A Change Is Gonna Come – English Lyrics

• By: Sam Cooke

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the profound lyrics and rich musicality of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come." This iconic song offers a unique window into the English language, particularly its use in expressing deep emotion and societal commentary. You'll encounter poetic metaphors, powerful declarations of hope, and insights into the historical context of the American Civil Rights Movement, making it a powerful piece for understanding culturally significant English vocabulary and expressions.

[English]

(soft music)

♪ I was born by the river ♪

♪ In a little tent ♪

♪ Oh, and just like the river, I've been a runnin' ♪

♪ Ever since ♪

♪ It's been a long ♪

♪ A long time comin', but I know ♪

♪ A change gon' 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 comin', but I know ♪

♪ A change gon' 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 comin', but I know ♪

♪ A change gon' 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 ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ There've 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 comin', but I know ♪

♪ A change gon' come ♪

♪ Oh yes, it will ♪

(uplifting music)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
river /ˈrɪvər/ A1	noun - a large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another such stream.
born /bɔːrn/ A1	verb - brought into life.
tent /tent/ A2	noun - a portable shelter made of cloth, supported by poles and stretched tight by cords or loops attached to pegs driven into the ground.
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move at a speed faster than a walk
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A2	noun - an act or process through which something becomes different. verb - make or become different.
hard /hɑːrd/ A2	adjective - difficult to accomplish; demanding considerable effort and skill.
living /ˈlɪvɪŋ/ A2	noun - the pursuit of a way of life or means of support.
afraid /əˈfreɪd/ A2	adjective - feeling fear or anxiety; frightened.
die /daɪ/ A1	verb - stop living.
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the region of the atmosphere and outer space seen from the earth.
movie /ˈmuːvi/ A1	noun - a film; motion picture.
downtown /ˌdaʊnˈtaʊn/ A2	noun - the main business or commercial area of a town or city.
brother /ˈbrʌðər/ A1	noun - a male sibling.
knees /niːz/ A2	noun - the joint between the thigh and the lower leg in humans.
able /ˈeɪbl/ A2	adjective - having the power, skill, means, or opportunity to do something.
carry /ˈkæri/ A2	verb - support and move (someone or something) from one place to another.

Key Grammar Structures

• I was born by the river

  ➔ Passive Voice (Past Simple)

  ➔ Uses the structure "was/were + past participle" to indicate that the subject "I" received the action of being born. It emphasizes the place where the action happened rather than who performed the action.

• just like the river, I've been a runnin'

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous

  ➔ Uses "have/has been + verb-ing" to describe an action that started in the past and continues to the present. "I've been a runnin'" indicates a continuous state or activity since the past.

• It's been a long time comin', but I know

  ➔ It + be + adjective + time + to-infinitive / Reduced Relative Clause

  ➔ This sentence is a shortened version of "It has been a long time that a change has been coming.". "Comin'" is a shortened form of "coming," and functions as part of a reduced relative clause modifying "time."

• I'm afraid to die

  ➔ Adjective + infinitive

  ➔ The structure "be + adjective + to + infinitive" expresses a feeling or state about doing something. Here, "afraid" is the adjective, and "to die" is the infinitive expressing the object of the fear.

• Don't hang around

  ➔ Imperative (Negative)

  ➔ This is a negative imperative used to tell someone not to do something. The structure is "Don't + base form of the verb."