I was born by the river
In a little tent
Just like the river I've been running ever since
It's been a long
A 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
I don't know what's up there
Beyond the sky
It's been a long
Long, long... is coming
But I know
A change is gonna come

And I go to the movies
And I go downtown
Everybody keep telling me
Do you come around
It's been a long
Oh, it's been a long time coming
But I know
A change is gonna come

Then I go
Go to the my brother
And I say brother:
"Help me, please"
He just winds up
Knockin' me down
Back down on my knees

And there...been times that I thought
I couldn't last for long
But now I think I, I, I
I can't able to carry on
It's been a long, long time coming
But I know
A change is gonna come
Ooh yeah
Is gonna come
Ooh yeah
Ooh oah