"The Little Drummer Boy" - A Classic Show with a Wonderful Message

A Christmas program I grew up with was The Little Drummer Boy, produced by Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass, creators of many of our favorite Christmas shows.

This classic tale is of a young orphan Hebrew boy who encounters the Christ Child at the manger. Arriving with the Wise Men, he sees the wonderful gifts they have brought to Jesus. Being poor and having nothing but the clothes on his back, a drum his parents gave him before their deaths and several farm animals as traveling companions, he searches for something worthy to give to the Lord. Having nothing, he plays his drum for Him. What better message for us then to know that all we have to do is offer Jesus what we are, no matter how humble that may be.
The song Little Drummer Boy, composed by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone in 1958, was the inspiration for the Rankin-Bass story.



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.