The song is on multiple official channels, but the original Sam Cooke version lives on the official Concord Records channel
"A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke is available on YouTube through several channels. The most reliable source is the Concord Records official channel, which holds the rights to much of Cooke's catalog. Search for "Sam Cooke A Change Is Gonna Come" and look for the video posted by Concord Records — it will have a verified checkmark next to the channel name.
You can also find the song on the official Sam Cooke channel, though Concord Records is the primary rights holder. Both channels offer the full studio recording, which runs about 3 minutes and 15 seconds. The audio quality on official channels is better than on fan-uploaded or reposted versions, which may be compressed or cut short.
If you want to listen without ads, YouTube Music (the paid subscription service) offers ad-free playback of the song across all official uploads. A standard YouTube account will show ads before or during the video on the free version.
Key Takeaways
- The official Concord Records channel hosts the original Sam Cooke recording with a verified checkmark, making it the most reliable source.
- The song is about 3 minutes and 15 seconds long and plays in full on official YouTube channels without cuts.
- Fan uploads and reposted versions may have lower audio quality or be incomplete, so searching for the official channel name matters.
- YouTube Music subscribers can listen ad-free, while free YouTube accounts will see ads on the video.
Why the song matters and what it's about
"A Change Is Gonna Come" was released in 1964 and became an anthem of the Civil Rights Movement. Sam Cooke wrote and performed it as a response to the racial violence and injustice he witnessed in the United States. The song uses the metaphor of a river and waiting to describe the struggle for equality and the hope that change would come.
The track is one of Cooke's most covered and sampled songs in music history. Artists including Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, and more recently The Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z have recorded versions or sampled it. On YouTube, you can find many of these covers by searching the artist name alongside the song title.
How to search for it on YouTube
Type "Sam Cooke A Change Is Gonna Come" into the YouTube search bar. The official Concord Records version will appear near the top of the results, usually within the first three videos. Look for the verified checkmark next to "Concord Records" to confirm you are on an official channel.
If you want to explore covers, search "A Change Is Gonna Come [artist name]" — for example, "A Change Is Gonna Come Aretha Franklin" or "A Change Is Gonna Come Otis Redding." YouTube's search will show you multiple versions, and you can listen to whichever interpretation interests you.
You can also add the song to a YouTube playlist by clicking the three-dot menu below the video and selecting "Add to playlist." This lets you save it for later listening without having to search for it again.
Understanding the difference between official and unofficial uploads
Official uploads come from the rights holder — in this case, Concord Records — and have a verified checkmark. These videos are the full, uncut song with the best audio quality YouTube offers. Unofficial uploads may be fan channels, music databases, or reposted versions that do not have permission from the rights holder.
Unofficial versions sometimes have lower audio quality because they were recorded from another source rather than uploaded directly from the master recording. Some may also be cut short or have the audio compressed. While they are often still playable, the official channel version is always the better choice if you want to hear the song as it was recorded.
YouTube removes videos that violate copyright regularly, so unofficial uploads can disappear without warning. Sticking with official channels means the video will stay available and you will not waste time finding a replacement.
Playing the song on different devices
You can play YouTube videos on a computer, phone, tablet, or smart TV. On a phone or tablet, open the YouTube app or go to youtube.com in your browser. On a computer, youtube.com works in any web browser. Smart TVs with YouTube built in will let you search directly from the TV remote.
If you want to listen while doing other things on your phone, YouTube Music subscribers can play videos in the background. Free YouTube users have to keep the app open and the screen on, or the video will pause. Some people use YouTube's "miniplayer" feature (a small window in the corner) to keep the video playing while browsing other content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the song free to listen to on YouTube?
Yes. The official Concord Records version is free to watch and listen to on YouTube. You may see ads before or during the video, but you do not have to pay to access the song. YouTube Music subscribers can listen ad-free.
Can I read the song from YouTube?
YouTube's terms of service do not allow downloading videos without permission. Third-party read tools exist, but using them violates YouTube's rules. If you want to own a copy of the song, you can buy it on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, or other music platforms.
Why are there so many versions of this song on YouTube?
Sam Cooke's original is the most famous, but many artists have recorded their own versions. Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, and others made covers that became well-known in their own right. YouTube hosts all of these, so searching the song title alone returns multiple results.
What if the Concord Records video is not playing?
Try refreshing the page or clearing your browser cache. If the video is still not working, it may be temporarily unavailable in your region due to licensing restrictions. Try searching again in a few hours, or look for the song on another official music platform like Spotify or Apple Music.
Can I use this song in my own YouTube video?
Using the original Sam Cooke recording in your own video will likely result in a copyright claim from Concord Records. YouTube may mute the audio, place ads on your video, or block it entirely depending on the rights holder's policy. Check YouTube's copyright rules or contact Concord Records directly if you want to use the song.