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."