I was born by the river in a little tent Oh, and just like the river, I've been running ever since It's been a long time, a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come Oh yes, it will It's been too hard living, 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 Oh yes, it will I go to the movies and I go downtown And somebody keeps telling me "Don't hang, don't hang around" It's been a long, a 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 knockin' me Back down on my, on my knees There's been times that I thought I, I wouldn't last for long But now I think that I'm able to carry on It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come