I was born by the river, in a little old tent And just like the river I've been running ever since It's been a long, long time coming But I know a change is gonna come 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, 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 when I go to my brother He winds up knocking me back down on my knees There's been times when I thought I would last for long But somehow I think I'm gonna be able to carry on It's been a long, 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 when I go to my dear old brother He winds up knocking me back down on my knees There's been times when I thought I would last for long But now I think I'm gonna be able to pick myself up and carry on It's been a long, long time coming But I know a change is gonna come Somehow I know a change is gonna come I know a change is gonna come I know that a change, a change, a change, a change is gonna come