I was born by the river
In a little tent
Oh just like the river
I've been running ever since
It's been a long
A long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come
Oh yeah
It's been too hard living
But I'm afraid to die
Cos 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
Then I go to the movie
And I go downtown
Evrybody keeps telling me don't hang around
It's been a long
A long time coming
And 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 just winds up
Knocking me
Back down on my knees
Oh
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 coming
But I know
A change gonna come
Oh yes it will
Then I go to my sister
I say sister help me please
But she just winds up
Knocking me
Back down on my knees
Long
Yes it's been times that I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to try to carry on
It's been a long
A long time coming
And I know
A change gonna come
Oh yes it will