Page 51 - 2017-12-16_june_july_2009.qxd

The Little Drummer Boy 51

Katherine K. Davis - The

Little Drummer Boy

"Almost Wrote Itself"

Continued from Page 49

The Little Drummer Boy Becomes a Beloved
Holiday Carol

Since the 1950s, The Little Drummer Boy has
appeared in over 200 versions in seven
languages in all kinds of music genres. In 1964
Marlene Dietrich recorded a German version of
the Little Drummer Boy. The Beverly Sisters
and Michael Flanders recorded hit versions of
The Little Drummer Boy in 1959, and in 1972,
the Pipes and Drums and Military Band of the
Royal Scots Guards had a hit version of the
carol. Bing Crosby and David Bowie recorded
the most popular version of the Little Drummer
Boy as a duet with Peace On Earth for Bing
Crosby’s Television Christmas special in 1977.
Pa rum pum pum pum
The duet version was written after David Bowie Merry Christmas To One And All!
I am a poor boy too
admitted he hated the song that he was
Pa rum pum pum pum
scheduled to sing. Bing Crosby performed The With the current, unprecedented blending
I have no gift to bring
Little Drummer Boy while David Bowie sang of cultures and religions, many of us find
Pa rum pum pum pum
the new song Peace on Earth. The duet ourselves unsure of how to address the
That's fit to give our King
eventually became a classic. Christmas season without offending those
Pa rum pum pum pum,
In 2008, BBC disc jockey Terry Wogan of different faiths.
rum pum pum pum,
and singer Aled Jones recorded a new version of
rum pum pum pum
the Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy duet for Regardless of the tapestry woven around
a charity album released to help Children In Christ, Christianity and Christmas,
Shall I play for you
Need. Issued as a single, it climbed to a UK Top Jesus’s one abiding message was one of
Pa rum pum pum pum
hit for them. love. A concept found in all faiths, love
On my drum
carries no offence.
Katherine Kennicott Davis Writes a Lifetime
Mary nodded
of Music This year as always, I wish my brothers
Pa rum pum pum pum
and sisters from all walks of life – the
The ox and lamb kept time
Katherine Kennicott Davis continued writing earth and all living upon her, the blessing
music until she fell ill in the winter of 1979- Pa rum pum pum pum of a true Christmas.
I played my drum for Him
1980. On April 20, 1980, she died at the age of
Pa rum pum pum pum
87 in Littleton, Massachusetts. Her musical May your hearts be filled with love, your
I played my best for Him
legacy included operas, choruses, children’s lives full of joy and your spirits at peace.
Pa rum pum pum pum,
operettas, cantatas, piano and organ pieces and
rum pum pum pum,
songs like Let All Things Now Living, and The Much love,
rum pum pum pum
Little Drummer Boy. She left all of the royalties
and proceeds from her musical compositions to ~ Gwilda Wiyaka ~
Then He smiled at me
Wellesley College’s Music Program.
Katherine K. Davis once quipped that Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum []
The Little Drummer Boy “had been done to
death on radio and TV,” but musicians all over
the world continue to sing and record her song.

The Little Drummer Boy

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