Uploaded December 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
"The Little Drummer Boy," originally known as "Carol of the Drum," is a popular Christmas song written by the American classical music composer/teacher Katherine K. Davis in 1941. It was recorded 1955 by the Trapp Family Singers and further popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry Simeone Chorale. This version was re-released successfully for several years and the song has been recorded many times since. In the lyrics the singer relates how, as a poor young boy, he was summoned by the Magi to the nativity where, without a gift for the infant Jesus, he played his drum with the Virgin Mary's approval, remembering "I played my best for him" and "He smiled at me".
The Jackson 5, or Jackson Five, also known as The Jacksons in later years, was an American popular music group. Formed in 1964 under the name the Jackson Brothers, the founding members were Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael. After participating in talent shows and the chitlin' circuit, they entered the professional music scene in 1967, signing with Steeltown Records and releasing two singles with the Steeltown label. In 1969, the group left Steeltown Records and signed with Motown.
Jackson 5 Christmas Album is the first Christmas album, and fourth studio album, by Motown family quintet the Jackson 5, released on October 15, 1970. Included on the Christmas Album is the Jacksons' hit single version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town". The Jacksons' versions of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" remain frequent radio requests during the Christmas season. The album spent four weeks at the number one position on Billboard magazine's special Christmas Albums chart that the magazine published in December 1970, making it the best-selling Christmas album of that year and also of the year 1972 in the United States. This album was a top seller and had the potential to chart high on the US Billboard Top LPs ranking, but from 1963 to 1973, holiday albums were not allowed to chart in it. The album has been praised by music critics.
In the US, the album was released on CD in 1986. In 2003, Universal Motown re-released the album as part of their 20th Century Masters - The Christmas Collection series. This version of the album was remastered and included the Michael Jackson solo song "Little Christmas Tree" as a bonus track (from the various artists compilation A Motown Christmas, originally released in 1973). In 2009, the album was once again re-released as Ultimate Christmas Collection, with Christmas greetings from four of the band members, remixes, and a medley of songs from the album.
Come they told me, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Our newborn 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
(Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
When we come (We come)
Baby Jesus, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
(Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
I'm a poor boy, too, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
(Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
I have no gift to bring, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
(Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
That's fit to give our 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 (On my drum)
Mary nodded, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
(Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
The ox and mule kept time, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
(Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
I played my drum for him, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
(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
(Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
Me and my drum (Me and my drum)
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum (Rum-pum-pum-pum)
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum (Rum-pum-pum-pum)
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum (Rum-pum-pum-pum)
"The Little Drummer Boy," originally known as "Carol of the Drum," is a popular Christmas song written by the American classical music composer/teacher Katherine K. Davis in 1941. It was recorded 1955 by the Trapp Family Singers and further popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry Simeone Chorale. This version was re-released successfully for several years and the song has been recorded many times since. In the lyrics the singer relates how, as a poor young boy, he was summoned by the Magi to the nativity where, without a gift for the infant Jesus, he played his drum with the Virgin Mary's approval, remembering "I played my best for him" and "He smiled at me".
The Jackson 5, or Jackson Five, also known as The Jacksons in later years, was an American popular music group. Formed in 1964 under the name the Jackson Brothers, the founding members were Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael. After participating in talent shows and the chitlin' circuit, they entered the professional music scene in 1967, signing with Steeltown Records and releasing two singles with the Steeltown label. In 1969, the group left Steeltown Records and signed with Motown.
Jackson 5 Christmas Album is the first Christmas album, and fourth studio album, by Motown family quintet the Jackson 5, released on October 15, 1970. Included on the Christmas Album is the Jacksons' hit single version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town". The Jacksons' versions of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" remain frequent radio requests during the Christmas season. The album spent four weeks at the number one position on Billboard magazine's special Christmas Albums chart that the magazine published in December 1970, making it the best-selling Christmas album of that year and also of the year 1972 in the United States. This album was a top seller and had the potential to chart high on the US Billboard Top LPs ranking, but from 1963 to 1973, holiday albums were not allowed to chart in it. The album has been praised by music critics.
In the US, the album was released on CD in 1986. In 2003, Universal Motown re-released the album as part of their 20th Century Masters - The Christmas Collection series. This version of the album was remastered and included the Michael Jackson solo song "Little Christmas Tree" as a bonus track (from the various artists compilation A Motown Christmas, originally released in 1973). In 2009, the album was once again re-released as Ultimate Christmas Collection, with Christmas greetings from four of the band members, remixes, and a medley of songs from the album.
Come they told me, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Our newborn 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
(Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
When we come (We come)
Baby Jesus, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
(Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
I'm a poor boy, too, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
(Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
I have no gift to bring, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
(Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
That's fit to give our 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 (On my drum)
Mary nodded, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
(Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
The ox and mule kept time, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
(Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
I played my drum for him, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
(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
(Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)
Me and my drum (Me and my drum)
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum (Rum-pum-pum-pum)
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum (Rum-pum-pum-pum)
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum (Rum-pum-pum-pum)
