Dere’s an ol’ man called de Mississippi
Dat’s de ol’ man dat I’d like to be!
What does he care if de world’s got troubles?
What does he care if de land ain’t free?
Ol’ man river
Dat ol’ man river
He mus’ know sumpin’
But don’t say nuthin’,
He jes’ keeps rollin’
He keeps on rollin’ along.
He don’ plant taters,
He don’t plant cotton,
An’ dem dat plant ‘em
is soon forgotten,
But ol’ man river,
He jes keeps rollin’ along.
You an’ me, we sweat an’ strain,
Body all achin’ an’ racket wid pain,
Tote dat barge!
Lif’ dat bale!
Git a little drunk
An’ you land in jail.
Ah gits weary
Ah’ sick of tryin’
Ah’m tired of livin’
An’ skeered of dyin’,
But ol’ man river,
He jes keeps rollin’ along.
Colored folks work on the Mississippi,
Colored folks work while de white folks play,
Puttin’ dose boats from de dawn to sunset,
Gittin’ no rest till de judgement day.
Don’t look up
An’ don’t look down,
You don’ das make
De white boss frown.
Bend your knees
An’ bow your head,
An’ pull date rope
Until you’ dead.
Let me go ‘way from the Mississippi,
Let me go ‘way from de white man boss;
Show me dat stream called the river Jordan,
Dat’s de ol’ stream dat I long to cross.
Ol’ man river
Dat ol’ man river
He mus’ know sumpin’
But don’t say nuthin’,
He jes’ keeps rollin’
He keeps on rollin’ along…….
From Showboat (1927). Written by Oscar Hammerstein
Made famous by Paul Robeson
