I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh, and 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 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
Oh, yes! it will, yes! it will
I go to the movies and I go down town
Somebody keep telling me "Don't hang around"
It's been a long  a 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, would you help me please?"
But he winds up knocking me
Back down on my knees
When I 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
It's been a long long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come
Yes! it will, yes! it will