There's an old friend that
I once heard saying
Something that touched my heart
And it began this way

I was born by the river
In a little tent
And just like that river
I've been running ever since
He said it's been a long
A long time coming
But I know my change has got to come
Oh yeah

He said it's been too hard living
But I'm afraid to die
I might not be, if I knew what was out there
Beyond the sky

He said it's been too long
Long time coming
But I know my change has got to come
Oh yeah

I went (Ohh I went)
To my brother (To my brother, helele, helele)
And I asked him brother
Could you help me please (helele, helele mama eh, helele)
He said good sister
I like to but I'm not able (Helele, mama hey)
When I looked around (Ah, ah)
I was right back down
Down on my knees, yes I was (Down on my knees, yes I was)

There've been some times
(There've been times)
Yes, times that I thought
(That I thought) I thought I wouldn't last for long
But somehow, right now I believe, I believe I'm able (Helele mama hey, helele mama eh)
To carry on, carry on

Uphi umama?
Nd'zamxelela umama
Helele mama, eh
Elele mama, eh
'Xelela umama

Who gonna come to me (A change is gonna come indeed)
(A change is gonna come I believe, I believe) It's been real' hard
A change is gonna come (A change is gonna come indeed)
In the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening
And a change is gonna oh, gonna
(A change is gonna come indeed)
Every step of the way, I believe ah, I believe yeah
(A change is gonna come indeed)
Is gonna come, gonna come
Yes I believe it, oh I will, I will, I will, yeah
A is change is gonna is gonna come (A change is gonna come indeed)
Is gonna come to me

(Every step of the)
Every step of the way
(I believe, I believe)
I believe it
(A change is gonna come indeed)
A change is gonna come to me
It's gonna come, yes it will, oh-oh

And a change is gonna
(A change is gonna come indeed)
Gonna come to me