(s. cooke)
producers: martyn ware and greg walsh
producer (live version): john hudson
album: live in europe (88), the collected recordings (94)

i was born by the river in a little tent
oh, and like that river i've been running ever since
it's been a long, long time coming
but i know a change is gonna come
oh yes it is
It's been too hard living and i'm affraid to die
i don't know what's up there beyond the sky
it's been a long, long time coming
but i know a change is gonna come
oh yes it is
I go to the movies and i go around in town
everybody there keeps telling me "don't hang around"
it's been a long, a long time coming
but i know a change is gonna come
oh yes it is
Then i go to my brother
and i say "brother, please"
but he just winds up, knocking me
back down on my knees
Sometimes i thought i wouldn't last for long
but now i think i'm able to carry on
it's been a long, long time coming
but i know a change is gonna come
oh yes it is