Ab Bbm I was born by a river in this little old tent Bbm Fm Oh just like this river I've been running ever since Ab Bbm Db It's been a long long, long time coming Db C Fm But I know, but I know a change is gotta come Ab Oh yes it is [Verse 2] Ab It's been too hard living, oh my Ab Bbm And I'm afraid to die Bbm Fm I don't know what's up there Fm Beyond the clouds Ab Bbm It's been a long long, long time coming Db C Fm Bbm But I know, but I know a change is gotta come Ab Oh yes it is [Bridge] Bbm Ab Bbm There was a time I would go to my brother Bbm Fm Bbm I asked my brother, "Will you help me please?" Bbm Fm He turned me down and then I ask my dear mother, oh Bb7 I said "Mother!" Bb7 Eb I said "Mother! I'm down on my knees" [Verse 3] Ab It's been a time that I thought Ab Bbm Lord this couldn't last for very long Bbm Fm But somehow I thought I was still able to try to carry on Ab Bbm It's been a long long, long time coming Bbm Db C Fm But I know a change is gonna come Ab Oh, yes it is [Bridge] Bbm Ab Bbm Just like I said, I went to my little bitty brother, my littlee brother Bbm Fm Bbm I asked my brother "Brother help me please?" Bbm Fm Bb7 He turned me down and then I go to my little mother, my dear mother Bb7 I said "Mother!" Eb I said "Mother! I'm down on my knees" [Verse 4] Ab But there was a time that I thought Ab Bbm Lord this couldn't last for very long Fm But somehow I thought I was still able to try to carry on Ab Bbm It's been a long long, long time coming Db Cm Fm But I know, but I know a change is gotta come Fm Db Cm Ooh it's been so long, it's been so long, a little too long Cm Fm But a change has gotta come [Outro] Ab Db I'm so tired, so tired of standing by myself Cm C And standing by my self Fm And standing up alone Fm But a change has gotta come Fm You know and I know Fm Db You know that I know Db Cm I know that you know, honey Cm Fm Ab Db That a change is gonne come, oh my