I was born by the river
in a little tent.
Oh, and just like the river
I’ve been a-runnin’ ever since.
It’s been a long,
a long time comin’,
but I know,
a change gon’ come,
oh yes, it will.
It’s been too hard living
but 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 comin’,
but I know,
a change gon’ come,
oh yes, it will.
I go to the movie
and I go downtown.
Somebody keep tellin’ me
don’t hang around.
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 thought
I couldn’t last for long
But now I think
I’m able to carry on
It’s been a long,
a long time comin’,
but I know,
a change gon’ come,
oh yes, it will.
By Sam Cooke