A classic Christmas song recorded as a tribute to my late mother, Lydia Tse. Her birthday is on December 25th. The song was written by the American classical music composer and teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941, the same year that my mother was born.
I am honored to share this song in collaboration with an amazing team of artists and musicians for this first Christmas that we will celebrate without my sweet mom. May she be soaring and dancing to the drum of the Little Drummer Boy. Thank you for all your support and love. Wishing each of you a wonderful and safe Holiday season!
Song credits:
Written by Katherine Kennicott Davis
©EMI Mills Music Inc. and International Korwin Corp
Co-produced by Daphne Tse and Gayan Gregory Long
Engineered, mixed and mastered by James Tuttle at Etown studios in Boulder, Colorado
Musicians:
Daphne Tse: Lead vocal
Gayan Gregory Long: Drums, percussion, and background vocals
Yoshi Aono: Electric and Acoustic guitars
Marcy Baruch: Harmony vocals and vocal arrangements
Deborah Schmit-Lobis: Piano
Brent Kuecker: Bass
Ashley Johnson and Ellen Watson: Background vocals
Cover art by Tiko Kadota
Lyrics
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
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
Baby Jesus
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
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
Shall I play for you
Pa rum pum pum pum
Pa rum pum pum
Pum pum pum pum
Come they told me
Pa rum pum pum pum
A new born 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
Then he smiled at me
Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
credits