Now when I was just a little child
Enrolled in elementary school
That big 'ol teacher
Would ask me a question
And I'd sit there
Trembling like a fool
So I asked my daddy,
I said, What's wrong with me?
He said, Son, if you know the answer
This is how it's got to be
He said

CHORUS:
You've got to stand up
And be counted
You've got to raise your hand
And let them call your name
You've got to stand up
If you want to be counted
Lift your voice
And don't ever be ashamed

The next day at school
The teacher asked a question
And she shot a look my way
And I stood right up
And I said, Teacher
There's something
That I've got to say
You know the grass below is green
And the sky above is blue
And Columbus found this country
In 1492

You need to stand up
And be counted
You've got to raise your hand
And just let them call your name
You've got to stand up
If you want to be counted
Lift your voice
And don't ever be ashamed

Now I believe the Lord
He's looking for someone
Who's gonna stand up
For the Church
And he wants you to stand up
On the street
And where you go to school
And where you go to work
And in a world filled with darkness
That's surrounded by the night
Someone needs to stand up for Jesus
And start to shine that Light

We need to stand up
And be counted
We need to raise our hands
And start to praise His matchless Name
We need to stand up
If we want to be counted
Lift your voice
And don't ever, ever, ever
Be ashamed