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The Harry Simeone Chorale Little Drummer Boy

The Harry Simeone Chorale The Little Drummer Boy

Christmas Music

The song “The Little Drummer Boy” was originally called “Carol of The Drum.” It was written in 1941 by composer and teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis. The song is based on a traditional Czech carol. The Trapp Family Singers (yes, the ones who inspired The Sound of Music) recorded it in 1955. Then in 1957, the Jack Halloran Singers recorded it with a slightly different arrangement. One of the most popular versions was done by The Harry Simeone Chorale, first in 1958. Simeone, an arranger, composer, and conductor,  altered that arrangement and titled it “The Little Drummer Boy” on his Sing We Now of Christmas album. He also released it as a single, and in 1958 it went to #13 on the U.S Billboard Hot 100. The song had many years of charting success and is performed frequently.

There have been numerous covers, including those by The Ray Conniff Singers, Bing Crosby, Johnny Cash, Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams, Marlene Dietrich (in German), Jo Stafford, The Supremes, The Vince Guaraldi Trio, Joan Baez, Henry Mancini, Lou Rawls, Kenny Burrell, Stevie Wonder, Bing Crosby/David Bowie, Emmylou Harris, Anne Murray, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Mannheim Steamroller, New Kids on the Block, The Three Tenors, Whitney Houston and Bobbi Kristina, Destiny’s Child, Vanessa Williams, Celtic Woman, Josh Groban, and so many more.

Here are the lyrics to “Little Drummer Boy” by The Harry Simeone Chorale:

“Come, they told me
(Pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
A new-born King to see
(Pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
Our finest gifts we bring
(Pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)

To lay before the King
(Pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
(Rum-pa-pa-pum, rum-pa-pa-pum)
So to honor Him
(Pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
When we come

Baby Gesu
(Pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
I am a poor boy, too
(Pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
I have no gift to bring
(Pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)

That’s fit to give a King

(Pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
(Rum-pa-pa-pum, rum-pa-pa-pum)
Shall I play for you?
(Pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
On my drum?

Mary nodded
(Pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
The ox and lamb kept time
(Pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
I played my drum for Him
(Pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)

I played my best for Him
(Pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
(Rum-pa-pa-pum, rum-pa-pa-pum)
Then, He smiled at me
(Pa-rum-pa-pa-pum)
Me and my drum”

For another song by The Harry Simeone Chorale: “Do You Hear What I Hear?

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop music, rock and roll hits, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

Please click here for the Daily Doo Wop YouTube channel, to which you can subscribe. Thank you for stopping by The Daily Doo Wop. Hope you enjoyed “The Little Drummer Boy” by The Harry Simeone Chorale.

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