I was born by the riverIn a little tentJust like the riverI've been runningRunning ever sinceIt's been a longA long time comingBut I knowA change gonna comeOh, yes, it willIt's been too longIt's been too hard livingBut I'm afraid to dieI don't know what's up thereThere beyond the skyIt's been a longA long time comingA long time comingBut I knowA change gonna comeOh, yes, it willThen I go to the moviesAnd I goSaid I go downtownSomebody keeps telling me don'tHang aroundIt's been a longA long time comingA long time comingBut I knowA change gonna comeA change gonna comeOh, yes, it willAnd I go to my brothersAnd I go to my brothersAnd I go to my brothersAnd I say, brother, help me pleaseBut he winds up, winds up knocking me, knocking meKnocked down on my kneesThere were times when I thought I couldn't last for longBut now I know, I know I'm able to carry onIt's been a long, long timeA long, long time comingBut I know a change gonna comeOh, yes it will