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, a long time coming
But I know a change 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 up there beyond the sky
It´s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change 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, a long time coming
But I know a change 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 knees

Oh there 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 coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will