Old Man River
Chet Atkins Lyrics
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Here we all work while the white folk play
Pulling' them boats from the dawn till sunset
Getting no rest till the judgement day
Don't look up and don't look down
You don't dare make the white boss frown
Bend your knees and bow your head
And pull that rope until you're dead
Let me go 'way from the white man boss
Show me that stream called the River Jordan
That's the old stream that I long to cross
Old Man River, that Old Man River
He must know something, but he don't say nothing
He just keeps rolling, he keeps on rolling along
He don't plant taters, and he don't plant cotton
And them what plants 'em is soon forgotten
But Old Man River, jest keeps rolling along
You and me, we sweat and strain
Bodies all aching and wracked with pain
Tote that barge and lift that bale
You get a little drunk and you land in jail
I get weary and so sick of trying
I'm tired of living, but I'm feared of dying
And Old Man River, he just keeps rolling along
The song "Old Man River" by Chet Atkins is a classic blues tune that tells the story of the hardships of black laborers who worked along the Mississippi River in the early 20th century. The lyrics express the pain and struggle of these workers, who were forced to work hard in difficult conditions for meager wages, with little hope of a better future.
The first two lines of the lyrics set the tone for the rest of the song, describing the stark contrast between the lives of the white and black people who lived and worked along the Mississippi. The black laborers worked tirelessly, pulling boats from dawn till sunset and getting no rest until the judgment day. The lyrics suggest that the workers have no voice and no agency; they are forced to keep their heads down and do whatever it takes to keep their white bosses happy.
The chorus of the song focuses on the river itself, personifying it as an old man who knows something but won't say anything. The river keeps on rolling - a symbol of the unending toil and struggle of the workers. The final verse captures the weary resignation of the laborers, who are tired of working hard and living in poverty, but afraid to die. The central message of the song is a powerful commentary on the oppression and marginalization of black workers in the early 20th century.
Line by Line Meaning
Here we all work 'long the Mississippi
We all work alongside the Mississippi River.
Here we all work while the white folk play
We labor while white people relax and have fun.
Pulling' them boats from the dawn till sunset
We work hard from sunrise to sunset to move boats along the river.
Getting no rest till the judgement day
We have no time to rest until the end of our lives.
Don't look up and don't look down
We are not allowed to look up or down while we work.
You don't dare make the white boss frown
We cannot upset the white boss under any circumstances.
Bend your knees and bow your head
We must lower ourselves physically and mentally to show submission.
And pull that rope until you're dead
We must work until we die.
Let me go 'way from the Mississippi
Take me away from this river.
Let me go 'way from the white man boss
Take me away from the white boss.
Show me that stream called the River Jordan
Take me to the River Jordan, symbolic of peace and freedom.
That's the old stream that I long to cross
I want to go across the River Jordan, to a better life in the afterlife.
Old Man River, that Old Man River
Referring to the Mississippi River, a powerful symbol of the struggle for freedom.
He must know something, but he don't say nothing
The river is silent and keeps its secrets, but it is a source of inspiration to those who suffer.
He just keeps rolling, he keeps on rolling along
The river continues to flow and endure.
He don't plant taters, and he don't plant cotton
The river does not grow crops, but it sustains life in other ways.
And them what plants 'em is soon forgotten
Those who plant and harvest crops are easily forgotten or overlooked.
But Old Man River, jest keeps rolling along
The river, like the struggles of people, continues despite hardship and challenges.
You and me, we sweat and strain
We work hard and suffer.
Bodies all aching and wracked with pain
Our bodies hurt and suffer from our labor.
Tote that barge and lift that bale
We carry heavy loads and do difficult labor.
You get a little drunk and you land in jail
We are easily punished and controlled by the authorities.
I get weary and so sick of trying
I am exhausted and disheartened from trying to survive.
I'm tired of living, but I'm feared of dying
I do not want to continue living like this, but I am afraid of dying without seeing freedom.
And Old Man River, he just keeps rolling along
The river endures despite our struggles and hardships.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Jerome Kern, Oscar Ii Hammerstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind