1948年 9月6日 Sam在广州出生，排行第四，父亲许世昌是著名国乐师，母亲亦是歌剧界中人
1950年 学家来港定居于钻石山1961年入读圣芳济中学，开始对音乐产生浓厚兴趣
1964年 首次跟友人组成Harmonick乐队
1965年 开始在夜总会及丽的的“乐韵之声”作表演。后Harmonick解散，即加入Bar Six乐队
1966年 在英华书院念大学预科课程；在格兰酒店演出时认识Rebu，自此共堕爱河
1967年 以Lotus名义为钻石唱片公司(即Polygram唱片公司前身)，灌录首只亲自撰写的作品“Just A Little”声名大噪，
其后推出第二张细碟“I'm Be Waiting”. 20/11开始为无线主持每周五次的青年人节目“Star Show”
1969年 考进香港大学攻读心理系.因功课太忙，暂离Lotus
1970年 以个人歌手身份发展，为丽风唱片公司灌录离锦民歌大碟.“First Folk Album”及“Second Folk Album”，
其中“Interlude”更成为流行榜的冠军歌曲。乘势推出细碟“Time Of The Season”
跟嘉禾电影公司签约，首部电影“马路小英雄”与上官灵凤合作
1971年 完成港大课程，30/12与Rebu在美国结婚. 正式签约宝丽金唱片公司，推出细碟“April Lady”.
在“双星报喜”中首次献唱他的第一首广东歌“铁塔凌云”
农历年间，与许冠文为TVB主持特别节目“双星报喜”，后因受欢迎，在四月开始成为每周一次的节目
1972年 再次与Lotus合作，并推出个人细碟“The Morning After”及“Skyline Pigeon”.
拍摄电影“小英雄大闹唐人街”
1973年 到星马等地作慈善演唱；19/9在大会堂举行个人演唱会；十二月推出“Horizon”，成为流行榜的冠军歌曲.
在泰国拍摄电影“龙虎金刚”
1974年 二月推出“The Morning After”大碟，一天之内销出一千张，哄动一时，后再推出细碟“Theme From Jeremy”
同名唱片“鬼马双星”与电影同时推出，唱片在东南亚总销量达十五万，破当年纪录，
“鬼马双星”主题曲成为一首在英国BBC电台及香港电台英文台播放地中文歌.
5/11在大会堂与Lotus再次举行演唱会. 27/12在明爱中心举行“许冠杰之夜”.
推出电影“绰头状元”. 十一月许氏兄弟首部合作的电影“鬼马双星”上映，
电影总收入高达六百万，成为开埠以来香港最卖座电影
1975年 三月在丽的主办的“金唱片大会串”凭“鬼马双星”荣获宝丽金唱片公司颁赠金唱片
五月推出“Interlude”大碟，十四日在大会堂举行演唱会.
八月推出“天才白痴钱钱钱”及“天才与白痴”，唱片在东南亚销出二十万张
6/10再次在大会堂举行两场“许冠杰演唱会”. 八月电影“天才与白痴”上映
1976年 3/9大儿子许怀欣出生
三月出版细碟“Streets Of London”，曾占流行榜首位. 24/5在大会堂举行两场演唱会
十二月推出唱片“半斤八两”，唱片在东南亚总销量高达三十五万.
十二月推出电影“半斤八两”，票房总收入为八百五十多万
1977年 26/3在第一届金唱片颁奖典礼中，凭“半斤八两”
获“百周年纪念奖”殊荣。&127(此奖是颁与全年最高销量唱片)
四月到星马演唱一个月，并推出“许冠杰精选唱片”
六月与陈秋霞合作灌录“One Tin Soilder”，十四、十五在大会堂演唱两场
27/8在政府大球场举行的Pop Folk'77演出
29/8在“皮礼士利追悼会”上，唱出Elvis Presley歌曲以表哀悼
十一月推出“Spaceman Came Travelling”大碟，主题曲高据流行榜冠军位置
28/11在大会堂举行两场演唱会
十二月推出电影“半斤八两”，票房总收入为八百五十多万. 十二月筹拍电影“卖身契”
1978年 14/2二儿子许怀谷出生
二月，大碟“财神到”推出，碟内有六首歌曲改自Elvis名作，
东南亚总销量为二十万，“加价热潮”亦曾以细碟推出。
8/4在“第二届金唱片颁奖典礼”中，凭“半斤八两”及“财神到”同获白金唱片，
“许冠杰精选”及“Spaceman Came Travelling”同获金唱片，更凭“财神到”再次夺“百周年纪念奖”
七月底在大会堂举行个人演唱会. 23/12在政府大球场举行“许冠杰圣诞狂热”
“卖身契”唱片在东南亚销量达七百八十多万. 七月电影〈卖身契〉上映，票房收入达七百八十多万
1979年 二月〈卖身契〉成为香港电台第一届“中文金曲”选举的十大金曲之一
三月在加拿大巡回演唱
14/4在“第三届金唱片颁奖礼”中，“许冠杰精选”及“卖身契”同获白金唱片
四月“半斤八两”大碟在日本推出，三星期内售出超过五十万张
17/6赴日参加第八届“东京音乐节”，乃首位香港代表歌手，并以“You Make Me Shine”获TBS奖
八月推出“79夏日之歌集”. 31/8-2/9首次在大专会堂举行六场演唱会. 22/12在政府大球场举行演唱会
四月电影〈半斤八两〉在日本公映，牵起一片Mr.Boo热潮
〈半斤八两〉在港重映，五天收一百九十万，创重映最高卖座纪录
五月到日本宣传电影〈卖身契〉.〈卖身契〉在台湾上映，成为当时映期最长及卖座最高电影
1980年 “半斤八两”及“浪子心声”改为英文版本，配合电影〈半斤八两〉在美国上映
七月推出〈念奴娇〉大碟
31/8以神秘嘉宾身份出席港台主办的“六十年代香港乐坛音乐会”
12/12“79夏日之歌集”在第四届“金唱片颁奖礼”中获白金唱片
〈半斤八两〉在美国公映
1981年 三月推出“摩登保镖”大碟
21/3在政府大球场举行两场演唱会，稍后赴美巡回演唱，七月再往星马演唱
3/8在第五届“金唱片颁奖礼”中，“念奴娇”及“摩登保镖”同获白金唱片
五月电影〈摩登保镖〉上映. 新艺城以二百万片酬邀请拍摄电影〈最佳拍档〉
1982年 推出“难忘你、纸船”大碟. 三月首次在伊馆举行六场演唱会
3/4以香港代表身份参加日本第一届“亚洲音乐节”
2/8在第六届“金唱片颁奖礼”中，“难忘你、纸船”获白金唱片
九月期间，在日本推出“梦追”及“I Love You”两张日文细碟
〈最佳拍档〉上映，票房收入高达二千六百万，创开埠以来最卖座电影纪录
1983年 二月推出“最佳拍档大显神通”大碟
5/5-7/5在红勘体育馆举行个人演唱会，是首位在红馆举行演唱会的歌手
六月加盟康艺成间像有限公司，推出转唱片公司后首张大碟“新的开始”
电影〈最佳拍档显神通〉在东南亚、澳洲等共一百三十间戏院同时公映，乃历史创举
年底开拍电影〈最佳拍档之女皇密令〉
1984年 九月推出“最喜欢你”. 十月赴美加巡回演唱
〈女皇密令〉上映，票房收入超过三千万，创开埠以来最卖座电影纪录
暑假上映〈全家福〉
1985年 23/12在尼泊尔患高山症返港
加盟新艺宝唱片公司，七月推出“最紧要好玩”
十一月推出“斤两十足”
暑假上映电影〈打工皇帝〉
十月开拍〈卫斯理传奇〉
十一月赴尼泊尔拍外景
1986年 一月第八届“十大中文金曲”颁奖礼中获金针奖
十月举行“最紧要朋友”演唱会，为Lotus成员周华年及肾病协会筹款
十月尾推出“热力之冠”
圣诞期间，推出EP大碟，收录了“宇宙无限”及“寂寞圣诞”
上映〈最佳拍档之千里救差婆〉
1987年 获“十大劲歌金曲”颁奖荣誉大奖
二月推出“潮流兴夹Band”
七月推出“新曲与精选”大碟
6/10-8/10在红馆举行三场演唱会
一月上映电影〈卫斯理传奇〉
1988年 一月与歌迷拍摄贺岁MTV“财神到”
三月在商台主办的“饥饿三十”作压轴表演
七月在港台主办的“香港广播六十年”作神秘压轴嘉宾
29/6推出“Sam And Friends”大碟
客串〈鸡同鸭讲〉
开拍〈最佳新拍档〉及首部古装片〈笑傲江湖〉
1989年 25/1推出“许冠杰'89歌集”大碟
7/4在红馆举行十场“十万人大合唱演唱会”
十一月推出“十万人大合唱演唱会Live Album”
电影〈最佳新拍档〉上映
1990年 重返宝丽金唱片公司，三月尾推出“香港情怀90”大碟
7/4-16/4在红馆举行“香港情怀演唱会”
推出“90'香港情怀演唱会”及“许冠杰经曲电影金曲”
开拍电影〈泪眼煞星〉
电影〈笑傲江湖〉上映
1991年 父亲逝世，母亲发生交通意外
电影〈新半斤八两〉上映
1992年 18/3-22/4在红馆举行四十一场“告别乐坛演唱会”，创香港歌手在红馆举行演唱会最高纪录。
大碟:
1974 - 鬼馬雙星
1975 - 天才與白痴
1976 - 半斤八兩
1978 - 財神到
1978 - 賣身契
1979 - 79夏日之歌集
1980 - 念奴嬌
1981 - 摩登保鑣
1982 - 難忘您、紙船
1983 - 最佳拍擋大顯神通
1983 - 新的開始
1984 - 最喜歡你
1985 - 最緊要好玩
1986 - 熱力之冠
1987 - 潮流興夾Band
1988 - Sam & Friends
1989 - 許冠傑89歌集
1990 - 香港情懷90
It's Gonna Change
許冠傑 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, and like that river I've been running ever since
It's been a long, long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come
Oh yes it is
It's been too hard living and I'm affraid to die
I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
But I know a change is gonna come
Oh yes it is
I go to the movies and I go around in town
Everybody there keeps telling me "don't hang around"
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come
Oh yes it is
Then I go to my brother
And I say "Brother, please"
But he just winds up, knocking me
Back down on my knees
Sometimes I thought I wouldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come
Oh yes it is
The lyrics to Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" are filled with layers of meaning that speak to the experiences of many individuals who are spurned by society. The song speaks to racial inequality as well as the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement. Its first verses describe the singer's difficult upbringing and struggles, using vivid imagery of a river and a little tent. The river is symbolic of the obstacles and challenges the singer has faced in his life, and how he has been "running ever since."
The second verse talks about the fear that the singer has of death and what comes after. He is unsure of what lies beyond the sky and has seen death as a way out of these hardships. However, he remains hopeful that things will get better for him and for those who are similarly suffering. This hope is born out of his belief that "a change is gonna come" despite the challenges he has faced for so long.
The final verse brings a sense of hope and perseverance in the face of never-ending struggles. When he goes to his brother, he is knocked back down, but he believes that he is able to carry on. Despite how long it has taken, the changes that he has been waiting for are coming. Through his faith and determination, he is able to withstand and confront the trials and tribulations he has endured.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born by the river in a little tent
I was born into a life of poverty with little to no resources
Oh, and like that river I've been running ever since
My life has been a constant struggle and I've been on the move trying to survive
It's been a long, long time coming
I've endured countless hardships for as long as I can remember
But I know a change is gonna come
Despite the struggles, I have hope for a better future
Oh yes it is
I am confident that things will get better
It's been too hard living and I'm affraid to die
Life has been unbearably difficult and I fear that death is the only escape
I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
I'm unsure about what happens after death
I go to the movies and I go around in town
I try to distract myself by going out and being active in the community
Everybody there keeps telling me "don't hang around"
Others warn me to be cautious and not get too comfortable where I am
Then I go to my brother
I turn to family for support
And I say "Brother, please"
I plead with my brother to help me
But he just winds up, knocking me
Even family members can let me down and cause me harm
Back down on my knees
I am brought back to a state of powerlessness and defeat
Sometimes I thought I wouldn't last for long
I've been pushed to the brink of giving up numerous times
But now I think I'm able to carry on
Despite the hardships, I feel that I have the strength to continue on
It's been a long, long time coming
Once again, I reflect on the difficulties I've faced for an extended period
But I know a change is gonna come
I hold on to the hope that things will improve in the future
Oh yes it is
I remain confident and unwavering in my belief that change will come
Lyrics © Abkco Music, Inc.
Written by: Sam Cooke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind