Puzzled by an Old Christmas Song

Must be the king that has the drummer boy.

 

Not really sure about that one... I did look up what wikipedia had to say on it and thought it was quite interesting...

From Wikipedia---
The lyrics tell the apocryphal story of a poor young boy who, unable to afford a gift for the infant Jesus, plays his drum for the newborn with the Virgin Mary's approval. The story is somewhat similar to an old twelfth-century legend retold by Anatole France as Le jongleur de Notre-Dame (The Juggler of Notre Dame), which was adapted into an opera in 1902 by Jules Massenet. In the French legend, however, a juggler juggles before the statue of the Virgin Mary. In The Little Drummer Boy, a drummer boy plays on his drum for the newborn Baby Jesus.

 

OK this is not The Little Drummer Boy.
It is a unique song written as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Its author probably was not concerned with strict biblical accuracy. He may have been drawing on Christmas traditions from his childhood in France or may not have read "the rest of the story" in Matthew 2: in verse 8, Herod seems eager to worship the child.

 

Ok...I just realized that I looked up the wrong song. My bad! I saw the second post talking about the drummer boy and it got the wrong title in my head. Figures huh.... :laugh:

I will continue to read on the OP song. Your question has intrigued me! I'm very curious now. You see what you started!!!! hehehehe

 

I found what Jerome must have found on the song. Check out the following site that has the history of the song.

http://www.christmaswithlove.com/doyou.html

 

I always assumed it was another kingdom... with a different king. Kinda strange now that I think about it, huh?

 

I think the king talked about here was the king if Egypt.

 

Maybe the king is supposed to be one of the wise men.

 

Noel Regney's obituary.

Vanessa Williams did a medley of Do You Hear What I Hear/The Little Drummer Boy on her Star Bright CD.

 

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
do you know what I know
In your palace warm, mighty king,
do you know what I know
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold

Let us bring Him silver and gold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Said the king to the people everywhere,
listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people everywhere!
listen to what I say.

The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light
:tonofbricks:

I always took the king to mean that kings would proclaim to their people that when Christ truly reigns, there will be peace, goodness, and light: as in the Millineum and in a "perfect world" if only the world and individuals worold wide had truly followed Christ.

 

A Puzzling Christmas Song

This is just part of the maze of conundrums which have come from "religious traditions of men", not the least of which is the "Mass of Christ". A "properly authorized" priest proclaims some magical words and wine turns into blood and bread into flesh. The superstitions of man are always in conflict with the Word of God.

Sing psalms and other scripture--food for the spirit, not the flesh.

Choose wisely,

Bro. James

 

I have quietly lurked and learned a bit -- intrigued originally by the term "old" applied to a song that came out after my children were born. But that "turn of the century" coupled with Bing caused me to fall to the floor and roll in laughter. At my age, that's difficult!

Bing was born in 1903, not 1803!!

Darn, now I have to punch my medical alert so that I can get up.

 

I think it king in this song is a reference much like the song "We Three Kings".

Think about it for a sec.

The night wind to the lamb - direct proximity
The lamb to the Shepard boy - direct proximity (asking boy a question)
The boy to the mighty king - direct proximity (asking do you 'see' what I 'see')
The King to the people everywhere - direct proximity (everywhere he goes he speaks of this new king)

Does the last line sound familar of when the wise men (foriegn Kings) came into town, and asking around for this 'NEW' King.

After they had met and worshiped this King can you imagine who much more so they spoke of Him knowing the prophesies are true of what this KING will one day do?

That is my understanding of it.

*clink* That's my nickle in the tin can

 

Has anyone considered that the king could be the Burger King guy with the silly plastic head on the hamburger commericials? Wow---some people make Christmas so difficult, I mean if it said, "Said the clown to the people everywhere..." We would all know it was talking about Ronald McDonald!!:smilewinkgrin: :smilewinkgrin: :smilewinkgrin:

Bro Tony

 

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
do you know what I know
In your palace warm, mighty king,
do you know what I know
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold

Let us bring Him silver and gold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Said the king to the people everywhere,
listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people everywhere!
listen to what I say.

The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light.


I always believed that the "mighty" king in his warm palace was one of the magi who listened to the shepherd boy and as the song goes brings the real king, the baby in the manger, gifts. It's this real king that tells everyone everyone everywhere to pray for peace. The song is about how this little baby is the real King who will bring goodness and light to the world.