The Little Drummer Boy

And it came to pass

that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus

that all the world should be taxed,

and all went to be taxed, everyone, to his own city,

for to disobey the Roman emperor meant certain death.

Oh, there were young people and old people.

There were the famous and mighty,

and some not yet known,

but whose names would eventually linger and be revered for all time.

There were good people who could ill afford

the cruel tax about to be imposed upon them,

and there were others.

Observe, Ali, the little drummer boy, Aaron.

Are those animals dancing, Ben Haramed?

They certainly are.

Faster, old friends. Faster.

You, Samson, smile.

And you, Bimbaba, be lighter, happier.

Oh, Joshua, you can do better.

Oh!

With this marvel in my show caravan, I will be as rich as Solomon.

But it is said Aaron dislikes all humans.

He will not join us willingly.

Fool! Why do you think we brought the rope?

Ah!

Let me go! Do you hear me? Let me go!

Get the camel!

Ah!

The lamb, you oaf! Grab the lamb!

How? I have only two hands!

Stop concerning yourself with details! Do it!

Drummer boy, you may not believe me,

but this is the luckiest day of your life.

(SINGING) Come, they told me.

Pa rum pum pum pum.

Our newborn king to see.

Pa rum pum pum pum.

Our finest gifts to bring.

Pa rum pum pum pum.

To lay before the king.

Pa rum pum pum pum Rum pum pum pum.

Rum pum pum pum.

So to honor him.

Pa rum pum pum pum.

When we come.

The little drummer boy, Aaron,

fought Ben Haramed and Ali with all his might.

He most definitely did not want to join the showman's caravan,

and journey into the crowded city.

For it was true. Aaron hated people, all people.

No! No! I won't go with you!

Stop struggling, boy!

There is money to be made.

We can be rich!

While those taxpayers are waiting to be counted,

they will grow bored.

They will crave the entertainment which only I,

Ben Haramed, king of the desert showmen,

and, of course, you too, can provide.

But I do not want to go near that mob.

I hate people! All people!

And do you think I love people? (CHUCKLES)

What a beautiful world it would be without people.

But, alas, one must exist with people.

And indeed, it is better to be crowded and rich

than crowded and poor.

When the day is good And the wind is dry.

And the goose is hanging high

I can't work Like other men do.

When the goose is hanging high.

When the sun is bright In the big blue sky.

And the goose is hanging high.

The devil steals my heart away.

When the goose is hanging high.

Gold and silver on my mind.

Mischief in my soul

I want to live Like a rich man lives.

With life in my control.

When the day is bad And the wind is wet.

And the goose is flying low.

I've got to work Like other men do.

When is goose is flying low.

But when the day is good.

And the wind is dry.

And the goose is hanging high

I can't work Like other men do.

When the goose is hanging high.

When the goose is hanging high.

Oh, Ben Haramed was a wily, old desert jackal.

Only he could have talked Aaron into visiting the crowded city.

For you see, Aaron truly did hate all people.

Now, it wasn't always this way,

for Aaron was once a happy farm lad, the son of a shepherd.

Father! Mother!

And why this exceptional greeting today, my son?

Oh, no reason.

Happy birthday, Aaron.

Oh, father! Mother!

Did you bring me something?

I don't suppose this would interest you, young man?

A drum!

My very own drum! Oh, Father!

Try it out, Aaron!

And perhaps, because it was a gift of love,

the drum had an almost magical quality.

And the animals, when they heard it, began to dance to its sound.

But Aaron's happiness was to end all too soon,

for one night, bandits of the desert attacked.

What's going on out there?

Father!

But...

They burned the farm and took the sheep,

and Aaron's happy life had changed forever.

And so, Aaron roamed the land a lonely orphan,

his only friends, three of the farm animals who had escaped.

He vowed to hate all humans for what they had done to his family,

and he kept that vow.

Ah, Jerusalem at last.

Here, we shall make our fortune.

All these people.

A-ha! The rest of my show caravan.

Hello! Hello!

Jamilie, Meshaw!

Set up our performing carpets, and let us be on with the show.

Ladies and gentlemen, fellow taxpayers,

the day need not be all gloomy.

For I, Ben Haramed, king of the desert showmen,

have brought, at great expense,

direct from the palace of the Emperor of China,

the toast of royalty, Meshaw and Jamilie,

tumblers extraordinary!

Wonderful, wonderful!

Perhaps you will show your appreciation for such a performance.

Philistine!

And now, let's move it right along with Ali of Arabia,

greatest juggler under the stars.

Boy, you perform next.

The crowd is restless. You must appease them.

Are you ready?

I'm ready.

No, no. Smile. Smile!

See, only a smile pleases the crowd.

Smile. Smile!

I cannot. Not at them.

You stubborn little fool! Then wear a painted one.

There. That's better.

When do I go on?

Now, before the dope juggles me out of my life savings!

You never heard a lion laugh.

You never saw a gator grin.

A goose in a gaggle Never gives a giggle.

Why can't the animals smile?

You never saw a smiling frog.

A tickled lamb, a happy hog.

A lighthearted camel, A merry old mammal.

Why can't the animals smile?

A barrel of monkeys, A pack of silly donkeys.

An elephant, a caribou.

Have never been heard To chuckle a word.

Or twitter like people do.

You never heard a mouse guffaw.

A crow that did Much more than caw.

Is an eagle too regal Or is it all illegal?

Why can't the animals smile?

Why can't the animals smile?

More! More! More! More!

You heard them! More! More!

Don't let them get away before I pass the hat!

But as Aaron looked at the faces of the cheering mob,

a great rage rose up inside him.

How dare they laugh and be happy

after what their kind did to his family?

Stop! Quiet!

I hate you all for what you did!

You're all preying thieves and bandits and knaves and...

Run for it!

And so, the troupe was chased out of Jerusalem by the mob.

Boy, you shall pay for this indignity.

Ben Haramed! Look!

By the hounds of heaven, it is the caravan of a king!

We're in luck!

Can I believe my luck? Two kings!

Hold me up! Three!

Three kings!

And behold, there came wise men from the East,

Three kings of the Orient,

and lo, the star which they saw went before them.

Yes, it was the Star of Bethlehem which shone so brightly

and graced the lonely darkening desert with its silver light.

But the little troupe did not see the star's beauty,

for the souls of Ben Haramed and Ali

were too filled with greed,

and the heart of Aaron too overflowing with hatred,