“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” Acts 17:24-25
Me and My Drum
By Shannon Pederson
We know about the shepherds keeping watch by night, and then the magi from the east who came to Jerusalem. We know about the innkeeper who told Mary and Joseph there wasn’t any room, and we know about Herod’s malicious edict to kill the male babies of Bethlehem.
But then there’s the little drummer boy, the fictitious character of the popular Christmas song first recorded in 1955. This drummer is, of course, not in the biblical story, but his presence has become legendary in our modern Christmas imagination. And we can learn from him.
We know about the shepherds keeping watch by night, and then the magi from the east who came to Jerusalem. We know about the innkeeper who told Mary and Joseph there wasn’t any room, and we know about Herod’s malicious edict to kill the male babies of Bethlehem.
But then there’s the little drummer boy, the fictitious character of the popular Christmas song first recorded in 1955. This drummer is, of course, not in the biblical story, but his presence has become legendary in our modern Christmas imagination. And we can learn from him.
"Little Drummer Boy" Lyrics (Excerpt):
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.
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.
So the song goes. While 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. At a casual listen the song is so simple, and filled with so many pa-rum-pa-pum-pums, that it’s not immediately obvious what’s going on.
The song opens, as the drummer boy narrates with the magi recruiting him to join their journey to see Jesus. “Come, they [the magi] told me . . . a newborn King to see . . . our finest gifts to bring.”
Apparently, the drummer boy agrees to come along, and the lyrics fast-forward to him gathered around the young Jesus, acknowledging his poverty, admitting he has no gift to bring that’s really fit for a king. But he does have this drum. And he asks, “Shall I play for you?” To which Mary nods her approval, and then the drummer boy plays, and plays his best. Then Jesus smiles.
At this point, even though we know this isn’t historical, we know it could have happened. In fact, in different forms, this sort of scenario has played over and over for thousands of years. Worshipers of Jesus (like the magi) compel their neighbors (like the drummer boy) to consider Jesus — to come and see Him and know Him. And when the neighbors do, they see Jesus and comprehend his glory, and then they look at themselves: But I am broken. I am empty and poor. I’ve got nothing to bring this King that even comes close to representing the honor that is due him. All I have is this drum.
It starts this way for all of us. I was that little drummer boy, and so were you. So we play it for Him, and we play our best for Him, declaring that we are small, that we are weak, that He doesn’t need us in the least, but that with all that we are, with every little speck of nothing we have, we are giving it to Him.
Before it became world famous as the "Little Drummer Boy," the song was originally titled "Carol of the Drums." Why? 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. She is the composer of more than 600 hymns and songs for choirs. The song lyrics are said to be based on an old Czech carol.
The drum rhythm that made the tune so special over 60 years ago, presumably had been accidental. It was written in order to help the chorus harmonize between a soprano tune with an alto harmony, and tenor and bass parts. It was intended for rehearsals only. Somehow the notes remained.
This drum roll sound has added to the song’s popularity. Over the years it has been recorded by old time favorites like Bing Crosby, Johnny Cash, David Bowie, and Joan Jett. It has also been selected for Christmas recordings by today’s popular artists Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, and Mariah Carey. What a mixed group of performers! History keeps living on.
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15thi
The song opens, as the drummer boy narrates with the magi recruiting him to join their journey to see Jesus. “Come, they [the magi] told me . . . a newborn King to see . . . our finest gifts to bring.”
Apparently, the drummer boy agrees to come along, and the lyrics fast-forward to him gathered around the young Jesus, acknowledging his poverty, admitting he has no gift to bring that’s really fit for a king. But he does have this drum. And he asks, “Shall I play for you?” To which Mary nods her approval, and then the drummer boy plays, and plays his best. Then Jesus smiles.
At this point, even though we know this isn’t historical, we know it could have happened. In fact, in different forms, this sort of scenario has played over and over for thousands of years. Worshipers of Jesus (like the magi) compel their neighbors (like the drummer boy) to consider Jesus — to come and see Him and know Him. And when the neighbors do, they see Jesus and comprehend his glory, and then they look at themselves: But I am broken. I am empty and poor. I’ve got nothing to bring this King that even comes close to representing the honor that is due him. All I have is this drum.
It starts this way for all of us. I was that little drummer boy, and so were you. So we play it for Him, and we play our best for Him, declaring that we are small, that we are weak, that He doesn’t need us in the least, but that with all that we are, with every little speck of nothing we have, we are giving it to Him.
Before it became world famous as the "Little Drummer Boy," the song was originally titled "Carol of the Drums." Why? 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. She is the composer of more than 600 hymns and songs for choirs. The song lyrics are said to be based on an old Czech carol.
The drum rhythm that made the tune so special over 60 years ago, presumably had been accidental. It was written in order to help the chorus harmonize between a soprano tune with an alto harmony, and tenor and bass parts. It was intended for rehearsals only. Somehow the notes remained.
This drum roll sound has added to the song’s popularity. Over the years it has been recorded by old time favorites like Bing Crosby, Johnny Cash, David Bowie, and Joan Jett. It has also been selected for Christmas recordings by today’s popular artists Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, and Mariah Carey. What a mixed group of performers! History keeps living on.
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15thi