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 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 wil 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