[Verse 1: Justin Guarini]
I was born by the river in a little tent
And just like the river I've been running ever since
It’s been a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

[Verse 2: Jason Manns & both]
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 is gonna come, oh yes it will

[Verse 3: Justin Guarini, Jason Manns & both]
I go to the movie and I go downtown
Somebody keep tellin' me, "Don't you hang around"
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know, but I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

[Bridge: Justin Guarini, Jason Manns & both]
Then I go out to my brother
And I say, "Brother help me please"
But he winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees, oh

[Verse 4: Justin Guarini, Jason Manns & both]
There have 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 time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will