Verse 1
Ridin’ down a dirt road, cold December night
Stars hang low like lanterns, pale in silver light
Heard about a baby born in a cattle stall
A King without a kingdom, no crown at all
Pre-Chorus
I ain’t got no gold to lay at His feet
Ain’t no silver in these worn-out jeans
Just this beat-up drum and a restless soul
And a rhythm that won’t let me go
Chorus
So I played my drum for Him, ba-rum-pa-pum-pum
Yeah I gave what I had, ba-rum-pa-pum-pum
In that quiet holy night, beneath a rising sun
I played my heart out, ba-rum-pa-pum-pum
ba-rum-pa-pum-pum… ba-rum-pa-pum-pum
Verse 2
Boots by the manger, dust on the floor
Mama softly smiling, like she knew what for
Joseph in the shadows, steady and strong
And that little baby listenin’ to my song
Pre-Chorus
I felt outta place in that sacred scene
Just a broke-down drifter nobody’s seen
But I closed my eyes and I bowed my head
And let that rhythm say what I couldn’t say
Chorus
So I played my drum for Him, ba-rum-pa-pum-pum
Every scar and sin, ba-rum-pa-pum-pum
Let it echo through the hills where the lost ones run
I played redemption, ba-rum-pa-pum-pum
ba-rum-pa-pum-pum… ba-rum-pa-pum-pum
Bridge
Ain’t no choir, no angels singin’ over me
Just a backbeat ringin’ in the Tennessee breeze
But I swear that child, He looked my way
Like He heard every word I couldn’t say
Breakdown (half-time, gritty)
ba… rum… pa… pum… pum…
Kick drum thumpin’ like a loaded gun
ba… rum… pa… pum… pum…
Heartbeat louder than the outlaw run
Final Chorus
Yeah I played my drum for Him, ba-rum-pa-pum-pum
With these calloused hands, ba-rum-pa-pum-pum
And He smiled at me like I was the only one
When I laid it down, ba-rum-pa-pum-pum
ba-rum-pa-pum-pum… ba-rum-pa-pum-pum
Outro
Ridin’ on at sunrise, but I ain’t the same
Left that stable with a different name
Still got this drum and a rebel heart
But I found my King in a cattle yard
ba-rum-pa-pum-pum… ba-rum-pa-pum-pum…