[Verse 1]
I was born by the river
In a little tent
Oh, and just like the river
I've been runnin' ever since

[Chorus]
It's been a long, long, long, long, long time comin'
But I know
A change is gonna come, oh yes it will

[Verse 2]
It's been too hard livin'
But I'm afraid to die
'Cause I don't know what's up there, no, no, no
Beyond the sky

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

[Verse 3]
I go to the movie
And I go downtown
Somebody keep telling me no, no, no, don't you hang around
[Chorus]
It's been a long, long, long, long time comin'
But I know, yes I know
A change is gonna come

[Verse 4]
Then I go to my brother
I said brother help me please
But he winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees
Oh, there are times when I thought that we couldn't last for long
But I know we're able to carry on

[Chorus]
It's been a long, long, long, long time comin'
And I know, yes I know, a change gon' come
And I know, a change gon' come

[Outro]
I know, a change is gonna come