I was born by a river in a little tent Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come Oh yes it will It's been too hard living, oh my And I'm afraid to die 'Cause I don't know what's up there Beyond the sky It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come Mmh, yes it will Then I'd go, go to my brother And I said "Brother, help me please, yeah" But he winds up knockin' me down I begged down, begged down Down on my knees, oh There've been times that I thought 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 Mmh, yes it will Then I go, go to my little mother And I said "Momma, would you help me please?" But you wind up knockin' me down I begged down, begged down Down on my knees, oh It's been a long, long time coming But I know a change is gonna come It's been a long, long time coming for me A change is gonna come I guess a change is gonna come Change gonna come, change gonna come, change gonna come for me yeah Change gonna come, change gonna come, change gonna come for me yeah Yeah, a change is gonna come