And so once again
My dear Johnny my dear friend
And so once again you are fighting us all
And when I ask you why
You raise your sticks and cry, and we fallOh, my friend how did you come
To trade the fiddle for the drumYou 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 starOh, my friend what time is this
To trade the handshake for the fistAnd 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 fallOh, my friend how did you come
To trade the fiddle for the drumYou 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 starOh my friend we have all come
To fear the beating of your drum