“A Change Is Gonna Come” was written and recorded by Sam Cooke in 1963 and released in 1964. The iconic lyrics tell a story of struggle, pain, and hope during the Civil Rights era.
The lyrics, which detail a journey from hardship to hope, include the following lines:
- “I was born by the river in a little tent…”
- “It’s been too hard livin’, but I’m afraid to die…”
- “It’s been a long, a long time comin’ / But I know a change gon’ come…”
Know Thyself 