Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” is a powerful soul ballad that became an anthem of the American Civil Rights Movement. Recorded in 1963 and released posthumously in 1964, its hopeful lyrics and orchestral arrangement express pain and optimism. Inspired by Bob Dylan’s protest song and Cooke’s own experiences of racial injustice, the song resonated deeply then and now. It has been hailed as one of the greatest soul recordings ever made, and has influenced generations of artists.