And so once again  My dear Johnny my dear friend  And so once again you are fightin' us all  And when I ask you why  You raise your sticks and cry, and I fall  Oh, my friend  How did you come  To trade the fiddle for the drum  You say I have turned  Like the enemies you've earned  But I can remember  All the good things you are  And so I ask you please  Can I help you find the peace and the star  Oh, my friend  What time is this  To trade the handshake for the fist  And so once again  Oh, America my friend  And so once again  You are fighting us all  And when we ask you why  You raise your sticks and cry and we fall  Oh, my friend  How did you come  To trade the fiddle for the drum  You say we have turned  Like the enemies you've earned  But we can remember  All the good things you are  And so we ask you please  Can we help you find the peace and the star  Oh my friend  We have all come  To fear the beating of your drum  © 1969 Siquomb Publishing Corp. (BMI)