And so once again,
My dear Johnny, my dear friend,
And so once again you are fighting us all,
And when I ask you why,

You raise your sticks and cry, and I fall,
Oh, my friend,
How did you come?,
To trade the fiddle for the drum,

You say I have turned,
Like the enemies you've earned,
But I can remember,
All the good things you are,

And so I ask you please,
Can I help you find the peace and the star?,
Oh, my friend,
What time is this?,
To trade the handshake for the fist

And so once again,
Oh, America my friend,
And so once again,
You are fighting us all,

And when we ask you why,
You raise your sticks and cry and we fall,
Oh, my friend,
How did you come,
To trade the fiddle for the drum

You say we have turned,
Like the enemies you've earned,
But we can remember,
All the good things you are,

And so we ask you please,
Can we help you find the peace and the star?,
Oh my friend,
We have all come,
To fear the beating of your drum


Lyrics submitted by ab0ve

Fiddle and the Drum Lyrics as written by Joni Mitchell

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Fiddle And The Drum song meanings
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47 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    the song's a metaphor for going to war, trading the fiddle, which is usually played in peaceful times, for the drums which are marched to during war. Trading the handshake for the fist is pretty explanatory, etc.

    SquirrelOfDoomon November 30, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Good eye Invalid Username, way to spot it's not a song written by A Perfect Circle on a COVER ALBUM.

    Black Dogon December 04, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song is a direct criticism of the Military Industrial Complex.

    It explains how America used to be a peaceful nation, then turned on both friend and fo, branding anyone standing against her as an enemy and using war to acquire whatever our nation so desires.

    Quite accurate definition of our "great" nation if you ask me..

    wilmckeanon October 30, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    let me explain this one by one !

    ( And so once again, My dear Johnny, my dear friend, And so once again you are fighting us all )

    (it's about a person name johnny, he's get piss-off easily )

    And when I ask you why, You raise your sticks and cry, and I fall,

    ( jonny is knows he's wrong, when he ask why, he start to cry)

    Oh, my friend, How did you come?, To trade the fiddle for the drum,

    ( "fiddle for the drum" is a metaphor, he trade his good feelings to low-self esteem.)

    You say I have turned, Like the enemies you've earned, But I can remember, All the good things you are,

    ( every one leaving him and become enemy of him, and jonny think, like everyone he's acting bad toward him, the he says I can remember good things you are, what ever happen)

    Oh, my friend, What time is this?, To trade the handshake for the fist

    (jonny is satisfied with his talk-down then jonny giving him a hand shake, then he says, we are friend we should be doing fist-bump)

    Sanu!on December 08, 2015   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    let me explain this one by one !

    ( And so once again, My dear Johnny, my dear friend, And so once again you are fighting us all )

    (it's about a person name johnny, he's get piss-off easily )

    And when I ask you why, You raise your sticks and cry, and I fall,

    ( jonny is knows he's wrong, when he ask why, he start to cry)

    Oh, my friend, How did you come?, To trade the fiddle for the drum,

    ( "fiddle for the drum" is a metaphor, he trade his good feelings to low-self esteem.)

    You say I have turned, Like the enemies you've earned, But I can remember, All the good things you are,

    ( every one leaving him and become enemy of him, and jonny think, like everyone he's acting bad toward him, the he says I can remember good things you are, what ever happen)

    Oh, my friend, What time is this?, To trade the handshake for the fist

    (jonny is satisfied with his talk-down then jonny giving him a hand shake, then he says, we are friend we should be doing fist-bump)

    Sanu!on December 08, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    IS THIS ON THE NEW ALBUM? LOOKS COOL, CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR IT

    Lloyd-Giovanni666on October 23, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I listened to the leak that's been going around the internet (I plan on buying it the moment it goes on sale though) and this is probably my second favorite track. I love how it's acapella and Maynard did all the vocal parts. Blends very nicely and sounds amazing.

    TheTwoStevieJewon October 23, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yeah, this song is on the new ablum that is going to come out on Nov 2nd. I really like this song too!

    I'm not exactly sure, but I think this song has something to do with the US going to war... also something to think about is how they are releasing the album on Election day... I could be totally off-base though...

    ibjhbon October 23, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    nice one... there is a story of 2 brothers One Weak and the Other Strong... they walk and a gang cross their road and starts hitting the Weaker... The Strong one starts to diss with the guys "Hit him again and you'll see what I AM GOING to do".... they hit him again.... "Hit him again and YOU'LL SEE" ... they hit him again.... and again "Hit him again and i'll bust your head"says the strong.... and than the weak one sais "Brother please don't stand up for me no more....PLEASE" This song is about the Weak and Powerless under the Guardians of Justice - Their Big Brothers. Go Maynard. You know... he's right: "If you don't vote... you have no right to complain, after" Greetings.

    Carlittoon November 01, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is the sad story of America's sow path towards a violent future, instead of heading towards it's destiny of peace and harmony with the world. Were such a powerful nation with powerful roots and powerful ideals, and we seem to be squandering all that we have built up, and denying our roots of democracy and bettering the world. He's utterly idssapointed with the state of affairs in our nation, and longs for our nation to be come and accepting and loving nation.

    Bullets and bombs kill people, not countries.

    MediumDaveon November 06, 2004   Link

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