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

[Chorus]
It's been a long
A long time comin', but I know
A change gon' 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
Beyond the sky

[Chorus]
It's been a long
A long time comin', but I know
A change gon' come
Oh, yes it will

[Verse 3]
Said I go to the movie
And I go downtown
But people keep on tellin' me "No, no
Don't you come around"
[Chorus]
It's been a long
A long time comin', but I know
A change gon' come
Oh, yes it will

[Verse 4]
Then I go to my brother
And I say, "Brother, help me, please"
But he winds up, oh, he drops me
Right down on my knees

[Verse 5]
There been times that I thought
I could not last for long
But thought to myself, "Oh
I got to carry on"

[Chorus]
It's been a long
A long time comin', but I know
A change gon' come
Oh, yes it will
It's been a long
A long time comin', but I know
A change gon' come
Oh, yes it will