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