Although it does not contain any overt-religious references, “A Change Is Gonna Come” can perhaps best be described as a spiritual tune. Indeed a listener can easily presume that its lyrics actually predate the mid 1960’s, which is when they were actually written.
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- A Change Is Coming By Sam Cooke
- Sam Cooke A Change Is Gonna Come Lyrics
A Change Is Gonna Come chords by Sam Cooke. 848,498 views, added to favorites 23,139 times. Tuning: E A D G B E. Author cLuMsY a 9,348.
- Ultimate Backing Track Crew - A Change Is Gonna Come (In the Style of Sam Cooke) 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 coming But.
- Sam Cooke - A change is gonna come (1964) - Janis Joplin - Work me lord (1969) - Aaron Neville - Tell it Like it is (1966) - Syl Johnson - Is it because i'm black (1969) Lyrics: Letra de 'Sam.
And like all truly-elaborate metaphors, the lyrics of this song can be construed in a number of different ways. But generally speaking, it was intended to be Sam Cooke’s (1931-1964) way of addressing the Civil Rights Movement, which was in full swing when this track was released.
The Civil Rights Movement is the term used to describe the official fight for African-Americans to enjoy equal rights in the United States. These actions were at their peak during the 1960s. And to make a long story short, on top of being viewed as second-class citizens, African-Americans were regularly mistreated (i.e. discriminated against) by more-powerful classes in America. And that is the reality that Sam is speaking to.
Narrative
So based on that general understanding, Sam begins the song by alluding to the idea that he has been subject to this reality since the moment he was born. Indeed he suffers a “hard living” – so much so that he seems to fantasize about dying.
And it is within the third verse where it really begins to become apparent that Cooke is referring to racism. Moreover according to the fourth verse, it would appear that one of the major challenges the Civil Rights Movement was faced with was something along the lines of infighting.
And all of this combined, as alluded to earlier, sometimes has the singer ready to throw in the towel, as in believe that the times will remain the same. But he has decided to “carry on” despite such discouragement. Certainly as the title (and chorus) suggests, he is optimistic that ‘a change is going to come’. And this is directly irrespective of the fact that he cannot definitively perceive how or when such will occur.
So going back to the spiritual motif, this song is very much one of faith. Being born under the harrowing specter of racism, repression and a self-defeating people, all things considered the singer does not see anything to suggest that such is ever going to improve. However he is still supremely optimistic that at the end of the day they will.
Inspiration behind “A Change Is Gonna Come”
An overt incident of racism contributed to Sam Cooke, the sole writer of “A Change Is Gonna Come”, penning this song. In summation, this occurred in 1963. Said date saw Sam make reservations for himself and his wife at a Holiday Inn located in the city of Shreveport in Louisiana. But when they arrived, they were turned away under the premise of lack of vacancy. This caused Cooke and his brother to protest and eventually disturb the peace, at least according to the cops who arrested them shortly after they vacated the premises.
But on a more-positive note, in 2019 the Mayor of Shreveport did apologize for the event. He even went as far as gifting a long-deceased Sam Cooke the ‘key to the city’.
Another fire which burned in Cooke’s heart that influenced the composition of “A Change Is Gonna Come” was his affinity for the 1963 Bob Dylan tune “Blowin’ in the Wind”. In fact Cooke felt envy, if you will, against Dylan – aka “a White boy” – for putting out such a powerful song in support of the Civil Rights Movement.
The Church
And although in its seriousness “A Change Is Gonna Come” deviated from what Sam Cooke was known for, he felt a calling – so to say – to release this song. In fact he perceived it as the kind of track that would make his father, a minister, proud. Indeed having grown up in the church himself, this song was considered somewhat of a homecoming for Mr. Cooke.
Facts about “AChange Is Gonna Come”
This classic was released by RCA Records in 1964. It was thefifth single from Sam Cooke’s final album, “Ain’t That Good News”.
Lyrics To Change Gonna Come
However, the first time Cooke actually performed the tune was prior to the release of the album. This was on 7 February 1964 when he appeared as a guest on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson”.
That was the only time Sam is known to have performed this song in his lifetime. Part of the reason would logically be that he was shot dead less than a year later. But more to the point, Cooke had a reluctance to performing it live due to its complexity and inherent morbidity.
“A Change Is Gonna Come” is one of the most-recognizable songs in American music history. For instance, it was inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry in 2007. Rolling Stone also ranked it as high as number 12 on the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. Moreover, it was a track that was heavily associated with the Civil Rights Movement. It was even featured in a pivotal scene of Spike Lee’s 1992 “Malcolm X” film.
In fact Barack Obama himself referenced “A Change Is Gonna Come” when he became US President in 2008. And there are also numerous other high standards this track has achieved.
But you wouldn’t know that based on how it performed on the charts, modestly peaking at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, the tune did manage to reach as high as number nine on Billboard’s R&B Singles Chart.
Notable Covers
There are a number of major pop artists who have covered“A Change Is Gonna Come” throughout the years. And some worthmentioning are:
- Aretha Franklin (1967)
- Patti LaBelle (2004)
- Seal (2008)
- Beyoncé Knowles (2013)
- Céline Dion (2019)
Who wrote “A Change Is Gonna Come”?
This iconic classic was penned exclusively by none other than the great Sam Cooke.
Artist: Sam CookeSong: 'A Change Is Gonna Come'
Album:
A Change Is Gonna Come Youtube
Ain't That Good NewsYear: 1964
A Change Is Coming By Sam Cooke
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN (will open in new tab)Bringing fans of different musical styles together is one of the more daunting tasks that a musician can tackle, as it is often a matter of structuring ones music to that it speaks to a wide group, yet at the same time stays true to that performers original sound so their core fan-base does not feel alienated. While this is how it operates in a modern sense, there have been a few performers throughout the history of music whose music was so beautiful, so revolutionary, that it managed to speak to all people without sacrificing anything at all. Though some genres have multiple people who can be seen as the 'founder' of that style of music, there is no question that the sound of soul music began with any other than the late, great Sam Cooke. Bringing stunning musical arrangements alongside his unparalleled voice, Cooke's sound reached audiences of every race, social status, and age group across the globe with a similar impact, and this is a feat that can rarely be seen elsewhere in music history. Furthermore, the fact that Cooke never backed down from writing about 'hot button' topics, especially civil rights, enabled his music to move beyond 'just a song,' and many of his recordings remain today as rallying cries for the disenfranchised across the world. Though he had a number of amazing songs, there is simply no other recording in history that even comes close to the power and presence that one finds in his unforgettable 1964 classic, 'A Change Is Gonna Come.'
One of the most stunning aspects of 'A Change Is Gonna Come' lives in the grand, orchestral musical arrangement, and the fact of the matter is, sounds like those found here are simply not found elsewhere in popular music. The fact that with the deep sounds of the string section, sorrowful french horns, and the lone, marching snare drum are all that keep this song moving makes it almost impossible to explain how this song became a hit in any way, as it defies every norm of pop music. However, this is also the genius that was René Hall, as he was the individual that put together the arrangement on 'A Change Is Gonna Come,' as legend has it that Sam Cooke gave Hall free reign to compose the song as he saw fit. Obviously, this worked in amazing fashion, and the opening musical slide stands as one of the most memorable moments in all of music history. Hall's arrangement also sets the stage perfectly for Cooke's vocals, as there is a sense of deep sorrow and reflection that comes through clearly in the music. The pain that the instruments are able to convey are truly unparalleled, and it is this aspect that gives the song an almost religious feeling. There are points when the strings seem to be singing a duet with Cooke, and at these moments, 'A Change Is Gonna Come' moves into a musical category all its own, as no other song in history ever achieved this sense of the dramatic through the instrumentation alone.
However, while the music on 'A Change Is Gonna Come' is nothing short of extraordinary, there are simply not enough words that one can say that would do justice to the voice and performance that Sam Cooke brings to 'A Change Is Gonna Come.' Without question, Cooke has one of, if not the greatest voice in history, as both in terms of pitch as well as emotion, there is never anything short of musical perfection. Easily able to work the entire vocal spectrum, Cooke's voice often soars with a sound and energy that defines the idea of gospel music, as his singing is nothing short of a spiritual experience for the listener, and one can feel that he himself had a similar feeling during the actual recording. On 'A Change Is Gonna Come,' Cooke holds absolutely nothing back, and the raw pain that one can hear in his singing is a result of both his exceptional talent, as well as the fact that the lyrics he wrote can largely be seen as referring to painful incidents he had experienced the same year the song was recorded. Only a few months before the recording of 'A Change Is Gonna Come,' Cooke lost his eighteen-month-old son in a tragic drowning accident, and the pain that this brought Cooke can clearly be heard in both the lyrics and his voice when he sings lines like, '...there been times that I thought I wouldn't last for long, now think I'm able to carry on...' In this simple lyric, one can understand the cathartic power of music, yet the pain he felt is something that clearly has not left him in the least. The song also speaks to the still-present racism Cooke dealt with, and it is much the reason that 'A Change Is Gonna Come' remains one of the most powerful and often used songs of civil rights across the world.
Sam Cooke A Change Is Gonna Come Lyrics
In quite literally every aspect, Sam Cooke's, 'A Change Is Gonna Come' is a song that knows no equal or even any other song that comes remotely close. From the phenomenal orchestral arrangement to the absolutely brilliant vocals from Cooke himself, the song transcends every social boundary, and it retains all of its power after countless listenings as well retaining its impact nearly fifty years later. However, 'A Change Is Gonna Come' is also notorious for being one of the most eerily prophetic songs ever released. Truth be told, the song was not released as a single until ten days after Sam Cooke's tragic murder on December 11, 1964. Serving as the 'b-side' to his 'Shake' single, the song began to take on a life of its own, and many see the song as Cooke's finest recording. Though it was the b-side on the single, 'A Change Is Gonna Come' found great success in the charts, and it is without question the stand-out track on the album. As the decades have passed, many other artists have made their own version of the song, yet for a number of reasons, none of these covers even come remotely close to the overall power that one finds on the original. This, in many ways, is the most clear sign of the genius that was Sam Cooke, as the power and pain one can feel in his voice are the true definition of what soul music was meant to be. Though he had other songs that were more commercially successful, there is no other song in his catalog or anywhere else in music history that even comes close to the overall impact and influence that one finds in Sam Cooke's monumental 1964 song, 'A Change Is Gonna Come.'