Ol' Man River
Ames Brothers Lyrics


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Ol' Man River, that Ol' Man River
He must know somepin', but he don't say nothin'

He just keeps rollin', he keeps on rollin' along

He don't plant taters, and he don't plant cotton
And them what plants 'em is soon forgotten
But Ol' Man River, jest keeps rollin' along

You and me, we sweat and strain
Bodies all achin' and wracked with pain
Tote that barge and lift that bale
Ya get a little drunk and ya lands in ja-ail

I gets weary and so sick of tryin'




I'm tired of livin', but I'm feared of dyin'
And Ol' Man River, he just keeps rollin' along

Overall Meaning

The song "Ol' Man River" is a classic American tune with a poignant message about the struggles of life. The first stanza sets up the central metaphor of the song: the river represents the constant, indifferent force of nature that keeps moving no matter what. The lyrics suggest that the river must know something, but it never speaks, leaving the listener to wonder about the deeper meaning behind the incessant flow. The second stanza contrasts the river's simplicity and constancy with the struggles of human life, as the singer describes the physical labor and emotional turmoil that come with trying to make a living. The repetition of the phrase "he just keeps rollin' along" at the end of each verse emphasizes the distance between the river's dependable course and the unpredictable, sometimes chaotic lives of the humans who live and work beside it.


The third and final stanza takes a darker turn as the singer expresses a sense of weariness and futility. The imagery of being "weary and so sick of tryin'" and "tired of livin', but feared of dyin'" evokes a sense of hopelessness and despair in the face of life's difficulties. Once again, Ol' Man River serves as a kind of foil to the human experience, as the river's relentless motion seems to underscore the singer's feelings of being stuck in an unchanging, oppressive situation.


Line by Line Meaning

Ol' Man River, that Ol' Man River
The river is old and wise.


He must know somepin', but he don't say nothin'
The river knows something important but does not disclose it.


He just keeps rollin', he keeps on rollin' along
The river keeps flowing without any pause or change.


He don't plant taters, and he don't plant cotton
The river does not farm or grow crops.


And them what plants 'em is soon forgotten
The people who plant crops are quickly forgotten.


But Ol' Man River, jest keeps rollin' along
The river keeps flowing regardless of human activity.


You and me, we sweat and strain
People work hard and face difficulties.


Bodies all achin' and wracked with pain
People's bodies are tired and sore from work.


Tote that barge and lift that bale
People work hard, carrying heavy loads.


Ya get a little drunk and ya lands in ja-ail
If you drink too much, you might end up in jail.


I gets weary and so sick of tryin'
The singer is tired and frustrated from trying too hard.


I'm tired of livin', but I'm feared of dyin'
The artist is tired of life but afraid of death.


And Ol' Man River, he just keeps rollin' along
The river keeps flowing regardless of human struggles and emotions.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Jerome Kern, Oscar Ii Hammerstein

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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