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