I Want to See the Parade

Tom T. HallTom T. Hall 

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Tom T. Hall

Thomas "Tom T." Hall (born May 25, 1936, in Olive Hill, Kentucky) is a retired American country music singer-songwriter. He has written 11 No. 1 hit songs, with 26 more that reached the Top 10, including the No. 1 international pop crossover smash "Harper Valley PTA" and the hit "I Love", which reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. He became known to fans as "The Storyteller," thanks to his storytelling skills in his songwriting. more »

Year:

1971

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 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

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."

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer