The little drummer boy - Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati & Harry Simeone

Translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 19 October 2006, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

EXPLANATION OF THE GLOSSING SYSTEM
(to understand how I describe the signs in this translation).

1. COME-ON, THEY-rt TELL ME.
PA-RUM-PA-PUM-PUM
WE VISIT RECENT BORN KING.
PA-RUM-PA-PUM-PUM
WE BRING OUR BEST TO HIM-lf.
PA-RUM-PA-PUM-PUM
GIFT-TO-lf WHY? HONOR-lf KING.
PA-RUM-PA-PUM-PUM
RUM-PA-PUM-PUM
RUM-PA-PUM-PUM

IMPORTANT HONOR-lf HIM-lf
PA-RUM-PA-PUM-PUM
WHILE WE APPROACH-lf.

2. BABY JESUS,
PA-RUM-PA-PUM-PUM
ME POOR BOY SAME-AS-you.
PA-RUM-PA-PUM-PUM
PRECIOUS THINGS ME HAVE-NONE.
PA-RUM-PA-PUM-PUM
NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU KING.
PA-RUM-PA-PUM-PUM
RUM-PA-PUM-PUM
RUM-PA-PUM-PUM

DO-YOU-MIND ME PERFORM FOR YOU?
PA-RUM-PA-PUM-PUM
PERFORM MY DRUM?

3. MARY SMILE NOD.
PA-RUM-PA-PUM-PUM
COW, LAMB LIKE RHYTHM.
PA-RUM-PA-PUM-PUM
ME PERFORM DRUM FOR HIM-lf.
PA-RUM-PA-PUM-PUM
PERFORM MY BEST FOR HIM-lf.
PA-RUM-PA-PUM-PUM
RUM-PA-PUM-PUM
RUM-PA-PUM-PUM

HIT, HE-lf LOOK-AT-me SMILE.
PA-RUM-PA-PUM-PUM
WHY? ENJOY DRUM.


Notes: COME-ON - (2h)[B^] move in circles pivoting at the wrists to beckon someone to do something.

THEY - Underlined words are honorific indices ("indexes"), using the FT of the upturned palm to indicate who is being honored.

PA-RUM-PA-PUM-PUM - Mime playing the drum in rhythm with your mouthing of the words "pa rum pa pum pum".

GIFT-TO - (2h)[X], POs ><, FOs up, nod downwards at wrist to show that something is given as a gift.

APPROACH - (2h)[B], FOs up, DH PO away, ND is held in front of NDH and palm faces it, then both hands approach one another slightly.

PRECIOUS - (2h)[5:], hold FTs by the sides of the chin and move down while maintaining contact and closing to (2h)[S].

HAVE-NONE - (2h)[B], POs > signer move upwards past mouth and swing upwards and apart while mouth blows on hands as they pass.

DO-YOU-MIND - Touch index finger to nose and swivel it away twice while arm stays in place.

NOD - Sign YES while nodding head.

RHYTHM - (2h)[B] taps fingers against upturned wrist in the same position as taking someone's pulse.

HIT - DH fist suddenly strikes NDH [1], PO > DS, FO up.

Lyrics:

1. Come, they told me
pa rum pa pum pum
A new born King to see
pa rum pa pum pum
Our finest gifts to bring
pa rum pa pum pum
To lay before the King
pa rum pa pum pum
rum pa pum pum
rum pa pum pum

So to honor Him
pa rum pa pum pum
when we come.

2. Little baby
pa rum pa pum pum
I am a poor boy, too.
pa rum pa pum pum
I have no gift to bring
pa rum pa pum pum
That's fit to give a King
pa rum pa pum pum
rum pa pum pum
rum pa pum pum

Shall I play for you
pa rum pa pum pum
on my drum?

3. Mary nodded
pa rum pa pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time.
pa rum pa pum pum
I played my drum for Him.
pa rum pa pum pum
I played my best for Him.
pa rum pa pum pum
rum pa pum pum
rum pa pum pum

Then he smiled at me,
pa rum pa pum pum
Me and my drum.

treble clef as a symbol for musicTo hear the music (without words), go to The little drummer boy and click on "Melody."

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