I was born by the river, oh my In this little old tent, oh Just like this river I've been runnin' ever since It's been a long, long time comin' But I know, but I know A change has gotta come now Oh yes it is now, oh my, oh my, oh my It's been too hard livin', oh my And I'm afraid to die I don't know what's up there Beyound the clouds It's been a long, long time comin' I know, I know A change has gotta come Oh yes it is now, oh my, oh my, oh my There's a time I will go to my brother, oh my I've asked my brother Will you help me, please? Oh now, oh my He turned me down And then I asked my dear mother Oh now, oh now I said: Mother I said: Mother, I'm down on my knees It's been a time that I thought Lord, this couldn't last very long Oh now, oh But somehow I thought I was still able To try to carry on It's been a long, long time comin' But I know a change is gonna come Oh yes it is Just like I said I went to my little bitty brother Oh my, my little brother now I asked my brother Brother, help me please, oh now He turned me down And then I go to my little mother My dear mother, oh now I said: Mother I said: Mother, I'm down on my knees But there was a time that I thought Lord, this couldn't last so very long Oh my, oh Somehow I thought I was still able To try to carry on It's been a long, long time comin' But I know, but I know A change gotta come Ooh it's been so long It's been so long, a little too long But a change has gotta come I'm so tired, so tired of suffering And standing by myself And standing up alone But a change has gotta come You know and I know You know that I know That I know that you know, honey That a change is gonne come, oh my