I was born by the river   In a little old tent   And just like that river   I've been running ever since   It's been a long   Been a long time coming   But I know change is gonna come   Oh yes it is      It's been too hard living   Oh but I'm afraid to die   I don't know what's up there   Beyond the clouds   It's been a long   It's been a long time coming   But I know change is gonna come   Oh yes it is      There was a time   When I asked my brother   "And my brother," I said   "Brother, brother won't you help me please"   When it needs I'm down   And when I asked my mother   "My dear sweet mother," I said   "Mama, mama I'm down   On my knees"      And there was a time, Lord   When less I loan   Lord I was able   Somehow here we are   It's been a long   It's been a long time coming   But I know change is gonna come   Oh yes it is      Like I said   There was a time   When I asked my brother   "My brother," I said   "Brother, brother won't you help me please"   When it needs sent me down   And when I asked my little mother   "And my mother," I said   "Mama, mama I'm down   On my knees"      And there was a time   Oh, unless I loan   Thought I was evil   Somehow to carry on   It's been a long   It's been a long time coming   But I know change is gonna come   Oh yes it is      There was a time   When I asked my brother   "My brother," I said   "Brother, brother won't you help me please"   When it needs sent me down   And when I asked my little mother   "And my mother," I said   "Mama, mama I'm down   On my knees"      And there was a time   Oh, unless I loan   Thought I was evil   Somehow to carry on   It's been a long   It's been a long time coming   But I know change is gonna come   Oh yes it is      And I know, I know change has gotta come   Yes and I know that you know that I know that you know that change has gotta come   I am so tired, so tired, change has gotta come   Yes a change, a change has gotta come