I have been sending e- cards this Christmas. They have featured the Bath Abbey Choir singing “The Little Drummer Boy”. One reason why I chose this song is because the Rev. Stephen Girling is a Minister at Bath Abbey and he was formerly the Vicar at Holy Rood Church, Stubbington where he conducted the wedding of Caroline and myself. Stephen is also the father of Joffy, the Mustard Seed Songs’ Musical Director.

One of my favourite versions of the song is by Pentatonix which so far has had 294 million YouTube views:

(190) [Official Video] Little Drummer Boy – Pentatonix – YouTube

Back in 2020 I also shared this heart- warming version by a group called “Gentri” which has 167 million views.

“Little Drummer Boy” (Official Music Video) | GENTRI (youtube.com)

And then recently I found this version by King and Country with 1.5 million views which is especially brilliant if you love drumming!

for KING & COUNTRY Little Drummer Boy Live from CMA Country Christmas (youtube.com)–

Listening also reminded me of the song’s history. In the lyrics, the singer relates how, as a poor young boy, he was summoned by the Magi to the Nativity of Jesus. Without a gift for the Infant, the little drummer boy played his drum with approval from Jesus’s mother, Mary, recalling, “I played my best for him” and “He smiled at me”.

I discovered the “Little Drummer Boy” was originally titled “Carol of the Drums” because of the repeating line “pa rum pum pum pum,” which imitates the sound of a drum. The song lyrics are said to be based on an old Czech carol.

It’s not certain who wrote the song although most believe it to be Katherine K. Davis in 1941. However, according to some reports, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone penned the lyrics to the song. It was recorded for Decca as “Carol of the Drum” by the Trapp Family Singers in 1951 and credited to Davis.

The song has been covered over 220 times and in 7 different languages. Artists who have recorded it include Johnny Cash, Johnny Mathis, David Bowie and Bing Crosby, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, The Temptations, The Jackson 5, Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Whitney Houston, Ray Charles, Black Eyed Peas, Justin Beiber and Susan Boyle.

Quote for the week