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