Sam Cooke, was an influential American singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. Born on January 22, 1931, and passing on December 11, 1964, Sam Cooke is considered one of the pioneers and most important figures in the development of soul music. His smooth, emotive voice and his blending of gospel music with secular themes helped shape the sound of modern R&B and soul.
Social and Historical Context:
“A Change Is Gonna Come” became an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement, resonating with people who longed for equality, freedom, and justice. Its message of hope in the face of suffering struck a deep chord with listeners and continues to inspire generations.
Sam Cooke wrote “A Change Is Gonna Come” in 1963, during a period of great social upheaval in the United States. The song was inspired by both personal experiences of racism and the broader civil rights struggles of the time. Cooke himself had faced discrimination, and he was inspired by events such as the 1963 March on Washington and the death of his friend, activist Medgar Evers.
The song was written shortly after Cooke and his band were turned away from a whites-only motel in Louisiana, an event that deeply upset him. In the same period, Cooke also heard Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind,” which further motivated him to write a song that addressed the social conditions of African Americans.
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 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
1. Wind up
- Meaning: To end up in a particular situation, often unexpected.
- Example sentence: If you keep driving in the wrong direction, you’ll wind up getting lost.
2. Knock down
- Meaning: To physically push or hit someone so they fall; metaphorically, to defeat or overpower someone.
- Example sentence: The storm was so strong it knocked down several trees.
3. Keep tellin’
- Meaning: Repeatedly saying something (informal use of “telling”).
- Example sentence: My parents keep tellin’ me to clean my room, but I never seem to get around to it.
4. Hang around
- Meaning: To stay in a place or spend time doing nothing in particular.
- Example sentence: We didn’t have plans, so we just hung around at the park all day.
5. Carry on
- Meaning: To continue despite difficulties.
- Example sentence: Even after facing so many setbacks, she decided to carry on with her project.
- Have you ever heard this song before?
- Do you know much about the issues in America with racism, segregation etc?
- Have you read or watched anything which opened your eyes to slavery and the struggle of African-American people in America?
- Do you prefer listening to songs for the lyrics or sound? Which is more important to you?
- Are there any songs which talk about these types of themes which you like?
