Go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE4qBjKCtBM
Sam Cooke's It's Been a Long Time Comin' is certainly one of my top 5 songs. Sam was a not a civil rights leader, but was disturbed by incidents denying him lodging on tour in the south. He was also considering the death of his brother when he wrote the song.
The song subsequently became an anthem of the civil rights movement. Obama paraphrased the song in his presidential acceptance speech.
Wikipedia lists 33 covers (not counting rap and hip hop samplings) Name 5 and you're good. Name 10 and you're an R&B allstar.
LYRICS:
I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I been a runnin' ever since
It's been a long, a long time coming but I know
A change gon' come oh yes it will
It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die
Cuz 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 gon' 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 gon' come oh yes it will
Then I go to my brother
And I say "brother, help me please"
But he winds up knocking me
Back down on my knees
There been times that I thought I wouldn't last for long
Now think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, along time coming but I know
A change gon' come, oh yes it will
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"A Change is Gonna Come" is certainly a monumental song and one that has withstood the test of time. I appreciate you detailing its significance here.
ReplyDeleteErik Greene
Author, "Our Uncle Sam: The Sam Cooke Story From His Family's Perspective"
www.OurUncleSam.com
thanks for your comment. I bought the book you wrote. I've seen footage of Sam singing other songs, but none of A Change is Gonna Come" Do you know of any that is publicly available?
ReplyDeleteThat's been a question for the ages, Paul. Keep in mind that the song was released 11 days after he died in December of 1964. After great debate, and after tenacious research by a fellow "Cookie," there's evidence he sang the song on the "Tonight Show" in February of that year. However, this was before live shows were taped (some were kineoscoped with horrible picture quality), and all indications are that Sam's performance of "Change" was never preserved in either manner. But, there's always hope a copy'll surface one day.
ReplyDeletetaking the bate...
ReplyDeleteAl Green
Otis Redding
Janis Joplin
That's as far as I can get without looking it up.
abby