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.