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

It's been too hard livin' but I'm afraid to die
I don't know what's up there
Beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time comin'
But I know, a change is gonna come
Oh, yes it will

I go to the movie and I go downtown
Somebody's tellin' me
Don't you hang around
It's been a long, long time comin'
But I know, a change is gonna come
Oh, yes, it will

Then I go to my brother
I say, 'Brother, Brother, help me please'
But he just winds up knocking me
Back down on my knees, well

There were times that I thought
I couldn't make it alone
But now I'm able, I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time comin'
But I know, a change is gonna come
Oh, yes, it will

Lord, it's been a long time comin'
But I know, a change is gonna come