I was born by the river in a little tent

Oh  and like that 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 is

It's been too hard living and I'm affraid 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

Yeah  yes

And then I went to see my brother  oh yeah

I said  "Brother  help me  please"  he turned me down

And then I went  I went to see my sweet mother

I said  "Mama  mama I'm down on my knees"

It's been a too hard living and I'm afraid to die

I don't know what's up there beyond the sky

It's been a long  long time a coming

But I know  but I know a change gonna come  oh  long