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