[Verse 1]
I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh, and just like the river, I've been runnin' ever since

[Chorus]
It's been a long (A long time comin')
A long time comin', but I know a change gon' come (Change gon' come)
Oh, yes, it will

[Verse 2]
It's been too hard livin', but I'm afraid to die
'Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky

[Chorus]
It's been a long (A long time comin')
A long time comin', but I know a change gon' come (Change gon' come)
Oh, yes, it will

[Verse 3]
I go to the movies and I go downtown
And my friends keep tellin' me, "Don't, don't hang around"

[Chorus]
It's been a long, long, long, long (A long time comin')
But I know a change is gonna come, yes, it will
Oh, listen to me, baby
[Verse 4]
Thеn I go to my brother, oh, nah, oh, and I say, "Brother, help mе please"
Then he winds up knockin' me back down, back down on my knees
Lord, there are times that I thought I wouldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able, oh, to carry on

[Chorus]
It's been a long, woah (A long time comin')
But I know change (Change gon' come)
Finally change