I was born by a river, oh my
In this little old tent
Oh, just like this river
I've been running ever since
It's been alone

Lord, I'm coming but I know, but I know
A change is gotta come, now
Yes, it is, my oh, my oh, my oh

It's been too hard livin', oh my
And I'm afraid to die
I don't know what's up there
Beyond the clouds
It's been alone

Lord, I'm coming but I know, but I know
A change is gotta come
Oh, yes it is, 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 now

He turned me down
And then I asked my little mother, oh my
I said mother, I said mother
I'm down on my knees

It's been time that I go
Lord, it's too late, very long, oh now, oh
Somehow I thought I was still able
To try to carry on
It's been alone

Lord, but I'm coming that I've 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
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 go
Lord, it's too late, so very long, oh, my oh
Somehow I thought I was still able
To try to carry on
It's been alone

Lord, I'm coming but I know, but I know
A change is gotta come
It's been so long, it's been so long
A little too long
But change is gotta come

So tired, so tired of suffering
Standing by myself
And standing up alone
But a change is gonna come

You know, I know
You know that
I know and I know
And you know
A change is gonna come

Copyright: Abkco Music Inc.
Writer(s): Sam Cooke