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 plants' em is soon forgotten

But Ol' Man River

He jes' keeps rollin' along

You an' me, we sweat an' strain

Body all achin' 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 tryin'

Ah'm tired of livin' an' skeered of dyin'

But Ol' Man River

He jes' keeps rolling' along

Niggers all work on de Mississippi

Niggers all work while de white folks play

Pullin' 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' 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 sumpin', but don't say nothin'

He just keeps rollin'

He keeps on rollin' along)

Long, low river

Forever keeps rollin'

(Don' plant taters, he don' plant cotton

And dem dat plants' em is soon forgotten

But Ol' Man River

He jes' keeps rollin' along)

Long low river

Keeps singin' dis song

You an' me, we sweat an' strain

Body all achin' 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' tryin'

Ah'm tired o livin' an' skeered o' dyin'

But Ol' Man River

He jes' keeps rollin' along!

OLD MAN RIVER