CHRISTMAS CAROL: THE DRUMMER BOY.

"The Drummer Boy" tells the apocryphal story of a boy so poor that, unable to offer anything to Baby Jesus, he gives him the gift of his drumming) is a traditional Christmas carol of Czech origin, freely translated into English in 1941 by Katherine Davis, who used in the United States the pseudonym C.R.W. Robison; although the joint authorship of the music and lyrics of the final English arrangement are attributed to Henry Onorati ("Carol of de Drum", 1957) and Harry Simeone ("The little Drummer boy", 1958).

From 1950 it began to be interpreted by different authors, such as José Feliciano, who sang it in 1995 for the program 'Christmas at the Vatican' which is broadcast in Rome and is a special that was prepared for Pope John Paul II. In Spain, the Christmas carol is a classic in Raphael's musical career. After being translated into English this Christmas carol became popular in many regions and is a very traditional Christmas carol.


Its original lyrics are:

The road that leads to Bethlehem, 

down to the valley that the snow covered,

the little shepherds want to see their king,

They bring him gifts in their humble bag

to the Redeemer, to the Redeemer.

He is born in a Bethlehem portal

the Child God.


However, in its English translation it was changed to:

Come they told me

Pa rum pum pum pum pum

A new born King to see,

Pa rum pum pum pum pum

Our finest gifts we bring

Pa rum pum pum pum pum pum

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