Christmas Music: The Little Drummer Boy
Écrit en 1941, ce cantique de Christmas, inspiré d’une berceuse tchèque datant du XXe siècle, The Little Drummer Boy, se veut l’œuvre d’une enseignante, également compositeur de musique classique, du nom de Katherine K. Davis. À l’origine, il portait le titre de Carol of the Drum, et était destiné à une chorale amateur, constituée uniquement de jeunes filles. Enregistrée pour la toute première fois en 1955 par The Trapp Family Singers, il aura toutefois fallu attendre la version de la Chorale Harry Simeone produite en 1958, pour que la chanson connaisse enfin un certain succès.
The Little Drummer Boy se veut d’origine chrétienne, et les paroles contenues dans la chanson en constituent d’ailleurs la preuve. Elles racontent effectivement l’histoire d’un jeune garçon, issu d’un milieu défavorisé, convoqué par les mages à se rendre au berceau de Jésus, au jour de la Nativité. Ne pouvant offrir de gift, il a joué de son tambour tout au long de son parcours, dans l’espoir que la Vierge Marie approuve sa démarche. Par ailleurs, l’histoire ressemble étrangement à une légende du XIIe siècle, «Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame», racontée par Anatole France, laquelle fut ensuite adaptée en un opéra en 1902.
From its first broadcast, The Little Drummer Boy became very popular, and appeared on the American charts, a success that lasted for four consecutive years, from 1958 to 1962. Subsequently, it was reissued and recorded by many famous artists, such as Bing Crosby, Johnny Cash, Johnny Mathis, Andy William, Marlene Dietrich and Stevie Wonder. It was then translated into French under the title "L'enfant au tambour", and again, many singers lent their voices to it.
Youtube video
Youtube video
Youtube video
Youtube video
Lyrics (English version)
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 our King
Pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for you!
Pa rum 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
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.
Lyrics (French version)
On the road,
Pa-ram-pam-pam-pam
Little drummer goes away.
Pa-ram-pam-pam-pam
He feels his heart beating
Pa-ram-pam-pam-pam
To the rhythm of his steps
Pa-ram-pam-pam-pam-ram-pam-pam-pam
O little child,
Where are you going?
Yesterday my father
Pa-ram-pam-pam-pam
Followed the drum
Pa-ram-pam-pam-pam
The soldiers' drum
Pa-ram-pam-pam-pam
So I go to heaven
Pa-ram-pam-pam-pam
There I want to give for his return
My drum
All the angels
Pa-ram-pam-pam-pam
Took their beautiful drums
Pa-ram-pam-pam-pam
And said to the child
Your father is back
Pa-ram-pam-pam-pam
Pa-ram-pam-pam-pam
And the child wakes up
Pa-ram-pam-pam-pam
On his drum
On his drum
On his drum
On his drum
