Little Drummer Boy – English Lyrics

• By: for KING + COUNTRY
• Album: burn the ships

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a fantastic journey, and for KING & COUNTRY's 'Little Drummer Boy' offers a unique and powerful way to engage with English. The song's simple, repetitive lyrics make it easy to follow along and learn key phrases about giving and honor. What makes this version special is its incredible energy and the band's heartfelt performance, which brings the story of the little drummer boy to life in a way you've never heard before. It’s more than just a song; it’s an experience that will inspire you as you learn.

[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 (yeah, yeah, yeah)

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 a 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

Yeah, yeah, yeah

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

Me and my drum

me and my drum

yeah, me and my drum

All I can give

Oh, me and my drum

All I can give

is me and my drum, yeah

All I can give

is me and my drum

Me and my

Me and my drum

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
king /kɪŋ/ A2	noun - a male monarch
gift /ɡɪft/ A2	noun - something given voluntarily without payment in return
drum /drʌm/ A1	noun - a musical instrument played by beating verb - to play a drum
play /pleɪ/ A1	verb - to engage in activity for enjoyment
poor /pʊr/ A2	adjective - having little money
smile /smaɪl/ A2	verb - to make a facial expression of happiness
honor /ˈɒnər/ B1	verb - to regard with great respect
finest /ˈfaɪnɪst/ B2	adjective - of the highest quality
newborn /ˈnjuːbɔːrn/ B1	adjective - recently born

Key Grammar Structures

• Come, they told me pa rum pum pum pum

  ➔ Imperative sentence (command)

  ➔ The word "Come" is an "imperative," giving a direct command or invitation.

• a newborn king to see

  ➔ Infinitive phrase (to + verb)

  ➔ The phrase "to see" is an infinitive indicating purpose or intention.

• Our finest gifts we bring

  ➔ Comparative adjective + noun + conjugation (we bring)

  ➔ The phrase "finest gifts" uses the superlative adjective "finest" to describe the gifts.

• Shall I play for you

  ➔ Interrogative sentence with modal verb "shall"

  ➔ "Shall" is a modal verb used to make offers or suggestions, often in questions.

• Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum

  ➔ Simple past tense (nodded)

  ➔ "Nodded" is the past tense of "nod," indicating a completed action in the past.

• All I can give is me and my drum

  ➔ Modal verb "can" + base verb (give)

  ➔ "Can" expresses ability or capability to do something.

• me and my drum

  ➔ Pronoun + conjunction + noun phrase

  ➔ The phrase "me and my drum" is a coordinated noun phrase emphasizing the personal and direct relationship.