I was born by the river, oh, in a little tent And just like that river I've been running ever since It's been a long, long time coming But I know a change is gonna come Oh, yes, it will It's been too hard living, oh But I'm afraid to die 'Cause I don't know what's up there Beyond the sky It's been a long, long time coming But I know a change is gonna come Oh, yes, it will There was a time I went to my brother, oh I asked my brother: Can you help me, please? He turned me down, so I go to my mother, oh I said: Mother! I'm down on my knees 'Cause there have been times when I thought That I wouldn't last so long But somehow I was able to carry on It's been a long, long time coming But I know a change is gonna come Oh, yes, it will There was a time I went to my brother, oh I asked my brother: Can you help me, please? He turned me down, so I go to my mother, oh I said: Mother! I'm down on my knees Oh, there have been times when I thought That I wouldn't last so long But somehow I was able to carry on It's been a long, long time coming But I know a change is gonna come Oh, yes, it will It's been a long, long time coming But I know a change is gonna come