A change is gonna come

I saw most of a film called 'Talk to me' on television the other night, an adapted true story of Washington D.C. radio personality Ralph "Petey" Greene, an ex-con who became a popular talk show host and community activist in the 1960s. I wasn't too sure at the beginning whether this was supposed to be a comedy or a drama, and towards the end I got fed up with the film (which is why I didn't see it all). 

For my money, the best and most moving part was a scene which took place in 1968, when Greene had to announce the death by assassination of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Greene was almost crying when he delivered the news, and the people reacted by setting fire to parts of Washington. It was Greene's job to calm the people down. 

As he finished his midnight - 2am shift, he played a final record, which started off with syrupy strings ("It's Nat King Cole", I thought), then moved into a vocal which sounded as it were sung by Rod Stewart (in other words, Rod Stewart styled his vocals on this singer): "It's been a long time coming, but a change is gonna come". Prophetic words sung beautifully by Sam Cooke.

I have always wondered what the attraction was for young white British youths in the mid 60s for black blues and soul music, and hearing this sad and dramatic song, I finally realised what it was all about. Those post -war youths were looking for direction and found it in this song. True, the arrangement sounds saccharine to my ears and it could easily be improved, but there is no doubting the strength of the song's words and of its delivery.

A Change Is Gonna Come

(Sam Cooke)

I was born by the river in a little tent

And just like the river, I've been running ever since

It's been a long time coming

But I know a change is gonna come

 

It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die

I don't know what's up there beyond the sky

It's been a long time coming

But I know a change is gonna come

 

I go to the movie, and I go downtown

Somebody keep telling me "Don't hang around"

It's been a long time coming

But I know a change is gonna come

 

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've been times that I've thought I couldn't last for long

But now I think I'm able to carry on

It's been a long time coming

But I know a change is gonna come