I was born by the river
In a little tent
Oh, and just like the river
I've been running ever since
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come
Oh, yes it will
It's been too hard living
But I'm 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 know a change gon' come
Oh yes it will
I go to the movie
And I go downtown
Somebody keep tellin' me don't
hang around
It's been a long, a long time comin'
But I know a change gon' come
Oh yes it will
Then I go to my brother
And I say, "Brother, help me please?"
But he winds up knocking me
Back down on my knees, ohhh!
There been times that I thought
I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come
Oh, yes it will