i was born by a river in this little old tent and just like this river i ve been running ever since it s been a long long time coming but i know change is gotta 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 long time coming but i know but i know a change is gotta come oh yes it is there was a time i would go to my brother i asked my brother can you help me please but he turned me down so i go to my mother oh i said mother i m down on my knees but there was a time that i thought lord this couldn t last for long but somehow i thought i was still able to try to carry on it s been a long long time coming but i know change is gotta come oh yes it is just like i said i went to my little bitty brother my little brother i asked my brother can you help me please but he turned me down so i go to my mother oh i said mother i m down on my knees but there was a time that i thought lord this couldn t last for long but somehow i thought i was still able to try to carry on it s been a long long time coming but i know change is gotta come oh yes it will  it s been a long long time coming but i know change is gotta come