The greatest gift is a portion of yourself.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
At this time of year with Christmas days away instead of weeks, some of us may wonder how we’re going to get everything done with time enough to enjoy the visits and special events. I’ve got a few busy days to get things ready for fun times with my family as we celebrate Christmas. One way to keep the true spirit of Christmas in mind is through music. I hope you’ve enjoyed my Christmas music posts with my history of “Mary Did You Know” and “O Holy Night.” Those are both favorite songs, but another song I love to hear at Christmastime is “The Little Drummer Boy.” So I delved into the origin and history of that song to share with you all tonight.
First I found out that “The Little Drummer Boy” isn’t an old song like many of our favorites that go back into the 1800’s or even farther back. The song didn’t become well known until the late 1950’s and then into the 1960’s and of course, forever since.
Katherine Davis, born in 1892, in Missouri wrote “The Little Drummer Boy.” Katherine learned piano as a child and began writing songs while she was still in elementary school. She composed her fist serious song at the age of fifteen and due to the encouragement she got from those who liked that song, she decided to make music her career. In that era, few women even graduated from high school, but Davis took a train a thousand miles to enroll in Wellesley College in Massachusetts. After graduation, she stayed as a music teacher where she often wrote two or more songs a week.
When World War II broke out in Europe, Davis, in order to push away the horrors of war, began to study French and English folktales as she longed for simpler and more peaceful times. One of those folk stories taught the moral that a gift of love from a poor person was worth more than a bag of gold given by someone wealthy. That makes me think of the story of the widow’s offering in Luke 21:1-4 where Jesus taught this truth. Davis personally knew the value of these types of gifts because in her years of teaching, she had appreciated the hugs and sincere thanks students from poor families had given her.
She had lived through the Great Depression when many weren’t able to buy Christmas things and instead, made homemade gifts for their loved ones. Davis was convinced that the simple gifts from someone with no material wealth were the most beautiful gifts of all. Those thoughts inspired her to sit down and write a simple song about a poor child coming to visit Jesus in the manger with no gift to bring except his talent of playing his drum. She titled the poem “The Carol of the Drum.”
The song didn’t have immediate success. The Trapp Family Singers recorded the song, but at that time the von Trapps were still virtually unknowns since their story in The Sound of Music had not yet brought them fame. Their recording of “The Carol of the Drum” went practically unnoticed.
Almost two decades later, Harry Simeone searched for a new song to add to a Christmas album he was recording for Twentieth Century Fox Records and found Davis’s song. He changed the music arrangement a bit to have the drumbeat in the song made by voices instead of the piano. He felt the changes were different enough that he asked Davis’s approval of what he’d done, changed the name of the song to “The Little Drummer Boy,” and added his name as a co-writer. Fox records released the song in November of 1958 along with songs that had nothing to do with Christmas. These included Elvis Presley’s “Hard Headed Woman” and “Yakety Yak” by the Coasters. In spite of being mixed in with those songs, “The Little Drummer Boy” became a Christmas hit and for the next four years was in the top 40 each Christmas. By 1962, the song had been recorded by more than 100 different singers and been adapted into an animated movie. Bing Crosby, who had been offered the song when Davis first wrote it and turned it down, did record it these years later, the last Christmas song he ever recorded.
Katherine Davis suddenly achieved fame at the age of seventy after working most of her life writing songs without public notice. She left all the royalties from the songs she composed, including “The Little Drummer Boy” to Wellesley’s College of Music, where she had taught so many young people the love of music. The royalties for “The Little Drummer Boy” have given many students who needed scholarship help the ability to attend the private college and study music.
Some things happen in the Lord’s good time. And this song must be one of those times. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve been singing those drumbeats all afternoon as I thought about sharing this story. My resource for much of the information was Stories Behind the Greatest Hits of Christmas by Ace Collins.
Have you ever given or received a gift that cost no money but that came from the heart?
Giveaway
One more week to have a chance to win one of my books. Sandi Keaton-Wilson was last week’s winner. I appreciate all of you who have been commenting on my posts and I hope if you are subscribed to the comments my answers to those comments haven’t been a bother. All you have to do to be in the drawing for this week’s book is leave a comment on this post or my one on Wednesday. I do hope you will have a beautiful Christmas with your family and friends. May you be surrounded with peace as joy fills your hearts.
Comments 21
I so loved reading how the song of the Little Drummer Boy came to be. It is such a sweet song. I never heard it once this Christmas and why I do not know. I know a cartoon of the Little Drummer Boy was made for Christmas, too. My children, whom are grown now, used to watch it on television. Where did those days go? Christmas was special this year as we were together with all our children. 28 years had passed since this has happened. It was indeed a Merry Christmas and I hope you had a very Merry Christmas, also. May your New Year be Bright!
Author
That’s wonderful that all your children were together for Christmas this year, Eileen. Life does sometimes send our kids in different directions when they fly away from the nest. I’m fortunate that my kids live close enough, although some live in different states, that they came come home for Christmas. We had a good day with them yesterday, but I have to admit to being tired today. Grammy isn’t as young as she used to be. LOL. But I’m blessed to be a mom and grandmom.
I didn’t hear much Christmas music except at a Christmas play my granddaughter was in. A family group sang before the play, all kids. I think the oldest was maybe 13 or 14, the youngest maybe 8. There were 5 kids I heard and they had a little brother of 4 who was sick and not able to come that day. They sang without music and did a great job singing The Little Drummer Boy.
Thanks for sharing this! The Little Drummer Boy has been one of my (many) favorites the last few years. I had no idea the Trapp Family singers sang it, or that it’s relatively new— as far as Christmas songs go! Merry Christmas!
Author
I didn’t know any of the history behind the song either, Carol, until I read about it. It might be interesting to hear that first version the Trapp Family recorded. It would be different from the one we have heard so often.
This was one of my dad’s favorite songs. Thank you for the story behind it.
Author
I’m guessing that every time you hear that song at Christmas, you think of your dad, Diana. Music is such a trigger for memories. That may be why we love it so much.
I have always liked the “The Little Drummer Boy” but did not know the history. Thanks for sharing. Glad the writer finally got recognized for writing the song. I love to listen to the Christmas songs at this special time of the year.
Author
Many times we don’t consider the writers of songs unless they are also the singers too, Brenda. Especially when we are thinking about more modern songs. It takes a special talent to write a song that touches people’s hearts or makes their toes start tapping.
Author
Darlene, Elizabeth and Linda Diane, I’m glad you enjoyed reading about the song. The Little Drummer Boy is one I always enjoy hearing in Christmas music.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas week. Joy to the World!!
I have always loved this song and it’s nice to know the history behind it! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Have never heard this backstory. Thanks for sharing. I love the catchy beat of this song and the great message ❣️🥁
We have an animated bear that is dressed as the drummer boy and plays the drum as the song plays. It was one of my daughters favorite Christmas decorations when she was small. Thank you for the story behind this song…and now it is playing in my head! 🙂
Author
Of course it is, Hope. Mine too. But there are worse songs to have running through your head. It’s sort of fun doing that drum roll. 🙂 That sounds like a perfect fun decoration for a youngster to enjoy.
I never knew the backstory of The Little Drummer Boy. Thank you for sharing; it was interesting! Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
I love this backstory for one of my favorite Christmas songs!
I agree that the best gifts are those given from the heart. Years ago when I was a Girl Scout leader, my troop created coupon books for their friends and family. Each book had coupons for things like A Free Hug, Doing The Dishes, Letting Little Brother Choose a TV Program….all sorts of freebies.
The concept must have been a hit, because I received several coupons from those girls, as well as from my own children over the years. There’s nothing quite as good as having the laundry folded or the dishes done without a fuss.
I hope you and your family have a wonderfully blessed Christmas, Ann.
Author
My kids did that when they were in school once, Lavon. Not sure I ever cashed in many of the coupons, but it was a sweet project. Sounds as though you made it work with your Girl Scout troop. I bet you were the best leader ever.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Hi Ann, I loved learning about the history behind “The Little Drummer Boy.” Thanks so much for sharing and merry almost Christmas! I receive the gift of love daily from my family, friends,and My Amazing Dream Team! 😊 🎄Luke 1 & 2🎄
One year for Valentine’s day my hubby made little hearts and placed them around the house and hand made me a card. It was the best gift ever.
Author
Emily, I’m glad you enjoyed learning more about the song. I’m sure that those who give you that gift of love daily receive a gift of love back. Your Dream Team is amazing. It will be great when you have your book finished so more people can know your story.
Jan, that is the sweetest gift. I can see why it was the best gift ever for you.
I have given gifts of service–visiting a lonely shut-in, volunteering to do the grocery shopping for someone recovering from surgery, etc. It’s really quite uplifting, and the friend for whom I grocery shopped frequently tells others about it so I know that it was meaningful to her.
Author
That’s wonderful, Suzanne. More of us should seek out ways to bless others as you have. It’s a double win when we do gift someone our time and help, since it nearly always blesses us the same as them.