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Sam Cooke — A Change is Gonna Come
Album: Ain't That Good News
Avg rating:
8.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2832









Released: 1964
Length: 3:09
Plays (last 30 days): 2
I was born by the river in a little tent
Ohh and just like the river I've been running ev'r 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, ohh

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
Comments (207)add comment
Inexpressibly beautiful.  The voice, the song, the arrangement - all perfect.  If ever there's a 10, this is surely it.
The mother of all seques- Vivaldi—> Sam Cooke. Bravo RP. 
 joejennings wrote:


Cool!  How about some info about where to find this (500 songs).  Thank You!


A History of Rock and Roll in 500 Songs

Since William is so good at including many 'historical' songs, you may find this podcast as a great companion to Radio Paradise. 
My parents introduced me to Cooke's music. Those are fond memories. His voice is timeless 
 stevesaw wrote:

I've been listening to A History of Rock and Roll in 500 Songs. I'm at around 1957 now and there was an episode on Sam Cooke. What a natural talent and fantastic voice even at the start of his career. Shame it was cut short.



Cool!  How about some info about where to find this (500 songs).  Thank You!
I've been listening to A History of Rock and Roll in 500 Songs. I'm at around 1957 now and there was an episode on Sam Cooke. What a natural talent and fantastic voice even at the start of his career. Shame it was cut short.
 forthbrdge wrote:

Another BillG homerun segues - 

Vivaldi's Concerto Op 4 No 1: III Allegro

to 

Sam Cooke's A Change is Gonna Come 

perfect


Same exact segue today.  Perfection. 
Had to stop what I was doing at work and just sit and listen and think
If Sam Cooke were alive to see two black legislators expelled from the  Tennessee House of Representatives for protesting gun violence, while a protesting white legislator was spared that fate, I do not think he would be able to stop vomiting.

Great job, Tennessee Republicans on your march toward apartheid!
"Gives me chills" is a cliche. But it's literal for this one.
dang.
jewel
Excellent, beautiful voice, beautiful lyrics, 
 forthbrdge wrote:

Another BillG homerun segues - 

Vivaldi's Concerto Op 4 No 1: III Allegro

to 

Sam Cooke's A Change is Gonna Come 

perfect






I thought you had just written this, because the exact same thing just happened! I guess they have certain playlists that they repeat.
Any Sam Cooke song is an automatic 10
 DrLex wrote:

‘Godlike’ indeed is the appropriate rating for this song.

I recently de-rated a bunch of my 10s. Not to take anything away from those artists, but to honor the handful of songs like this one.
c.

 DrLex wrote:

‘Godlike’ indeed is the appropriate rating for this song.



I Agree!!
‘Godlike’ indeed is the appropriate rating for this song.
 Ndugu wrote:

This is a great example of an artist taking control of his career. Cooke heard Dylan's "Blowin' In The Wind," and wanted to make that kind of statement. Not many guys can do this, but he wrote A Change Is Gonna Come and made a drastic shift away from the lighter songs he was doing to that point.



Otis Redding did it too.  Shame we lost him right after.
Still waiting, still waiting... and it looks like the changes we're getting just now are two or three steps backwards.  

But this song stands along with Nina Simone's "Backlash Blues" and several others as bright rays of hope for the good change that may come -- and that we shall overcome, someday.
hope so. 
with the soul
Words do not express how good I think song is.
If I had a personal top ten list - my listening pleasure goes back to mid-midcentury - this one would qualify.
Absolutely wholesome. Great Main Mix this morning - afternoon
Outstanding mix wow thanks

And here we are, working extra hours in the office....
Such an extraordinary song with that full orchestra. That the following verse was cut from radio play when the song first came out for fear that it would cause racial unrest is a sad commentary on our past. RIP, Sam. 

I go to the movie
And I go downtown
Somebody keep telling me
Don't hang around
 ImaOldman wrote:



Check out the film "One Night in Miami", it tells a fictionalized story about Sam's changing of style and social activism.


Also recommend the doc (on Netflix) "the Two Killings of Sam Cooke".  So much more than a brilliant voice ; he was an amazing songwriter, a civil rights and racial equality advocate, an entrepreneur, provided support and advocacy for Black musicians and music, even stood up to the Mafia.  A remarkable individual, taken by a tragic (and highly suspicious) death.
 ImaOldman wrote:



Check out the film "One Night in Miami", it tells a fictionalized story about Sam's changing of style and social activism.



Great film
 jarad.petroske176 wrote:

Holy Smokes this is amazing. Where has this song been all my life?


I grew up listening to this on AM radio.
GREAT!!! ICONIC!!!
Holy Smokes this is amazing. Where has this song been all my life?
 dmiley wrote:


OMG!? and it got 4 upvotes as of this posting. Racist comment FTL! Not appropriate anywhere.  

Now 6 upvotes including mine.
 jmsmy wrote:

Yeah - being white  - I really don't know what's wrong with some white people -  but a change will come AGAIN.



OMG!? and it got 4 upvotes as of this posting. Racist comment FTL! Not appropriate anywhere.  
 Stetsonman wrote:

bit of a horny fucker wasn't he?



So that's how you sum up a life like his? Odd
bit of a horny fucker wasn't he?
 forthbrdge wrote:

Another BillG homerun segues - 

Vivaldi's Concerto Op 4 No 1: III Allegro

to 

Sam Cooke's A Change is Gonna Come 

perfect



And, just like Bill, he changed it up a bit.
What an amazing set today !  
Thanks RP 
I need to change many of my 10s to 9s, to honor this song - and the man.
c.
Yeah - being white  - I really don't know what's wrong with some white people -  but a change will come AGAIN.
 konz wrote:



Also Malford Milligan's (Storyville) version from the album Bluest Eyes. 
https://youtu.be/8Gwm8mH_PIE
Malford used to walk everywhere back in the 80's. You'd see him all over town, walking. Seen him perform many times, his voice has always been something special. I might have to pick up that old CD just because.
c.

 Ndugu wrote:

This is a great example of an artist taking control of his career. Cooke heard Dylan's "Blowin' In The Wind," and wanted to make that kind of statement. Not many guys can do this, but he wrote A Change Is Gonna Come and made a drastic shift away from the lighter songs he was doing to that point.




Check out the film "One Night in Miami", it tells a fictionalized story about Sam's changing of style and social activism.
Another BillG homerun segues - 

Vivaldi's Concerto Op 4 No 1: III Allegro

to 

Sam Cooke's A Change is Gonna Come 

perfect
 Daveteauk wrote:
 
 Graet voice, but check out the version by Taj Mahal - bliss.




Also Malford Milligan's (Storyville) version from the album Bluest Eyes. 
https://youtu.be/8Gwm8mH_PIE
So apropos for today 1/8/21.
It's been a week!
 Ndugu wrote:
This is a great example of an artist taking control of his career. Cooke heard Dylan's "Blowin' In The Wind," and wanted to make that kind of statement. Not many guys can do this, but he wrote A Change Is Gonna Come and made a drastic shift away from the lighter songs he was doing to that point.

 
Bob's version of this song is quite interesting indeed.  I can't post the link on RP, but if you search it on youtube it will pull it up.    Great live version from 2004.
One of my favorite of all times songs.  This one goes right to the center of my soul, especially sung by Sam Cooke.  
Chills. Every. Time.
c.

edit: A little googling turned up a great article from The New Yorker circa 2015, describing the influences that built this song. He was inspired by Dylan's 'Blowin' In The Wind', for starters, but made the song much more personal, and drew from various sources, including the musical 'Showboat'. Watch Paul Robeson sing 'Ol' Man River', the influence is obvious - and powerful.
c.
 Rockit9 wrote:
What a voice.
 
Indeed and good looking too...,
 Daveteauk wrote:
 Rockit9 wrote:
What a voice.
 Graet voice, but check out the version by Taj Mahal - bliss.

 
Terence Trent D'arby did an amazing version too. Captured the anguish of the struggle with an amazing voice. As far as I know it is only available on the soundtrack of a TV mini-series 'The Promised Land' circa 1995. 
c.
 Rockit9 wrote:
What a voice.
 Graet voice, but check out the version by Taj Mahal - bliss.

Pure, true, intense...
"A change is gonna come, ain't that good news"?
What a voice.
10+
 marklaw wrote:
Change will come.  It's slow, it's painful, but right and morality will out.  #Resist

 
Race relations went backwards 30 years with Mr Hope and Change.  You maybe should have resisted that...
Change will come.  It's slow, it's painful, but right and morality will out.  #Resist
A truly beautiful piece of music!  Thank you RP
PSD from the post TH David Byrne to this. Like going from leftovers to the full Christmas dinner.  
 Cynaera wrote:
His voice gives me chills - so pure and true. I love this song.

 
yes

yes
Going up, 9 > 10  that is an awesome piece.
An absolute classic. 
 westslope wrote:
Sweet.

So for the benefit of those of us who require mental crutches to see forward, in what category does this song fall?  R&B?  Soul?   

 
Cooke is regarded as The Father Of Soul Music, for example his first hit "You Send Me" in 1957 you can hear how he sweetened up the R&B and Do-Wop of the '50's that started Soul Music, all the singers that followed Cooke in the 1960's credit him as inspiration and an idol.
To answer your question, if I had to hang a label on it I'd say Soul Music but that is what my ears hear.
This song "A Change Is Gonna Come" I get a little jazzy and Gospel feel to it but Cooke put his signature on it and made it soulful
Sweet.

So for the benefit of those of us who require mental crutches to see forward, in what category does this song fall?  R&B?  Soul?   
you'd think with an 8.8 rating RP would be playing tons of Sam Cooke

Pure.

Freakin'.

Gold.

 


 mfcrowe wrote:
Check out the his album Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963. It is awesome and so different from his pop recordings. This guy could rock. King Curtis is unbelievable in the sax and if you haven't heard his music, you should. In fact Bill, I am surprised that he isn't played on RP.

Check out King Curtis -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI8d36w_ijw  

 A terrific version of Twisting the Night Away on that album

 


A firm 9. The only reason I can't give it a 10 is because I have to leave room for Aaron Neville's rendition, which is even better. Chilling.
I want an 11 for this.
Been a long time since I heard this. Gave me chills. His phrasing is phenomenal.
 Cynaera wrote:
His voice gives me chills - so pure and true. I love this song.

 
Absolutely.
Check out the his album Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963. It is awesome and so different from his pop recordings. This guy could rock. King Curtis is unbelievable in the sax and if you haven't heard his music, you should. In fact Bill, I am surprised that he isn't played on RP.

Check out King Curtis -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI8d36w_ijw  

 
Sublime
 ottovonb wrote:
There's never been a better singing voice on this planet and I doubt there ever will be.
Good, great as he is....Mr. Sam Cooke will have to chat with Rev  Al Green.


 ottovonb wrote:
There's never been a better singing voice on this planet and I doubt there ever will be.

  Objectively-speaking, there are probably 'better' voices. But there is something about his voice that just crushes it, something very rare indeed. Marvin Gaye had it. Patsy Cline had it. Something in their voices conveys intense emotions. I do not disagree with your statement though: Mr. Cooke's voice is without equal.


{#Sunny}
needs some Bonzo, Peart or Moon on drums.{#Mrgreen}
now there is a 10 if ever I heard one!
There's never been a better singing voice on this planet and I doubt there ever will be.
{#Heartkiss} G O D L I K E + + +
and it flat do not get better than this, EVER, NO WAY, NO HOW..........
 siloco wrote:
A true classic.

Terence Trent D'arby did a great version in the nineties, which is well worth checking out...
 
I have that version too, the only source I ever found was a PBS production called 'The Promised Land'.

 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124081/
 yofitofu wrote:
Seems like a song about Khadaffi - "I was born in a little tent.....a change is gonna come"?

 

and look what happened to him..........................
SHOT  to death in a sleazy motel room, his wallet was never found, the cops didn't care, hooker and murdering pimp walked away. American justice.
50 years old and still riveting.
 Hinkamp wrote:
you should follow this with a moment of silence because anything else sort of spoils the mood. "Porcupine Trees"!?!
 
I was just thinking this is an awfully hard song to immediately follow with another song. Tracy Chapman's Crossroads is on now. Decent tune but after Sam Cooke? Silence is golden. Shame he passed away so soon. 
 Toke wrote:


well said ... its just a beautiful song sung from the soul and heart.

 
This just reminds me of the beauty of RP. I listen to "Music Choice" on Comcast (at another place not set up like home) cause its easier than trying to stream the web and the 60s music features lots of Cooke, but it is not the depth that I ALWAYS get here. I'm just glad someone(s) is paying attention!
The strings are saccharine, but the singing is righteous. 8.
 atthetone wrote:
black soul, motown....call it what you will. sweet it is, sweet it is..
 

well said ... its just a beautiful song sung from the soul and heart.
black soul, motown....call it what you will. sweet it is, sweet it is..
Not sure how accurate this story is, but I thought I heard an interview about the writing of this song. Supposedly he wrote it in the car on the way to a gig: they needed another song for their set list and wanted something gospel-sounding but not TOO gospel-sounding. I don't know if there's really such a thing as divine inspiration, but this song would be pretty good proof.

Edit: Wiki set me straight. Written in his tour bus after visiting with demonstrators. Doesn't change the quality of the song though.
Seamless and true.
Its all just gospel to me.
  This is in my top 5 of all time. It might just be number 1
 ottovonb wrote:
Some voices - very few - are so utterly amazing it almost doesn't matter what they sing, it's stunning. That's Sam. Fortunately he sang plenty of great songs. But his voice is so extraordinary it's actually difficult to assess the song itself. What an amazing gift to be able to bring joy to so many people so long after you've passed from this earth.
 
Right on...
Some voices - very few - are so utterly amazing it almost doesn't matter what they sing, it's stunning. That's Sam. Fortunately he sang plenty of great songs. But his voice is so extraordinary it's actually difficult to assess the song itself. What an amazing gift to be able to bring joy to so many people so long after you've passed from this earth.
perfect.
 gosvimmink wrote:
sam cooke is perfection
 
yes.
sam cooke is perfection
i think it's truly difficult to comprehend or figure out exactly what a huge and profound influence he, otis redding and smokey robinson were on the early '60's music scene in america.  the beatles, of course, were obliterating everything north, east, south and west at the very same time but those three did what they did best....black american soul, the very root of rock n' roll.  perhaps, if i may be so bold as to add, saving the american pop music at the same time.  there was, in fact, no real american answer for the beatles.  they sprang from the roots of the fifties (buddy holly, little richard, everly bros. etc) but those three were all american originals.  
viva sam  otis and smokey
And a second believe it or not, Joshua Ledett does magic with this on American Idol
Oh, Lord, what a voice.
10, 10, 10, 10. I should go back and change all my other 10s to 9s. It just doesn't get any better.

Believe it or not, Terence Trent d'Arby did a wonderful cover of this for a PBS (?) special called 'The Promised Land'. Nothing can top Sam Cooke of course, but that version is very, very good.
So smooth and sweet, brother bring it! {#Mrgreen}
Hmm, this song does not appear to be on this album
aaahhhhhhhhh......life is good; thank you RP!!! 
Next time you are at a wedding, ask the band to play anything from Sam Cooke.  You'll get an admiring glance from the band and the dance floor will be packed in seconds.  Never fails.  People know the music, but not the Man's name.  Amazing music.

His voice gives me chills - so pure and true. I love this song.

Wow. This song just gave me chills. I can't remember the last time that happened.


Seems like a song about Khadaffi - "I was born in a little tent.....a change is gonna come"?
This is a great example of an artist taking control of his career. Cooke heard Dylan's "Blowin' In The Wind," and wanted to make that kind of statement. Not many guys can do this, but he wrote A Change Is Gonna Come and made a drastic shift away from the lighter songs he was doing to that point.

i must admit that the first rendition of this song i got to hear, and wholeheartedly fell in love with was the baby huey cover version of this track, it would be great to hear it...although it clocks at some 9 minutes ;)
Could be sacrlege to say, but I was reading an interview with Steve Perry of Journey, and he cites Sam Cooke as a favourite. And then I listened to Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'and heard it right away. Sam's influence even spread into 1970s AOR! Who would have thunk it? ThePoose wrote:
And how about Marvin, Otis and Rev. Al? Sad that legal wrangling kept this recording from being released to all humanity until the latest millennium. Credit Bob's Blowin' in the Wind for Sam's inspiration to write this.
What an amazing piece of music. One of the few that has rightly earned a rating of 10.
damn... 9 -> 10
damn, damn sad ... a change has not come.
siloco wrote:
A true classic. Terence Trent D'arby did a great version in the nineties, which is well worth checking out...
The only other version that starts to come close to this is the Neville Brothers. I saw a version filmed at the Montreal Jazz Festival that was absolutely riveting. Aaron Neville's delivery was an amazing mixture of menace and hope.
Whoa. The goosebumps I got the minute this came on tells me my rating must go up from a 9 to a 10.
drtjdel wrote:
Now I know where Robert Cray gets his vocal phrasing.
And how about Marvin, Otis and Rev. Al? Sad that legal wrangling kept this recording from being released to all humanity until the latest millennium. Credit Bob's Blowin' in the Wind for Sam's inspiration to write this.
There are a few people in my mind that define "soul" and Sam Cooke is one of them. And may I say he is on top of that list.
WOW.....worth a million goosebumps!