I was born by the river, in a little tent
And just like the river baby, I've been running ever since
It's been a long, a long time coming
And I know a change is gonna come
It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
'Cause I don't know what's up there baby, beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
And I know a change is gonna come
Then I go down to my brother
And I say: Brother, help me please
But he winds up knockin' me back down
On my knees, yeah!
There 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, a long time coming
And I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
It's been a long, a long time coming
And I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
Well, it's been a long, a long time coming
And I know change is gonna come, change
I know it, I know it, I know, I know, I know. Change
A change is gonna come! Uhhhh! Ohh woh wooohh!