I went to see the preacher

To teach me how to pray

He looked at me and smiled

Then the preacher turned away

He said if you want to tell him something

You ain't gotta 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 the 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

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'd 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 believin'

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 Wiseman

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 wanna 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 bangin'

I got a reason to believe