Bang A Drum

(Lyrics & Music by: Jon Bon Jovi)

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 said amen

Bang a drum for the sinners
Bang a drum for his 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 lying
Bang a drum for the truth
Bang a drum for the innosence
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 believing
Each step that I take
Ain't worth the ground that we walk on
If we don't walk it our own way

Now I don't claim to be a wyseman
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 banging
I got a reason to believe

Drums: KENNY ARONOFF
Bass: RANDY JACKSON
Organ: BENMONT TENCH
Guitar: WADDY WACHTEL
Acoustic guitar & keyboards: ALDO NOVA
Guitar: DANNY KORTCHMAR
Guitar solo: JEFF BECK
12 string acoustic guitar & vocals: JON BON JOVI
Backing vocals: MYRNA MATTHEWS, JULIA WATERS, MAXINE WATERS
(c) 1990 Bon Jovi Publishing / PRI Music, Inc. (ASCAP)