Ol' Man River

(album: Tobacco Road - 1964)

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 sumping, but don't say nuthing
He jes' keeps rolling
He keeps on rolling along

He don' plant taters, he don't plant cotton
An' dem dat plants' em is soon forgotten
But ol'man river
He jes' keeps rolling along

You an' me, we sweat an' strain
Body all aching an' wracked wid pain,
Tote dat barge! Lif' dat bale!
Git a little drunk an' you lands in jail

Ah gits weary an' sick of trying
Ah'm tired of living an' skeered of dying
But ol' man river
He jes' keeps rolling' along

Niggers all work on de Mississippi
Niggers all work while de white folks play
Pulling dose boats from de dawn to sunset
Gitting no rest till de judgement day

(Don't look up an' don't look down)
(You don' dar'st make de white boss frown)
(Bend your knees an' bow your head)
(An' pull dat rope until you're dead)

Let me go 'way from the Mississippi
Let me go 'way from de white man boss
Show me dat stream called de river Jordan
Dat's de ol' stream dat I long to cross

(Ol' man river, dat ol' man river)
(He mus' know sumping, but don't say nothin')
(He just keeps rollin')
(He keeps on rolling along)

Long, low river
Forever keeps rolling

(Don' plant taters, he don' plant cotton)
(And dem dat plants' em is soon forgotten)
(But ol' man river
(He jes' keeps rolling along)

Long low river
Keeps singing dis song

You an' me, we sweat an' strain
Body all aching and wracked wid pain
Tote dat barge! Lift dat bale!
Git a little drunk and ya lands in jail

Ah gits weary an' sick o' trying
Ah'm tired o living an' skeered o' dying
But ol' man river
He jes' keeps rolling along!