| I was born by the river, in a little tent | |
| And oh, just 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 will | |
| It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die | |
| 'Cause 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 | |
| Now I go to the movies, and I go downtown | |
| But somebody keeps 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 | |
| Yes, sir | |
| So now I go to my brother | |
| And I say, "Brother, help me, please" | |
| But somehow, he winds up knocking me | |
| Back down on my knees | |
| Oh, there were times I thought I wouldn't last for long | |
| Now I think I'm able, able to carry on | |
| It's been a long, long time coming, but I know | |
| A change is gonna come, yes it will, oh, I know | |
| A change is gonna come | |
| I said I know | |
| A change is gonna come, hey, yeah | |
| A change is gonna come, right now | |
| A change is gonna come, I see it now, yeah, oh my, yeah | |
| I said a change is gonna come |