- Written by
- Katherine K. Davis
- Composition date
- 1941
- Language
- English
- ISWC
-
T-072.411.933-8 ASCAP, ISWC, JASRAC
- Tags
- christmas song disputed credits
- Comments
-
Loosely based on a Czech carol, Katherine K. Davis first wrote and published 'Carol of the Drum' under the pseudonym of C.R.W. Robertson in 1941. The original manuscript is on display in Wellesley College, Massachusetts, where Davis once was a scholar.
Harry Onorati, the arranger for The Jack Halloran Singers' 1957 version, received a songwriting credit for his contribution. Onorati later shared the song with Harry Simeone, who recorded a version titled 'The Little Drummer Boy' using the same arrangement, which was released in December 1958. Simeone also received a songwriting credit. The title 'The Little Drummer Boy' has been most commonly used since then, and the Onorati/Simeone arrangement remains very popular. - Not to be confused with
-
Little Drummer Boy
- Published by
-
EMI MILLS MUSIC INC
ASCAP
- Licensing
- Request a synchronization license
Adaptations
An adaptation is a musical work, which uses elements (music or lyrics) from another musical work.
-
Carol of the Drum written by Katherine K. Davis English 1941
- Malý bubeník written by Zdeněk Borovec Czech 1967
- Tambor written by Pavel Vrba Czech November 8, 2010
- Den lille trommesla'r written by Thøger Olesen Danish 1963
- Trommedrengen written by Óli Poulsen Danish October 2009
- Kleine trommelaar written by Nelly Byl, Bob Davidse Dutch 1968
- De kleine trommelaar written by Gert Timmerman Dutch 1975
- Jochie met een trommeltje written by Marijke van Demer Dutch 1977
- A-rum-a-dum-dum written by Walter Grootaers, Jan Van Eyken, Erik Wauters Dutch January 1987
- Met de kleine trom written by Jan Rot Dutch 2007
- Wreck a Pum Pum written by Coxsone Dodd English 1969
- Drummer Boy written by Mike Hill [US] English 1990 — New rap verses
- The Little Summer Calf written by John Olson, Terry Esau English 1992
- Rummy Rocker Boy written by Bob Rivers, Joe Bryant, Spike O'Neill English 1997
- Little Drummer Boy Next Door written by Ray Stevens, Buddy Kalb, Paul Alter English May 1997
- Swingin' Drummer Boy written by Ray Benson [US2] English September 30, 1997
- Little Bargain Boy written by Easy Irving English 1998
- Little Hummer Girl written by unknown author(s) English 1999
- Little Drummer Boy written by Clarence Reid English November 2, 1999 — explicit parody lyrics
- The Little Hooters Girl written by Bob Rivers, Joe Bryant, Spike O'Neill English October 1, 2002
- Boogie Boy (Little Drummer Boy) written by Robert Lucas English 2007
- Little Drummer Boy (My King Is Here) written by unknown author(s) English November 4, 2016
- Pikku rumpalipoika written by Reino Helismaa Finnish 1964
- Pieni rumpali written by Hilkka Norkamo Finnish
- L'enfant au tambour written by Georges Coulonges French December 1960
- Der Trommelmann written by Georg Buschor German 1964
- Little Drummer Boy [German] written by Peter Alexander German November 1985
- Weihnacht fängt an written by Wolfgang Petry, Norbert Zucker, Pit Löw, Holger Obenaus, Phil Yarden German 1998
- Ο μικρός τυμπανιστής {O mikrós tympanistís} written by Kiki Kapsaski Greek, Modern (1453-)
- The Little Drummer Boy written by Mary Kawena Pukui Hawaiian 1965
- Litli trommuleikarinn written by Stefán Jónsson [IS1] Icelandic 1964
- Il piccolo tamburino written by Al Bano, Romina Power Italian 1991
- La canción del tamborilero written by Manuel Clavero Spanish 1965
- El pequeño tamborilero written by unknown author(s) Spanish 1967
- Den lille trumslagarpojken written by Ingela Forsman Swedish 2001
- Mitt hjärta slår för dig written by Charlotte Nilsson, Juris Salmins Swedish 2008
- Trumslagarpojken written by Leif Nilsson Swedish