verse 1
Ab Bm
I was born by a river in this little old tent
Bm Fm
Oh just like this river I've been running ever since
Ab Bm Db
It's been a long long, long time coming
Db C Fm
But I know, but I know a change is gotta come
Ab
Oh yes it is
verse 2
Ab
It's been too hard living, oh my
Ab Bm
And I'm afraid to die
Bm Fm
I don't know what's up there
Fm
Beyond the clouds
Ab Bm
It's been a long long, long time coming
Db C Fm Bm
But I know, but I know a change is gotta come
Ab
Oh yes it is
Bridge
Bm Ab Bm
There was a time I would go to my brother
Bm Fm Bm
I asked my brother, "Will you help me please?"
Bm Fm
He turned me down and then I ask my dear mother, oh
B7
I said "Mother!"
B7 Eb
I said "Mother! I'm down on my knees"
verse 3
Ab
It's been a time that I thought
Ab Bm
Lord this couldn't last for very long
Bm Fm
But somehow I thought I was still able to try to carry on
Ab Bm
It's been a long long, long time coming
Bm Db C Fm
But I know a change is gonna come
Ab
Oh, yes it is
Bridge
Bm Ab Bm
Just like I said, I went to my little bitty brother, my littlee brother
Bm Fm Bm
I asked my brother "Brother help me please?"
Bm Fm B7
He turned me down and then I go to my little mother, my dear mother
B7
I said "Mother!"
Eb
I said "Mother! I'm down on my knees"
verse 4
Ab
But there was a time that I thought
Ab Bm
Lord this couldn't last for very long
Fm
But somehow I thought I was still able to try to carry on
Ab Bm
It's been a long long, long time coming
Db Cm Fm
But I know, but I know a change is gotta come
Fm Db Cm
Ooh it's been so long, it's been so long, a little too long
Cm Fm
But a change has gotta come
Outro
Ab Db
I'm so tired, so tired of standing by myself
Cm C
And standing by my self
Fm
And standing up alone
Fm
But a change has gotta come
Fm
You know and i know
Fm Db
You know that I know
Db Cm
I know that you know, honey
Cm Fm Ab Db
That a change is gonne come, oh my