“___ born by the river / In a little tent” (start of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come”)

Sure! The answer to the crossword clue “‘___ born by the river / In a little tent’ (start of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come”) is “IWAS“. “I WAS” are the first two words of the opening line of Sam Cooke’s classic song, “A Change Is Gonna Come“.

In the song, Cooke speaks on the civil rights movement and the struggles that black Americans faced during that period. The opening line, “I was born by the river /In a little tent,” is a reference to his own life and the harsh realities of poverty that he and his family faced.

Overall, “IWAS” is a phrase that holds both historical and cultural significance, and is a tribute to Sam Cooke and his efforts to raise awareness about the Civil Rights Movement through his music.