key: Dapo 3rd fret: 
 
Verse 1 : 
I (D) went to see the preacher, to (A) teach me how to (D) pray 
He (G) looked at me and (D) smiled, then that (A) preacher turned away 
Said, "If you (D) want to tell him (G) something, you ain't (A) gotta fold  
your (D) hands. 
Say it with your (G) heart, your (A) soul, and believe (D) it, and I'll (A)  
say, Amen." 
 
Chorus: 
Bang a (D) drum for the sinners, bang a (A) drum for your (D) sins 
Bang a (G) drum for the (D) losers and (A) those who win 
Bang a (D) drum, bang it (G) loudly, or as (A) soft as you (D) need 
Bang a (G) drum for yourself (D) son, and a (A) drum for (D) me 
 
Verse 2 : 
Well I called upon my brother, just the other day 
He said, "Jon, I'm gonna die if I don't start to live again. 
I work each day and night like clockwork, just tryin' to make ends meet. 
Well I could kick this bad world's ass if I could just get on my feet." 
 
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 your brother, and a drum for me 
 
I (G) don't know where all the (A) rivers (D) run 
I don't (G) know how (D) far, I don't (A) know how come 
But (G) I'm gonna die (D) believin, with each (G) step that I (D) take 
Ain't worth the (G) ground that I (D) walk if we don't (A) walk it our own  
(Bm) way 
 
Verse 3 : 
I don't claim to be a wise man, a poet, or a Saint 
Just another man who's searchin' for a better way 
But my heart beats loud as thunder, for the things that I believe 
Sometimes I want to run for cover, sometimes I want to scream 
 
Bang a drum for the tomorrow, bang a drum for the past 
Bang a drum for heroes, who won't come back 
Bang a drum for the promise, bang a drum for the lies 
Bang a (G) drum for the (D) lovers, and the (A) tears they cry 
Bang a (D) drum bang it (G) loudly, or as (A) soft as you (D) need 
 
But as long as my (G) heart keeps on (D) banging, I've got a (A) reason to  
(D) believe