Change is Gonna Come

This is a classic sung by Sam Cooke (1963). This song reflects the hope of the Civil Rights movement, and also expresses how difficult it was to live under segregation and racism. One of the incidents that inspired this song was when Sam Cooke and his band attempted to register at a "whites only" motel in Louisiana. They were arrested for "disturbing the peace". But the Civil Rights Movement was in progress and people saw signs of hope and change. This is what he sings about.



I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since
It's been a long, 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 telling 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

Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees

Ohhhhhhhhh.....

There 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 gonna come, oh yes it will

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Here is Seal singing the song live.




And here is a beautiful version by the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin