JOHN FORGOT TO SING (Pete Ham)

Wave your flag, you know he's coming

With a smile for you

Distant voices softly humming

Of the things he'll do


The mothers came

The fathers came

The bells began to ring

They knew it was a special day

And John forgot to sing


Horses hooves and people cheering

Only for a day

What's this strange new sound you're hearing

Can it always stay?


The miners came

The farmers came

The bells began to ring

They knew it was a special day

And John forgot to sing


Silently, they sat and waited

For his few kind words

Those who loved and those who hated

These few moments shared


The blacks were there

The whites were there

The bells began to ring

They knew it was a special day

And John began to sing.


©Bug Music Ltd.

lyrics transcribed by Tom Brennan and Dan Matovina