I was born by the river in a little tent Oh and just like the river i've been running ever since It's been a long, a long time coming But i know a change 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 up there beyond the sky It's been a long, a long time coming But i know a change gonna come, oh yes it will I go to the movie and i go downtown Somebody keep telling me don't hang around It's been a long, a long time coming But i know a change gonna come, oh yes it will 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 to carry on It's been a long, a long time coming But i know a change gonna come, oh yes it will