There's an old friend   That I once heard say   Something that touched my heart   And it began this way      I was born by the river   In a little tent   And just like the river   I've been runnin' ever since      He said it's been a long time comin'   But I know my change is gonna come, oh yeah      He said it's been too hard livin'   But I'm afraid to die   I might not be if I knew what was up there   Beyond the sky      It's been a long, a long time comin'   But I know my change has got to come, oh yeah      I went, I went to my brother   And I asked him, "Brother   Could you help me, please?"      He said, "Good sister   I'd like to but I'm not able"   And when I, when I looked around   I was right back down   Down on my bended knees, yes I was, oh      There've been times that I thought   I thought that I wouldn't last for long   But somehow right now   I believe that I'm able, I'm able to carry on      I tell you that it's been a long   And oh it's been an uphill journey, all the way   But I know, I know, I know   I know my change is gonna come      Sometimes   I had to cry all night long, yes I did   Sometimes   I had to give up right, for what I knew was wrong      Yes it's been an uphill journey   It's sure's been a long way comin', yes it has   It's been real hard every step of the way   But I believe, I believe      This evenin' my change is come   Yeah, I tell you that my change is come