I was born by the river in a little tent And just like that river I've been running ever since It's been a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die 'Cause I don't know what's out there beyond the sky It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will And then I go to see my brother And I ask him to help me please And he just winds up knockin' me Back down on my knees There were times when I thought I couldn't last for long But now I think I'm able to carry on It's been a long, been a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will