First Line:
I was born by the river in a little tent
Artist & Tune
Composed by:
Version by Sam Cooke
Performed by:
Version by Malcom X (film)
Performed by:
Version by Leslie Odom Jr, One Night in Miami (film)
Performed by:
Version by Jennifer Hudson
Performed by:
Version by Otis Redding
Performed by:
Version by Aretha Franklin
Performed by:
Version by Brian Owens
Performed by:
Version by John Legend
Performed by:
About the Song
This song was written in 1963 as a result of Cooke's band being turned away from a Whites-only motel in Louisiana while on tour.
I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I've been running ev'r since
It's been a long time, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
'Cause I don't know what's up there, beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie and I go downtown
Somebody keep tellin' me don't hang around
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
(bridge) Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees, oh
There have been times that I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
words & music by Sam Cooke. (c) 1963 Abkco Music, Inc. All rights reserved.
I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I've been running ev'r since
It's been a long time, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
'Cause I don't know what's up there, beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie and I go downtown
Somebody keep tellin' me don't hang around
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
(bridge) Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees, oh
There have been times that I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
words & music by Sam Cooke. (c) 1963 Abkco Music, Inc. All rights reserved.