I was born by the river
in a little tent
and just like the river
i've been runnin' ever since
it's been a long, long time comin'
but i know, a change is gonna come
oh, yes it will
It's been too hard livin'
but i'm afraid to die
i don't know what's up there
beyond the sky
it's been a long, a long time comin'
but i know, a change is gonna come
oh, yes it will

i go to the movie
and i go downtown
somebody's tellin' me
don't you hang around
it's been a long, long time comin'
but i know, a change is gonna come
oh, yes it will

then i go to my brother
i say brother, brother help me please
but he just winds up knocking me
back down on my knees, well

there were times that i thought
i couldn't make it alone
but now i'm able, i'm able
to carry on
it's been a long, a long time comin'
but i know, a change is gonna come
oh, yes it will
lord, it's been a long time comin'
but i know, a change is gonna come