Otis Redding – A Change Is Gonna Come (Guitar)

Key
-
Versions (2)

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Chords

As recorded by Otis Redding (From the 1965 Album OTIS BLUE/OTIS REDDING SINGS SOUL) For easier chord fingerings you may put a capo at 1st fret and transpose -1 step. [Intro] N.C. [Verse 1]
Ab                                             Bbm
I was born by a river in this little old tent

Bbm                      Fm
Oh just like this river  I've been running ever since

Ab                     Bbm       Db
It's been a long long, long time coming

Db    C                  Fm
But I know, but I know a change is gotta come

Ab
Oh yes it is
[Verse 2]
Ab
It's been too hard living, oh my

Ab                   Bbm
And I'm afraid to die

Bbm                           Fm
I don't know what's up there

Fm
Beyond the clouds

Ab                     Bbm
It's been a long long, long time coming

Db          C          Fm                     Bbm
But I know, but I know a change is gotta come

Ab
Oh yes it is
[Bridge]
Bbm                            Ab         Bbm
There was a time I would go to my brother

Bbm                                Fm          Bbm
I asked my brother, "Will you help me please?"

Bbm                                 Fm
He turned me down and then I ask my dear mother, oh

Bb7
I said "Mother!"

Bb7                         Eb
I said "Mother! I'm down on my knees"
[Verse 3]
Ab
It's been a time that I thought

Ab                                    Bbm
Lord this couldn't last for very long

Bbm                                    Fm
But somehow I thought I was still able   to try to carry on

Ab                     Bbm
It's been a long long, long time coming

Bbm Db  C  Fm
But I know a change is gonna come

Ab
Oh, yes it is
[Bridge]
Bbm                                   Ab                               Bbm
Just like I said, I went to my little bitty brother, my littlee brother

Bbm                                 Fm       Bbm
I asked my brother "Brother help me please?"

Bbm                             Fm                                  Bb7
He turned me down and then I go to my little mother, my dear mother

Bb7
I said "Mother!"

                         Eb
I said "Mother! I'm down on my knees"
[Verse 4]
Ab
But there was a time that I thought

Ab                               Bbm
Lord this couldn't last for very long

                                   Fm
But somehow I thought I was still able to try to carry on

Ab                     Bbm
It's been a long long, long time coming

Db           Cm          Fm
But I know, but I know a change is gotta come

Fm               Db                         Cm
Ooh it's been so long, it's been so long, a little too long

Cm           Fm
But a change has gotta come
[Outro]
Ab                        Db
I'm so tired, so tired of standing by myself

Cm       C
And standing by my self

Fm
And standing up alone

Fm
But a change has gotta come

Fm
You know and I know

Fm            Db
You know that I know

Db          Cm
I know that you know, honey

Cm            Fm                     Ab   Db
That a change is gonne come, oh my