I went to see the preacher

To teach me how to pray

He looked at me and smiled

Then that preacher turned away

He said if you want to tell Him something

You ain't got to fold your hands

Say it with your heart, your soul and believe it

And I'd say "Amen"



Bang a drum for the sinners

Bang a drum for their sins

Bang a drum for the losers

And those who win

Bang a drum bang it loudly

Or as soft as you need

Bang a drum for yourself son

And a drum for me

Oh,

Say yeah, yeah

Hallelujah, amen



I called upon my brother

Just the other day

He said: "John I'm gonna die

If I don't start to live again

I work each day and night like clockwork

Just trying to make ends meet

I could kick this bad world's ass

If I could just get on my feet"



I…

Bang a drum for the dying

Bang a drum for the truth

Bang a drum for the innocence

Lost in our youth

Bang a drum bang it loudly

Or as soft as you need

Bang a drum for you brother

And a drum for me



I don't know where all the rivers run

I don't know how far, I don't know how come

But I'm gonna die believing

Each step that I take

Ain't worth the ground that I walk on

If we don't walk it

Our own way



No I don't claim to be a wise-man

A poet or a saint

I'm just another man who's searching

For a better way

But my heart beats loud as thunder

For the things that I believe

Sometimes I want to run for cover

Sometimes I want to scream



Bang a drum for tomorrow

Bang a drum for the past

Bang a drum for the heroes

That won't come back

Bang a drum for the promise

Bang a drum for the lies

Bang a drum for the lovers

And the tears they've cried

Bang a drum bang it loudly

Or as soft as you need

But as long as my heart keeps on banging

I got a reason… (I got a reason)

To believe

Yeah, yeah, oh, yeah

Yeah, hallelujah, amen

Say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh, yeah

Say yeah, yeah, hallelujah, amen

Yeah, yeah, yeah, oh, yeah

Say yeah, yeah, hallelujah, amen

Yeah girls, yeah brothers, yeah, oh, yeah

Say yeah, yeah, hallelujah, amen