I was born by the river in a little tent / Oh, and just like the river I’ve been a-runnin’ ever since / It’s been a long, a long time comin’ / 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 comin’ / But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

I go to the movie and I go downtown / Somebody keep tellin’ 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

There’ve 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 comin’ / But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

[By Sam Cooke © Rca Victor, 1964]