I got the news today
That you refused to play
'Cause you never made number one
But it's not just the words

It's the deeds that are heard
When all is said and done
Kings take their crowns
They melt them all down

Trying to get the gold out
You went to hell and
Even when you weren't selling
You never ever sold out

You weren't no leader
You were more like a bleeder
Who was trying to cry for us all
You weren't no sage

But your sense of outrage
Sounded like a trumpet call
Fifteen years ago
In the old folky show

You were just one voice in the crowd
But now with so few singing
Your voice would have been ringing
Out 'bout twice as loud

There but for fortune
Say a small circle of friends
Some may see the changes
So, few see the ends

The pleasures of the harbor
Have come to you at last
You may not be marching anymore
But the parade's still going past

I'm not taking the blame
That we killed you
You know you did that to yourself
But it was kind of a shame

That you played that game
'Cause you were better than anyone else
One shot of your bottle
Got you full throttle

It was the friend that was always there
But your greatest gift
And the curse you lived with
Was that you could always care



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The Parade's Still Passing By Lyrics as written by Harry F. Chapin

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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The Parade's Still Passing By song meanings
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    General Comment

    I got the news today That you refused to play Cause you never made number one But it's not just the words It's the deeds that are heard When all is said and done Kings take their crowns They melt them all down Trying to get the gold out You went to hell and Even when you weren't selling You never ever sold out.

    You weren't no leader You were more like a bleeder Who was trying to cry for us all You weren't no sage But your sense of outrage Sounded like a trumpet call Fifteen years ago In the old folky show You were just one voice in the crowd But now with so few singing Your voice would have been ringing Out 'bout twice as loud.

    There but for fortune Say a small circle of friends Some may see the changes So few see the ends The pleasures of the harbor Have come to you at last You may not be marching anymore But the parade's still going past

    I'm not taking the blame That we killed you You know you did that to yourself But it was kind of a shame That you played that game Cause you were better than anyone else One shot of your bottle Got you full throttle It was the friend that was always there But your greatest gift And the curse you lived with Was that you could always care.

    SweetCheeks2on February 26, 2012   Link

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