Tom T Hall I Want To See The Parade Lyrics


3.I Want To See The Parade

Hold me up, i want to see the parade

There was a demonstration in our town, quiet but very tense
I've always been a bit nosy, so i guess that's the reason i went
There were people carrying signs that said, 'we want equality
now.'
And i thought to myself, 'boy, look at that will you. look what
the law allows.'

A little girl and her mother were standing up next to the curb
The little girl said, 'mommy, i can't see the parade', and it
happened that i heard
The woman who was with the little girl was small, and when she
turned and smiled
I thought i'd do them a favor, so i offered to hold the child

When i held the little girl in my arms, i was glad of the offer
i'd made
She said, 'thank you, mister, for holding me up; i wanted to see
the parade.'
Then she asked me a question, and it took me by surprise
She said, 'mister, why does my daddy hate all those people going
by?'

I said, 'well you know they're not the same--but listen to me'
And i noticed that the child was blind, so i looked around for
an answer; it was pretty hard to find
So i set her down by her mama's side and i patted her on the
head
And that night as i sat in my own little room, i thought of the
words she said

And that night, i took a good look at myself, and this is the
prayer i prayed
I said, 'lord, i want you to hold me up, 'cause i want to see
the parade.'