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