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

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

[Verse 2]
It's been too hard living
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 coming, but I know
A change gon' come
Oh yes, it will

[Verse 3]
Said I go to a movie
Yeah, I go downtown
Somebody keep telling me
"No, no, don't you, don't you hang around"
[Chorus]
It’s been a long
A long time coming, but I know
A change gon’ come
Oh yes, it will

[Bridge]
Oh, then I go to see my brother
Oh, and I say, "Brother, would you help me, please"
Oh, but he just winds up
Winds up knockin' me back down
Back down, oh, oh, back down on my knees, oh

[Verse 4]
Thеre’s been times when I thought
Lord, I couldn't last for long
Oh, but now I think that I'm ablе
I'm gonna carry on

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

[Outro]
Yes, it will
Yes, it will, yes
[Instrumental Outro]