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
    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
    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
  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...)
    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 (I got a reason to believe)
    (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