I was born by the river, in a little tent
Oh, and just like the river I've been running ever since
It's been a long, long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
'Cause I don't know what's out 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

I go to the movie
And I go downtown
Somebody keep telling me "Don't hang around"
It's been a long, long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

Then I go to see my brother
And I say "Help me please"
But he winds up knockin' me
Like I'm back down on my knees
Please, yeah

There were times when I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time, a long time coming
But I know, yeah, mmm, a change gone come, oh yes it will