[Verse 1]
Well, I was born by the river
In a little old tent
And just like the river
I've been running ever since

[Chorus]
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come

[Verse 2]
And it's been too hard living
But I'm afraid to die
'Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky

[Chorus]
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come

[Verse 3]
Well, I go down to the movies
And I go downtown
But there's somebody telling me I cannot hang around

[Chorus]
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it is now

[Verse 4]
So I go, I go to my brother
I say, "Brother help me please"
He just winds up, winds up knockin' me down
Back down on my knees
Oh, there's been times when I thought I couldn't last too long
Somehow I was able to try to carry on

[Chorus]
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come