The Little Drummer Boy

A poor boy is brought to see the newborn Jesus with nothing to give, so he plays his drum instead. Mary nods her approval, and the music turns out to be gift enough. That is the whole of "The Little Drummer Boy," carried along by its drumbeat chorus, "pa rum pum pum pum," and sung worldwide every Christmas.

Origins

American music teacher and composer Katherine Kennicott Davis wrote the song in 1941. She originally titled it "Carol of the Drum." According to Davis, she based the manuscript on a traditional French song, though the final composition was largely her own work.

The song was first recorded in 1951 by the Trapp Family Singers, which helped introduce it to a national audience. In 1958, conductor Harry Simeone arranged the song, renamed it "The Little Drummer Boy," and released it with the Harry Simeone Chorale. His recording became a massive commercial success, establishing the song as a Christmas classic.

Meaning & Interpretation

The theme of the carol is that sincere, heartfelt devotion is more valuable than expensive material gifts. The drummer boy is poor, but his willingness to play his best for the newborn baby is the ultimate expression of love and respect.

The repetitive "pa rum pum pum pum" phrase acts as a rhythmic engine for the song, creating a slow, march-like cadence that represents the drum beat and the journey of the visitors to Bethlehem.

Who composed The Little Drummer Boy?

The song was composed by Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941 under the title "Carol of the Drum." Her composition was later arranged and popularized by Harry Simeone in 1958 under its modern title.

What was the original title of The Little Drummer Boy?

The original title of the song was "Carol of the Drum." Katherine Kennicott Davis published it under this name in 1941, before it was renamed "The Little Drummer Boy" for the Harry Simeone Chorale recording in 1958.