Why "Little Drummer Boy" is One of My Favorite Christmas Songs

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, 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.

Songwriters
Onorati, Henry / Simeone, Harry / Davis, Katherine K

Published by
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, INTERNATIONAL KORWIN CORP, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

I have always loved the message of the Little Drummer Boy. The poor little boy, who wanted to truly honor his Savior, worried that he had no gift to bring that was fit for the newborn King. But he did have his drum, so he decided to play his best for the baby King -- "pa rum pum pum pum."

This song has encouraged and challenged me for years. It encourages me because I, too, feel like I don't have a lot to offer Jesus. I mean really, what can you give to the Creator of the universe that will put a smile on His face? But in reality, I have all that He desires right within me. God doesn't want my stuff, He wants me. The song challenges me because the little boy played his best for the King. I don't always give God my best. Sometimes I'm lazy and distracted with the things of the world, and not focused on God.

So what is it that God wants from us -- all of us -- whether we have pockets full of gold or pockets full of lint?

Love - Matthew 22:36-37 - ^"Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said unto him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind."

Obedience - Notice how love and obedience are entwined here by Jesus in John 14:23-24 - Jesus answered and said unto him, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our home with him. He that loves me not keeps not my sayings...."

Honor - In the old testament book of Malachi, the Israeli priests were making offerings to God and despising Him at the same time. He required their sacrifices to be spotless -- the best of the herd or the flock. They were giving Him their worst -- the blind, lame and sick animals. They were just going through the religious motions and God was not impressed. He said to them, "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I be a Father, where is my honor?" (Malachi 1:6)


The word honor here means heavy or weighty. The Hollies famous old song, He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother (which by the way has a good message), could be reworked for the true living God and be titled He Is Heavy, He's My Father. He's the heaviest heavyweight of all time. Muhammad Ali plus his god are lighter than lightweight (even lighter than strawweight) compared to Jesus' Father.

Does the super-duper heavyweight God carry any weight with you, or do you think lightly of Him? Do you think of Him at all? God wants us to acknowledge His importance to us. Don't forget Who made the air you're breathing, and the lungs you're breathing it with, and the built-in autotimer (standard on every model) that makes you breathe without having to think about it, and the untrimmed nose hairs (also standard on every model) that filter the air.

Humility - Micah 6:8 - He has showed you, o man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Humility has great value  to God. You can humble yourself, or wait for God to humble you. The less painful way is humble yourself. Do it. Do it now.


Love, obedience, honor, and humility. Who is unable to give these gifts to the King? Even if the Little Drummer Boy lost his drum, he could still honor Jesus with these gifts. Maybe you don't yet know the King. You can come to Him right now, right where you are. Turn from your sins, call on Jesus and ask Him to come into your life. You will never be the same (in a good way). He will give you a new heart so that you will be able to love, obey, honor and walk humbly with your God all of your days.

Merry Christmas to all!