I was born by the river
  In a little tent
  And just like the river
  I?ve been runnin? ever since
  It?s been a long, long time comin?
  But I know, a change is gonna come
  Oh, yes it will
  
  It?s been too hard livin?
  But I?m afraid to die
  I don?t know what?s up there
  Beyond the sky
  It?s been a long, a long time comin?
  But I know, a change is gonna come
  Oh, yes it will
  
  
  I go to the movie
  And I go downtown
  Somebody?s tellin? me
  Don?t you hang around
  It?s been a long, long time comin?
  But I know, a change is gonna come
  Oh, yes it will
  
  
  Then I go to my brother
  I say brother, brother help me please
  But he just winds up knocking me
  Back down on my knees, well
  
  
  There were times that I thought
  I couldn?t make it alone
  But now I?m able, I?m able
  To carry on
  It?s been a long, a long time comin?
  But I know, a change is gonna come
  Oh, yes it will
  Lord, it?s been a long time comin?
  But I know, a change is gonna come