I was born by the river in a little tent
Mmh, like the river I've been running, running ever since
It's been a long, long time coming
But I know 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 coming
But I know a change gon' come
Oh yes it is

Then I go to my brother
And I say, "Brother, help me please"
But he winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees

There been times that I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able (I'm able Father) to carry on
It's been a long (a long), a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come
Oh yes it is, yes it is, yes it is

Said I know, I know
I know that a change is gonna come one day
I know a change is gonna come
Hmm, yes it is
Mmm, I know

So life can be hard, oh yeah
And times can get up
But still I know
I know, I know, I know
Still I know
I know a change gonna come
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh

Yes, it will
Yes it will, yes it will
Oh yes, it will
It will, it will, it will
Oh yes, it will
Yes it will, yes it will, yes it will
Yes, it will
I know that a change is gonna come