Thursday December 23, 2021 “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” Bing Crosby/David Bowie

This is one of my favorite Christmas performances not so much for combining these songs, a Christmas classic and a sweet version of Jesus’ birth through the eyes of a drummer boy, but more from one of the most unlikely duos ever conceived: classic, aged, crooner Bing Crosby and emerging rock god David Bowie.

 Today’s video comes from a Bing Crosby Christmas TV show and the set-up is fun with mentions of ‘old-timers’ like John Lennon and Harry Nilsson. Apparently Bowie agreed to the appearance because his mum was a big Bing Crosby fan. A good son.

The original version of "The Little Drummer Boy” was recorded by the Harry Simeone Chorale and was released around Christmas every year from 1958-1962, and it made the US Top 40 all five years and has become a holiday classic.
Stay safe and well...and who would have imagined that this unusual duet would work so well.

Come they told me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

A newborn king to see pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum

 Peace on Earth, can it be? (Come they told me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)

Years from now, perhaps we'll see? (A newborn king to see pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)

See the day of glory (our finest gift we bring pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)

See the day, when men of good will (to lay before the king pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)

Live in peace, live in peace again (rum-pum-pum-pum)

Peace on Earth (so to honor him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)

Can it be (when we come)

 Every child must be made aware

Every child must be made to care

Care enough for his fellow man

To give all the love that he can

 I pray my wish will come true (little baby pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)

For my child and your child too (I stood beside him there pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)

He'll see the day of glory (I played my drum for him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)

See the day when men of good will (I played my best for him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)

Live in peace, live in peace again (rum-pum-pum-pum)

Peace on Earth (then he smiled at me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)

Can it be (me and my drum)

 Can it be