I was born by the river in a little tent And just like this river I've been running ever since It's been a 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 out there beyond the sky It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will And then I go to my brother And I ask him to help me please And he just winds up knockin' me Back down on my knees There were times when I thought I could not last for long But now I think I'm able to carry on It's been a long, been a 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 out there beyond the sky It's been a long, such a long time coming And I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will Oh yes it will