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, oh-oo-oh
A change gon’ 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, oh-oo-oh
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, oh-oo-oh
A change gon’ come, oh yes, it will

Then I go, oh-oo-oh, to my brother and I say, brother, help me please
But he 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 comin’
But I know, oh-oo-oh, a change gonna come, oh yes, it will