I was born by the river
in a little tent
And just like the river,
I've been running ever since
It's been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come

It's been too hard living,
but I'm afraid to die
I don't know what's up there
beyond the sky
It's been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come

I go to the movie,
and I go downtown
Somebody keep telling me
"Don't hang around"
It's been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come

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've thought I couldn't last for long

But now I think
I'm able to
carry on
It's been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come