I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh, just like the river, I [bad word] ever since
It's been a long, a long [bad word] 
But I know a change is [bad word] 
Oh, yes it will, look it here

It's been too hard living and I'm afraid to die
Look it here
Cuz I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
It's been a long
I wish I [bad word] out there where you are baby
long [bad word] but I know
Look it here
change is [bad word]  oh yes it will 
Look it here

Let me say one more thing
I go to the movie and I go downtown
But I don't like it here
Somebody keep telling me oh boy, don't hang around
It's been a long, a long
If anybody know what I'm talking about
Lemme see you wave your hands
I know a chance [bad word]  oh yes it will
But I gotta take, say this here

Then I go to my brother, yes sir
And I tell 'em, I say brother help me please
But he winds up knockin' me
He knocks me back down, back down on my
Oh there's been times that I fall
Somebody say yeah
Life could pass me on, no no
I know I'm able, I'm able, I'm able
I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, good God almighty
long [bad word] but I know, yeah
change is [bad word]  oh yes it will
Look it here, one more time

Then I go to my brother
Somebody take your hands back and forth like this
Everybody, everybody
You sittin' in the first balcony too
All over the auditorium tonight
But he winds up knocking me down, my
Back down on, back down on my knee oh

I've been down but I thought I could last
Oh, I know I'm able, I'm able, I'm able
I know, I know, I know a change [bad word] 
And oh yes it will
Somebody say yeah
You all back here, lemme hear ya say yeah
Somebody say oh yeah
Somebody say oh yeah
Somebody say yeah
Whoa, right on