Posted on by Bob Pardue

Richie Petrie: Little Drummer Boy Video

A Christmas Favorite – Riche Petrie Sings The Little Drummer Boy on Video

This is one of my favorite renditions of the classic Christmas song; The Little Drummer Boy.

Larry Matthews doesn’t have a polished singing voice but he presents the lyrics in a simple, yet powerful way.

Lets listen as he sings this piece beautifully. And remember why we celebrate Christmas!

In Christ,

Bob

🙂  P.S. If you want to sing along with Ritchie, see the Little Drummer Boy lyrics below..

Lyrics to Little Drummer Boy..

“Little Drummer Boy”

Come they told me Pa rum pum pum pum
A new born king to see, Pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we 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.
Little baby Pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, Pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring Pa rum pum pum pum
That’s fit to give our king Pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Shall i play for you! Pa rum pum pum
On my drum.
Mary nodded Pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for him Pa rum pum pum
I played my best for him Pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Then he smiled at me Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.
Mary nodded Pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for him Pa rum pum pum
I played my best for him Pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Then he smiled at me Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum

 

Richie Petrie (aka Larry Mathews) performs an inspired rendition of “The Little Drummer Boy” from the Dick Van Dyke Show Christmas Special (Season 3, Episode 13) “The Alan Brady Show Presents…”

25 thoughts on “Richie Petrie: Little Drummer Boy Video”

  1. You’re welcome.
    I’ve always thought Larry Matthews was a great little child actor and while not in any way a professional singer, his LDB is heartfelt and sincere! I love it.

  3. @LinusandSally I don’t blame you, it is a classic and one of my few favorites that I NEED to hear over the holidays. It doesn’t seem like Christmas with out “Little Drummer Boy” and Larry “Rosebud” Mathews’ version gives everyone a warm & fuzzy. I hope your Christmas was good.

  4. i can just imagine the reactions from rob and laura backstage :’) this was the sweetest part ever!! 🙂 it was greast because it was so unexpexted! 🙂 GAAAAHHH I LOVE IT!!

  5. @larchmontmark I couldn’t say it better myself! It is how it was sung by kids in school and is precious. I love it and am glad you do too!

  6. I’ve been looking for this for a long time.. This makes me cry with joy.. I’m actually in tears.. Thank you for posting..

  11. @Jantv81 Thanks for commenting. I agree he was perfect as Ritchie and if you watch some of the episodes that consentrate on him he REALLY knocks it out of the park acting wise. If you watch the episode called “Never Name a Duck” it’s like watching a real kid. He is so emotional about the ducks and I get shivers watching his performance! In other episodes where he’s quite young he is quite good and is right on the mark with his lines and acts like just like a real little boy would!

  12. I actually get a bit misty eyed when watching “Never Name a Duck” because of his performance. He should have gotten an Emmy.
    The cast was terrific! They had an excellent chemistry.
    Thanks for commenting, and have a Very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

  13. He was wasn’t he? A cute little boy. He played a real boy so well!

    Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

  14. I do not remember seeing this show at the time as I was just a little kid too. I will say looking back as I watch Ritchie (Larry) singing “Little Drummer Boy” at that particular time (it was December 1963, about one month after JFK was assassinated) was appropriate and quite poignant. He did a super job.

  15. Thank you for this! This version is one of my favorites, and I’m too young to have seen it in the 60s.

    1. Yeah, me too.  Too young to see the original.  
      It is so heartfelt.  If it’s not too early, MERRY CHRISTMAS! 😀

  17. I remember seeing Larry on Oprah must have been 10 – 15 years back. He’s a big guy and had a beard. You would never recognise him. This was a stellar performance from the young tike

    1. .
      I saw a picture of him.  He’s a lot older and larger, but you can see Richie in the eyes!
      I think he was a really good little actor.  If you watch him in the episode, “Never Name a Duck” he gives a performance that should have gotten him an Emmy.  Amazing scenes.  You swear he was really upset and near tears!

    2. +Glenn Wheatcroft. Richie Petrie was played by Larry Matthews whose real name is Larry Mazzeo, he is not a big guy at all. He is about 5′ 6″ tall and a little stocky but not big. He is a personal friend of mine.

    4. +Mitch Cosentino Give him a big Thank-you from me. He always blew me away with his “acting”. He was SUCH a real little boy in TDVDS. I mentioned “Never Name a Duck” because I was almost in tears when he was so upset about the ducks. He was so natural on the show. Great actor. Tell him he made the show all the more sweeter and wonderful. He and MTM and DVD had such great chemistry!

  18. I heard many versions of this charming song. There are better technical productions but this is the most authentic version I ever heard: Wonderful!!!!

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