In 2001, DeGraw released his first album independently named Gavin Live.
In 2003, his first major studio album was released, entitled Chariot, on July 22nd. He released Chariot Stripped a year later, an album with the same songs, but the instruments brought down to a minimum. The album has so far peaked at #1 in two countries, in Denmark and on the US Billboard Top Heatseekers chart. It went to #2 in Norway and #56 on the Billboard 200 and has benn certified Platinum. His first single, I Don't Want To Be, was released on December 14th 2004 and was the theme tune to the hit TV. drama series One Tree Hill. It peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at #10, the Billboard Pop 100 at #3, #6 in Norway and #38 in the UK, making it his only UK top 40 hit. It has been certified 2x Platinum, selling over 2 million copies. The second single, Chariot, was released on March 1st 2005 and made it to #1 on the Italian Airplay chart. It also did quite well in the US, hitting #30 on the Billboard Hot 100. The third single was Follow Through and it was released on November 17th 2005. It was used on several TV shows, including Scrubs, and was used on the Carte D'or, an ice cream company. The song peaked at #12 in Norway, #13 in Holland, #38 in Portugal and #52 on the Billboard Hot 100. The final single from the album, Just Friends was released in early 2006 and went to #21 in Holland.
DeGraw's second album, the self-titled Gavin DeGraw, was released on May 6th 2008. It debuted and peaked on the US Billboard 200 at #7, selling 66,000 copies in its first week. It also made #3 in Denmark, #8 in Norway and #13 in Sweden. The first single, We Belong Together, was featured on the soundtrack of the film Tristan & Isolde. It peaked at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single, In Love With A Girl, was released on February 12th 2008. It peaked at #5 on the US Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks, #22 in Holland, #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #32 in Canada. She Holds A Key was released next, in Mid-2008, and peaked at #29 in Holland. The next single, Cheated On Me, was released in September 2008 and peaked at #77 on the Billboard Pop 100. I Have You To Thank was the final single of the album, being released in early 2009.
His third album, Free, was released less than a year after Gavin DeGraw, on March 31st 2009, and was made in less than two weeks. It entered the Billboard 200 at #19, selling 29,000 copies. The first single, Stay, was released on March 11th 2009, through the internet.
His fourth album Sweeter was released on September 20th, 2011 and spawned lead single Not Over You which peaked at #18 on the Hot 100 and has been certified double platinum by the RIAA. Second singlek Sweeter reached #18 on Billboard's Adult Pop Songs chart. The final single from the album was Soldier.
Gavin released a live album on December 4th, 2012 entitled "Sweeter Live" singing some tracks from Sweeter and earlier favorites.
His current single Best I Ever Had is a song from upcoming fifth studio album Make A Move to be released on October 15th, 2013 in the US. The song has so far peaked at 28 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart.
Change is Gonna Come
Gavin DeGraw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a little tent
Oh just like the river I've been runnin ever since
It's been a loooong long time comin' but I know
Change gonna come
Oh yes it will
It's been tooooo hard livin' but I'm afraid to diiiie
Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
Change gonna come wooah yes it will
I go to the movie and I go downtown
Somebody keep tellin' me dont hang around
It's been a long loooooong time comin' but I know
That change gonna come oh yes it will
When I go to my brother I say brother help me please
But he winds up knockin' me back down on my knees beggin' please!
Yeah!
There've been times I thought I couldn't last that long
now I think I'm able to carry on.
It's been a long long time long time comin'
but I know that change gonna come oh yes it will.
The lyrics to Gavin DeGraw's song Change is Gonna Come are powerful and poignant, capturing the theme of struggles and perseverance amid difficult circumstances. The opening line "I was born by the river, in a little tent" paints an image of someone born into poverty and uncertainty. The comparison to the river, which has been running ever since, suggests that the struggles have existed throughout the singer's life. The line "It's been a long long time comin' but I know, Change gonna come" indicates that the singer has been waiting for something to change for a long time.
The second verse of the song talks about the fear of death and uncertainty about the afterlife. The line "Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky" shows the singer's uncertainty and hesitancy to accept death. The third verse talks about going to the movie and downtown, but being warned not to hang around. This can be interpreted as the singer trying to escape his struggles, but being reminded that they still exist, and change hasn't come yet.
The fourth verse talks about the singer seeking help from his brother, but being let down once again. The final verse, however, holds hope for the future, with the singer acknowledging that while there have been times of doubt, he's now able to carry on, because he knows that change is coming.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born by the river
I was born in the midst of the world and all of its actions
In a little tent
In humble beginnings devoid of luxury and comfort
Oh just like the river I've been runnin ever since
I've been constantly on the move, just like the river which is always flowing
It's been a loooong long time comin' but I know
It's taken a long time, but I'm aware
Change gonna come
Changes will happen
Oh yes it will
Absolutely, it will
It's been tooooo hard livin' but I'm afraid to diiiie
Life's been challenging, but I don't want to face the unknown
Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
Because there's no certainty of what lies beyond death
I go to the movie and I go downtown
I do what most people do for entertainment and leisure
Somebody keep tellin' me dont hang around
Someone always warns me not to linger around for too long
It's been a long loooooong time comin' but I know
It's been an extended period, but I am confident
That change gonna come oh yes it will
That transformation will occur, it is inevitable
When I go to my brother I say brother help me please
When I ask for my sibling's aid, I plead with all my might
But he winds up knockin' me back down on my knees beggin' please!
Unfortunately, they always knock me down after raising hope, forcing me back to my previous condition
Yeah!
Expressing acknowledgement and validation
There've been times I thought I couldn't last that long
There have been moments when I considered giving up
now I think I'm able to carry on.
But presently, I reckon I have the strength to continue
It's been a long long time long time comin'
It's been an awfully long time coming
but I know that change gonna come oh yes it will.
However, I am confident that changes are inevitable
Lyrics Ā© Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GAVIN DEGRAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fiorellapriscilaramosmonto973
was born by a river, oh man, in this little old tent, oh
Just like this river, I've been running ever since
It's been a long, long time coming
But I know, but I know, a change is gotta come
Ooo yes it is
Oh my, oh my, oh my, oh my
It's been too hard living, oh my
And I'm afraid to die
I don't know what's up there
Beyond the clouds
It's been a long, long time coming
But I know, but I know a change is gotta come
Oh yes it is
Oh my, oh my, oh my
There's a time I would go to my brother, oh my
I asked my brother, "Will you help me please?", oh my oh my
He turned me down and then I ask my dear mother, oh
I said "Mother!"
I said "Mother! I'm down on my knees"
It's been a time that I thought
Lord this couldn't last for very long, oh now
But somehow I thought I was still able to try to carry on
It's been a long, long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come
Oh, yes it is
Just like I said, I went to my little bitty brother, oh my little brother now
I asked my brother "Brother help me please?", oh now
He turned me down and then I go to my little mother, my dear mother, oh my
I said "Mother!"
I said "Mother! I'm down on my knees"
But there was a time that I thought
Lord this couldn't last for very long, oh my
Somehow I thought I was still able to try to carry on
It's been a long, long time coming
But I know, but I know a change is gotta come, ooo
It's been so long, it's been so long, a little too long
A change has gotta come
So tired, so tired of standing by myself
And standing up alone
A change has gotta come
You know and I know, and you know that I know
I know that you know, honey
That a change is gonna come oh yeah oh, I gotta
@fiorellapriscilaramosmonto973
I was born by the river in a little tent
And just like that river I've been running ever since
It's been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
Cos I don't know what's out there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie
And i go down town
Somebody keep telling me don't hang around
Its been along time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
Then I go to see my brother
And I say help me please
And he winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees
There were times when 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 gone come, oh yes it will
It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
Cos I don't know what's out there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
@62946magic
IĀ was all strung out on heroin when this song came out by Sam Cook. I am white but I was always attracted to black gospel, ever since I was a child, and wasĀ influenced by such gospel groupsĀ as the ABC Trumpeteers , the Soul Stirrers, etc. I would sing this song silentlyĀ because I so much identified with it. Clean and sober 28Ā years. Thank You, God
@hypethegreat
*****Ā may the lord bless you and continue your path of soberity...for u are truly blessed and your a living test to show its possible....
@markspencer912
6 months clean & sober here. This song has always spoke to me.
@londons_legacy
Mark Spencer please keep going.
@londons_legacy
The true definition of a change is gonna come. Yes Lord. š¤
@mirandapotts9264
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@jordanr7290
One of the best covers!! Who's still watching in 2021! š„
@TheJaeSweet
Gavin........One of the most underrated talents we have.......He's a victim of today's standard of what good R&B is supposed to be! Youre cut from a different cloth Mr DeGraw!!!!
@jodiek259
Agreed..
@cococartier536
I must agreed. Hearing this save me from a low dark place.