitar tab arrangement with chords. Might be of help.

Click here

Good luck!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Little Dummer Boy
From: LR Mole
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 11:20 AM

Something dangerously derrierre-obsessed in this "pa rump a pum pum" business. Beats me, though.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
From: Tomsk
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 04:28 AM

The lyrics are easy enough, but I can't help with the chords. Search the web for "Christmas Carols", you should find plenty!

THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

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

Subject: Little Dummer Boy
From: GUEST,Rebecca
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 12:58 PM

I am looking for the lyrics and chords for Little Drummer Boy. I am also looking for lyrics and chords for other music that it a little untraditional for a teenage group to sing with guitars during the Christmas season. Any ideas?

Rebecca