Aretha Franklin

Released: March 10, 1967

Songwriter: Sam Cooke

Producer: Jerry Wexler

There's an old friend that
I once heard say
Something that touched my heart
And it began this way

I was born by the river
In a little tent
And just like the river
I've been running ever since

He said it's been a long time coming
But I know my change is gonna come, oh yeah

He said it's been too hard livin'
But I'm afraid to die
I might not be if I knew what was up there
Beyond the sky

It's been a long, long time coming
But I know my change is got to come, oh yeah

I went, I went to my brother
And I asked him, "Brother
Could you help me, please?"
He said, "Good sister
I'd like to but I'm not able"
And when I, when I looked around
I was right back down
Down on my bended knees, yes I was, oh

There've been times that I thought
I thought that I wouldn't last for long
But somehow, right now
I believe that I'm able, I'm able to carry on
I tell you that it's been a long
And oh, it's been an uphill journey, all the way
But I know, I know, I know
I know my change is gonna come

Sometimes
I had to cry all night long, yes I did
Sometimes
I had to give up right, for what I knew was wrong
Yes. it's been an uphill journey
It's sure's been a long way coming, yes it has
It's been real hard, every step of the way
But I believe, I believe
This evening my change is come
Yeah, I tell you that my change is come

Aretha Franklin is both a 20th and 21st century musical and cultural icon known simply by her first Aretha. She is the reigning and undisputed “Queen Of Soul” with a legacy that spans five decades. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Aretha began her career singing gospel at her father, minister C. L. Franklin’s church as a child. In 1960, at the age of 18, Aretha embarked on a secular career, recording for Columbia Records with modest success.

After moving to Atlantic Records in 1967, she released a steady string of US top ten hits through 1973 including “Spanish Harlem”, “Chain Of Fools”, “Baby I Love You”, “Since You’ve Been Gone”, “Daydreaming”, “The House That Jack Built”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", ”Think“ and her first chart-topper “Respect” – a song that also won Aretha her first of 18 Grammys. During this time, several of her songs were also successful overseas.

By the mid-70s, Aretha’s commercial success waned and she left Atlantic for Clive Davis' Arista Records in 1980. Her 1982 song “Jump to It,” returned her to the top 40 for the first time in six years. 1985’s Who’s Zoomin' Who? got her back into the top 10 twice with its title track and “Freeway Of Love”. Four more songs reached the top 40 through 1986.

more tracks from the album

I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You

From the album

I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You (1967)

Aretha Franklin popular songs

A Change Is Gonna ComeAretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You