I was born by a river, oh my
In this little old town, oh
Just like this river
I've been running ever since
It's been a long, long, long
Long time coming but I know, but I know
Changes gotta come, now
Oh yes it is, my oh, my oh, my oh, my
It's been too hard livin', oh my
And I'm afraid to die
I don't know what's up there
Beyond the clouds
It's been a long, long, long
Long time coming but I know, but I know
That changes gotta come
Oh yes it is, my oh, my oh, my
There's a time
I will go to my brother, oh my
I would ask my brother
Will you help me please, oh now oh now
He turned me down
And then I asked my little mother, oh my oh
I said, "Mother", I said, "Mother
I'm down on my knees"
It's been time that I know
Lord, it's too late
Very long, oh now oh
Somehow I thought I was still able
To try to carry on
It's been a long, long, long
Long time coming but I know
That changes gonna come
Oh yes, it is
Huh, just like I said
I went to my little bitty brother, oh my
My little brother, I asked my brother
"Brother, help me please", oh now
He turned me down
And then I go to my little mother
My dear mother, oh now, huh
I said, "Mother", I said
"Mother, I'm down on my knees"
But there was a time that I know
Lord, it's too late
So very long, oh my oh
Somehow I thought I was still able
To try to carry on
It's been a long, long
Long time coming but I know, but I know
That changes gotta come, ho
It's been so long, It's been so long
A little long
But changes gotta come
So tired, so tired of suffering
Standing by myself
Has given up a home
But changes gotta come
You know and I know
You know that I know
And I know that you know
Honey, that a change is gonna come
Oh now, oh my, I gotta