I was born by the river
In a little tent
and oh, just like the river
I've been runnin, ever since
It's been a long
a long time coming
but I, I know a change gonna come
Ooooh yes it will
It's been to hard living,
But I am afraid to die
cause I don't know what's up there
beyond the sky
It's been a long
a long time coming
but I, I know a change gonna come
Ooooh yes it will
There's been times that I thought
I wouldn't last for long (naww)
But somehow
I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long
a long time coming
but I know, I know a change is gonna come
Oooh yes you will
And then I go to my mother
I said mother could you help me please?
She said: I'd like to, I really would,
but I'm just not able
Then I looked around
and I was right back down,
down on my knees
There's been times that I thought
I wouldn't last for long
But somehow
I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long
a long time coming
but I know ... a change gonna come
Ooooh yes it will...