katherine davis • henry onorati • harry simeone
"Carol of the Drum" is originally - at least basically - a Czech tune, and the lyrics have no reference to The Holy Bible. In 1941 it was adapted/composed by Katherine Kennicott Davis. Her manuscript was a chorale headed "Czech Carol freely transcribed by K.K.D." - for rehearsal only! In 2025 it passed 1400 recordings ...
First in line was austrian The Trapp Family Singers, recording it July 23, 1951 : as a chorale, with the original name. Next came The Jack Halloran Singers, November 1957. In December 1958, The Harry Simeone Chorale released their version as "The Little Drummer Boy", and from now on, the original name is rarely used. Here, Henry Oronati and Harry Simeone are both credited, because of significant arrangement ... the first gave it to the latter, because the first one's record company refused it!
Master crooner Bing Crosby made it a standard Christmas song in 1962 for his Xmas album, and this version is probably the one most people remember. In 1982, he re-recorded it for a medley in a "planned happening" with master glam rocker David Bowie. The two master voices performed an unforgettable version, alongside with "Peace on Earth".
The song is a little bit difficult. Mainly, it's a plain tango rhythm ... one, twothreefour; one, twothreefour; but it's syncopated and punctuated. I can't figure it out for you. Listen to some various versions ... rum pa pum pum!
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 the 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
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
A Asus4 A come they told me : pa rum pum pum pum A Asus4 A a new born king to see : pa rum pum pum pum A E E7 our finest gifts we bring : pa rum pum pum pum A C#m A7 D to lay before the king : pa rum pum pum pum Bm A F#m E E7 rum pum pum pum rum pum pum pum E7 A Asus4 A so to honor Him : pa rum pum pum pum E7 A when we come
