Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Little Drummer Boy (Reprise)

I wrote the following blog 4 years ago, and SOME PEOPLE (named Jeff) will not let me forget it. I decided it was about time to recycle it. Anything I have added is in bold. Here it is:

Christmas season is in full swing now. Everywhere you go, you here Christmas Carols (why do we call them "carols" instead of songs? Is it the alliteration thing?)

My favorite Christmas song is "O Holy Night." I also love "O Come All Ye Faithful." But I also like some of the lighter songs like "Let It Snow," "Winter Wonderland" and "It's Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas."

Now for my least favorite: "Little Drummer Boy." Now remember: I AM an ex-drummer. But the whole premise for this song just grates on me (please understand: most of my comments here are tongue in cheek You'll have to figure out which ones).

So here's this little Jewish boy in the 1st century -- walking around WITH A DRUM? And these wise men come up and say, "Come, see the newborn King." Right away, I am questioning whether they are wise men if they are inviting a little boy WITH A DRUM to come see a newborn baby. Imagine that, ladies. You've just given birth. "You have a visitor." "Who is it?" "It's a little boy WITH A DRUM. He wants to see you."

So, this little boy WITH A DRUM says, "I don't have anything to give. How 'bout I just lay a few paradiddles on you?" AND MARY NODS "YES"! Tell me any mother with a newborn who is going to let a little boy WITH A DRUM start jamming for her baby! What did he play? "Wipe out"?

And the sound of this drum drives me up a wall. "Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum." It sounds more like a plastic garbage can that's just been hit by a car at about 40 mph -- as it goes end over end down the street.

And get this: The ox and lamb kept time. Yeah, buddy. Those two incredible examples of rhythm from the animal kingdom. "Moo-moo-moo-moo-moo" and "Baa-baa-baa-baa-baa."

If this had really happened, I think it may have been enough to cause Jesus to reconsider. Oh, well -- I guess it could have been worse. Whoever came up with the idea for this song (written in the 60's, I think. That might explain a lot) could have called it "The Little Moog Synthesizer Boy." 'Come, they told me -- woo-WOO-woo-WOO-woo."

So, what's your favorite Christmas carol (song)?

2 comments:

Jeff said...

Who is that Jeff guy and why won't he leave you alone?

I wonder if Joseph might have been a drummer so Mary kind of dug it?

I wonder if the little boy was an ox and lamb whisperer who quieted the animals with his drum?

I wonder if the 3 wise men played guitars and they had a concert but the drummer was the main draw?

If you've never heard Asleep at the Wheel's version, give it a listen sometime. One of my favorite Christmas songs - right along with their rendition of Christmas in Jail.

Unknown said...

Well...

I can't believe it's been four years since you made known to us your disdain of this harmless little melody. I'm really neutral on this one-- I can take it or leave it. But, since that time, I have rarely not thought of you when I hear it. Pa-rum-pum-pum.

I think Jeff is somewhere in his psyche deeply offended that you care not for this song because he does seem to mention it fairly frequently.

As for me, I like "O Holy Night" also. My new favorite contemporary Christmas song is "How Many Kings?" by Down Here.