Ooo, when will it ever change? 
Ooo people, tell me when will it ever change? 
I can see bells of freedom 
I can't hear them ring 
I see this premonition 
Nearly happens every night 
I see this premonition 
It happens every day 
I can see it when they work 
I can tell by the things they say 

My sisters and my brothers 
On the streets all over town 
I can see people dyin' 
There's hatreds all around 
Ooo people, will it ever change? 
Sometimes I hear the bells of freedom 
But I never hear them ring 
Oh! 

Once I knew a man 
He'd fought for equality, yes he did ya'all 
He'd seen the Promised Land 
He freed now for my needs, oh yes he did 
I can see the bells of freedom 
Tell me why can't I hear them ring? 
Hear them ring, baby 

Let me tell ya'all 
This is what I read 
Come on in here 
Freedoms comin' in 
Liberty, equality, humanity 
Little love, never hurt nobody 
But we need liberty, there's no doubt about it 
People, when will it change? 
People, when will it change? 
We need love, I know we need love 
We don't need no more hatred 
Tell me when will it change? 
When will it change? 
People, could ya tell me when will it change? 
Somebody tell me now 
I want freedom 
I wanna hear those freedom bells ringin', yeah-oh 
Oh whoa, I wanna know 
Think you wanna know, too 
Take my hand 
Let me lead you to the Promised Land 
I think I can lead you to the Promised Land 
I know I can 
But I wanna know one thing, people 
I wanna know, when will it change? 
When will it change? 
Yeah