I Want To See The Parade

Hold me up, I want to see the paradeThere 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 allowsA 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 childWhen 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 headAnd 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"