A Change Is Gonna Come
Sam Cooke
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I was born by the river in a little tent Oh and just like the river I've been running ev'r since It's been a long time, a long time coming 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 coming 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 coming 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, oh There have 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 coming But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
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10 facts about this song
Artist BackgroundSam Cooke, an American singer, started his career in gospel music, transitioning to secular soul and pop during the mid-1950s. Cooke has been a key figure in shaping contemporary music, especially Soul music genre.
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Song Origin"A Change Is Gonna Come" was written and recorded by Sam Cooke in 1963, making it over 50 years old.
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InspirationThe song was written as a civil rights anthem, inspired by Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" and the personal experiences of racial discrimination Cooke faced, including the prevailing segregation in America at that time.
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Release DateInterestingly, the song was released after Cooke's death in December 1964, making it among the last officially released songs of his career.
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Impact on Civil Rights Movement"A Change Is Gonna Come" has been recognized as an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement. Its lyrics reflect the struggles and hopes for equality and freedom faced by African-Americans during the 1960s.
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LongevityDespite its initial mixed response, the song’s impact grew over time, and it is now considered one of the greatest songs in American pop history, with Rolling Stone ranking it the twelfth greatest song of all time in 2004.
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Cultural ImpactThe song has been covered by many artists and featured in numerous films, such as "Malcolm X" and "Ali", showcasing its strong cultural resonance.
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Awards and RecognitionIn honor of these contributions, the Library of Congress added the song to the National Recording Registry, which selects songs that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important."
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Song StructureLyrically, the song is structured as a narrative, showcasing the suffering and hope of the African-American community. The orchestral arrangements used in the song were not common in soul music of that era, making it stand out.
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Posthumous Hits"A Change Is Gonna Come" turned out to be one of Sam Cooke's biggest hits after his death. Cooke did not live long enough to see the song's success and its impact as a civil rights anthem.
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Citation
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"A Change Is Gonna Come Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/5285934/Sam+Cooke/A+Change+Is+Gonna+Come>.
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