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

I go to the movie,
And I go downtown
Somebody keep telling me
"Don't hang around"
It's been a long, long time coming
But I know, a change is gonna come
Oh yes it will

Then I go to my brother
And I say "Brother, help me please"
But he winds up knocking me back
Down on my knees

There've been times that I've thought I 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
Oh yes it will