[Verse 1]
I was born by the river in a little tent
And oh, just like the river, I been a-runnin' ever since

[Chorus]
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it is

[Verse 2]
It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
But I don't know what's up there, beyond the sky

[Chorus]
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes indeed-a

[Verse 3]
Then I go to the movie, and I go downtown
Some barkeeps tellin' me "Don't hang around"

[Chorus]
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, I know it will

[Verse 4]
Then I go to my brother and I'll say "Brother, help me please"
But he winds up knockin' me
Back down on my, my feet, and oh
There have been times that I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
[Chorus]
It's been a long, a long-long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it will