[Verse 1]
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 gotta fold your hands
Say it with your heart, your soul and believe it
And I'd say amen

[Chorus]
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
Ooh, let me hear you say yeah (yeah), hallelujah, amen

[Verse 2]
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
[Chorus]
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

[Bridge]
I don't know where all the rivers run
I don't know how far, I don't know how come
Well 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 way

[Guitar solo] (ooh...)

[Verse 3]
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
[Chorus]
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 (I got a reason to believe)

[Outro]
(Yeah, yeah, oh yeah, yeah, hallelujah, amen)
Let me hear you say yeah (yeah) yeah (yeah) oh yeah
Let me hear you say yeah (yeah) hallelujah, amen
Come on now (yeah) yeah (yeah) oh yeah
Let me hear you say yeah (yeah) hallelujah, amen
All right girls (yeah) brother (yeah) yeah (yeah) oh yeah
Let me hear you say yeah (yeah) hallelujah, amen