(S. Cooke)

I was born by a river in a little tent,

And just like this river,

I've been running ever since.

It's been a too long, too long-time a-coming,

But I know a change gonna come,

Oh, yes, it is.



It's been too hard living,

And I'm afraid to die.

I don't know what's up there beyond the sky.

It's been a long time a, long time a-coming,

But I know, Lord I know a change gonna come, Lord.

Yeah, yes.



And then I went to see my brother, oh yeah.

I said, "Brother, help me, please."

He turned me down.

And then I went, I went to see my sweet mother.

I said, "Mama, Mama I'm down on my knees."

It's been a too hard living,

And I'm afraid to die.

I don't know what's up there beyond the sky.

It's been a long, long time a-coming,

But I know, but I know a change gonna come.

Oh, long.