I was born by a river
In a little tent
Oh, and just like that river, I've been
Runnin' ever since
It's been a long
A long time comin', but I know
A change gon' come
Oh, yes it will
It's been too hard livin'
But I'm afraid to die
'Cause 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 gon' come
Oh, yes it will
Said I go to the movie
And I go downtown
But people keep on tellin' me
"No, no, don't you come around"
It's been a long
A long time comin', but I know
A change gon' come
Oh, yes it will
Then I go to my brother
And I say, "Brother, help me, please!"
But he winds up, oh, he drops me
Right down on my knees
There've been times that I thought
I could not last for long
But thought to myself, "Oh
I got to carry on"
It's been a long
A long time comin', but I know
A change gon' come
Oh, yes it will
It's been a long
A long time comin', but I know
A change gon' come
Oh, yes it will
