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 knocking 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