Little Drummer Boy – English Lyrics

• By: Pentatonix

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful and enjoyable experience, and Pentatonix's 'Little Drummer Boy' offers a unique opportunity to explore English. The song's repetitive 'pa rum pum pum pum' makes it easy to sing along, while the clear and emotive storytelling in the lyrics provides a great way to learn new vocabulary and understand narrative structure. What makes this version special is the incredible range of sounds created by the human voice alone, from the deep bass notes to the intricate beatboxed drum patterns. It's a testament to creativity and a joyful way to engage with the English language.

[English]

"Come", they told me

Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

A newborn 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

Pum-pum-pum-pum

Pa-rum-pum-pum

Pum-pum-pum-pum

Pa-rum-pum-pum

Pum-pum-pum-pum

Pa-rum-pum-pum

Pum-pum-pum-pum

Pa-rum

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-pum

Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

Pum-pum-pum-pum

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

Pum-pum-pum-pum

Pa-rum-pum-pum

Pum-pum-pum-pum

Pa-rum-pum-pum

Pum-pum-pum-pum

Pa-rum-pum-pum

Pum-pum-pum-pum

Oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh, oh

...

Oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh, oh

...

Oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh, oh

...

Oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh, oh

...

Come, they told me

Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

A newborn King to see

Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

Me and my drum

Me and my drum

Me and my drum

Me and my drum

Rum-pum-pum-pum

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
come /kʌm/ A1	verb - to move or travel towards a place
king /kɪŋ/ A1	noun - a male monarch
gift /ɡɪft/ A2	noun - something given to someone without payment
play /pleɪ/ A1	verb - to engage in activity for enjoyment
drum /drʌm/ A1	noun - a musical instrument played by beating verb - to play a drum
baby /ˈbeɪ.bi/ A1	noun - a very young child
poor /pʊr/ A2	adjective - having little money
smile /smaɪl/ A2	verb - to make a facial expression of happiness
finest /ˈfaɪ.nɪst/ B1	adjective - of the highest quality
honor /ˈɒn.ər/ B2	verb - to regard with great respect

Key Grammar Structures

• "A newborn King to see"

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose

  ➔ "to see" indicates the purpose of "a newborn King" — why he is brought or present.

• "I am a poor boy too"

  ➔ Use of "too" for addition or agreement

  ➔ "Too" indicates that the singer is also a poor boy, showing agreement or addition.

• "I have no gift to bring"

  ➔ Use of "no" with noun to indicate negation or absence

  ➔ "No gift" indicates the absence of any gift, emphasizing humility and lack.

• "Shall I play for you?"

  ➔ Use of "shall" to make a polite offer or suggestion, especially in questions

  ➔ "Shall" is used here to politely offer playing the drum, making the question more formal and courteous.

• "The ox and lamb kept time"

  ➔ Past simple tense to describe a completed action

  ➔ "Kept" is the past tense of "keep", indicating that the ox and lamb maintained the rhythm or time during the play.

• "Then He smiled at me"

  ➔ Simple past tense to indicate completed action in the past

  ➔ "Smiled" is the past tense of "smile", showing that the smile happened after the drum playing, reflecting a completed action.

• "Me and my drum"

  ➔ Use of conjunction "and" to connect two nouns

  ➔ "Me and my drum" connects the singer and his instrument, emphasizing their relationship in the performance.