I was born by the river in a little old tent Oh just like this river I've been running ever since It's been a long long time coming But I know a change is gonna come Oh yes it is On my! It's been too hard living And I'm afraid to die Cause I don't know what's up there Beyond the clouds It's been a long long time coming But I know a change is gonna come Oh yes it is Oh my There's a time I would go to my brother I asked my brother "will you help me please?" He turned me down and then I ask my dear mother I said "Mother! I'm down on my knees" It's been a time that I thought Lord this couldn't last for very long But somehow I thought I was still able to try to carry on It's been a long long time coming But I know a change is gonna come Oh yes it is Just like I said, I went to my little bitty brother I asked my brother "Brother help me please?" He turned me down and then I go to my little mother I said "Mother! I'm down on my knees" But there was a time that I thought Lord this couldn't last for very long But somehow I thought I was still able to try to carry on It's been a long long time coming But I know a change is gonna come Oh yes it will