I was born by a river in a little tent
Oh, and 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, oh my
And 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 coming
But I know a change is gonna come
Mmh, yes it will

Then I'd go, go to my brother
And I said: Brother, help me, please, yeah
But he winds up knockin' me down
I begged down, begged down
Down on my knees, oh

There've been times that I thought
Couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come
Mmh, yes it will

Then I go, go to my little mother
And I said: Momma, would you help me, please?
But you wind up knockin' me down
I begged down, begged down
Down on my knees, oh

It's been a long, long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come
It's been a long, long time coming for me
A change is gonna come
I guess a change is gonna come

Change gonna come, change gonna come
Change gonna come for me, yeah
Change gonna come, change gonna come
Change gonna come for me, yeah

Yeah, a change is gonna come