A Change Is Gonna Come
Sam Cook (1964)


Try this simple strum til you get the hang of it. Then play more sparsely.
6/8 | d D D d D D |
      1 2 3 4 5 6

Intro
[E7!]  
I was | [A] born by the | river | ... in a little | tent
Oh and, | [Bm7] just like that | river, I've, been running | [F#m] ... . ever | since
It's been a | [A] long ... | ... .a long | [Bm7] time coming, but I | [D7!] know, oh-oh- [C#7!] oh,
A | [F#m] change is gonna come, | ... ..oh | [A] yes it will | [A]  

It's been | [A] too hard | living, but I'm a- | fraid to | die
| [Bm7] ... 'Cos I don't | know what's out there | [F#m] ... beyond the | sky
It's been a | [A] long... | ... .a long | [Bm7] time coming, but I | [D7] know, oh-oh- [C#7] oh
A | [F#m] change is gonna come, | ... oh, | [A] yes it will | [A] ... ..

I | [A] go to the | movie and I | go down- | town
| [Bm7] ... . Somebody | keep telling me don't | [F#m] ... hang a- | round
It's been a | [A] long... | ... .a long | [Bm7] time coming, but I | [D7] know, oh-oh- [C#7] oh
A | [F#m] change is gonna come | ... oh | [A] yes it will | [A] ... ...

Bridge   6/8 | d d d D - - |
| [Bm7] ... . Then I | go-o-o-o to my- | [F#m] y-y..  brother | [F#m] ... ...
| [Bm7] ... . And I say, | brother, help me | [F#m] please ... | [F#m] ... ...
| [Bm7] ... . But he | winds up | [F#m] ... .. knockin' | [F#m] me
| [B7] ... .Back down | on my-y-y | [E7] knees, oh | [E7] ...

There been | [A] times when I | thought, I couldn't | last for long | [A] ... ...
| [Bm7] ... . But now I | think I'm able | [F#m] to.. . carry | on ..
It's been a | [A] long... | ... .a long | [Bm7] time coming, but I | [D7] know, oh-oh- [C#7] oh
A | [F#m] change is gonna come, | ... oh | [A] yes it will | [A] ... ... | [A!]  

#Capo on 1st fret to play with Sam Cooke

#Play in this key with 'Playing For Change'

#Last Updated 11/11/22 JJ
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