I was born by the river in a little tent
Just like the river I've been running ever since
It's been a long, long time coming but I know

A change gonna come, ooh yes it will

It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die

I don't know what's out there beyond the sky
It's been a long, long, long time coming but I know
A change gonna come, yes


And I go to the movies and I go downtown
Everybody there keeps telling me, don't you come around

It's been a long, oh it's been a long time coming
But I know my change gonna come, oh oh yeah


Then I go, go to my brother
I say brother help me please
He just winds up knockin' me down

Back down on my knees

Thereee wereee... times I thought, I wouldn't last too long

But now know that I, I, I, I can carry on
It's been a long, long time coming but I know
My change is gonna come

Ooh yeah
It's gonna come..