I was born by the river, in a little tent
Oh and just like the river, I've been running ever since.

[Chorus:]
It's been a long,
A long time coming but I know,
A change gon' come
Oh yes it will

[Verse 2:]
It's been too hard living
But I'm afraid to die,
Cause I don't know what's up there
Beyond the sky

[Chorus:]
It's been a long,
A long time coming but I know,
A change gon' come
Oh yes it will

[Verse 3:]
I go to the movie
And I go downtown
And somebody keep tellin' me don't hang around

[Chorus:]
It's been a long,
A long time coming but I know,
A change gon' come
Oh yes it will

[Verse 4:]
Then I go to my brother
And I say brother, help me please
But he winds up knocking me
Back down on my knees

Ooh there have been times,
That I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on

[Chorus:]
It's been a long,
A long time coming but I know,
A change gon' come
Oh yes it will