Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come (1964)

The original King of Soul, he was an amazing singer who indirectly led to the rise of Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, and James Brown by propelling soul music into the mainstream music scene. He had many hit songs in the height of his popularity between 1957 and 1964. Tragically, he was killed by gunshot in a bizarre hotel shooting surrounded in mystery.

In 1963, after hearing “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan, he was so moved that somebody who wasn’t black could write such a poignant song about racism in America, he felt he needed to address more serious topics in his own songs. This song was the result that is now widely considered his masterpiece. Unfortunately, he was killed before he could see its success.



Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come (1964)

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Lyrics:

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 comin’
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 comin’
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 comin’
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

Ohh, 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 comin’
But I know a change gonna come
Oh, yes it will