And so once again
  My dear Johnny my dear friend
  And so once again you are fightin' us all
  And when I ask you why
  You raise your sticks and cry, and I fall
  Oh, my friend
  How did you come
  To trade the fiddle for the drum
  
  You 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 star
  Oh, my friend
  What time is this
  To trade the handshake for the fist
  
  And 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 fall
  Oh, my friend
  How did you come
  To trade the fiddle for the drum
  
  You 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 star
  Oh my friend
  We have all come
  To fear the beating of your drum