Ol' Man River
Denis Quilley Lyrics
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That ol' man river
He don't say nothing
But he must know something
Cause he just keeps rolling
He keeps rolling along
Rollin' along
He don't plant tators
Them that plants 'em is soon forgotten
But ol' man river
He keeps rolling along
You and me
We sweat and strain
Body all aching
And wracked with pain
Tote that barge
Lift that bale
Get a little drunk
And you land in jail
I gets weary
Sick of trying
I'm tired of living
Feared of dying
But ol' man river
He's rolling along
Denis Quilley's rendition of "Ol' Man River" begins with a haunting introduction before he begins to sing the song's recognizable lyrics. The song's opening verse presents a quiet and unassuming description of the river, which is personified as an old, wise man. The river speaks without saying anything but communicates through its constant movement. The song's protagonist and his fellow laborers work hard and suffer under the intense heat, and despite the backbreaking labor, they remain anonymous, unlike the river that keeps on rolling. The river's enduring flow brings with it a sense of hope, despite the song's bleak and depressing lyrics. The final verse offers a glimpse of the singer's despair, but it ultimately reinforces the river's persistence and resilience, which offers a way forward, a reason to keep going.
Line by Line Meaning
Ol' man river
The river that has been around for eternity.
That ol' man river
The river that has seen everything and requires no words to express its understanding.
He don't say nothing
The river does not have a voice nor needs to speak to convey its message.
But he must know something
The river might hold secrets and wisdom that humans might not have the capability of accessing.
Cause he just keeps rolling
The river follows its path without any interruption or faltering.
He keeps rolling along
The river's journey is ongoing and never-ending.
Rollin' along
The river's flow never stops or slows down.
He don't plant tators
The river does not partake in the cultivation of crops that humans engage in.
He don't plant cotton
The river does not contribute to any human-made goods and services.
Them that plants 'em is soon forgotten
The people who grow crops are eventually replaced in history by others who follow in their footsteps.
But ol' man river
Despite not engaging in human activities, the river's endless flow is a constant presence.
He keeps rolling along
The river's journey continues on regardless of human activity.
You and me
The song addresses the laborers who work along the river.
We sweat and strain
The physical exertion of the laborers is described.
Body all aching
The laborers' physical state has endured tireless work and exhaustion.
And wracked with pain
The laborers are in pain from their physically demanding work.
Tote that barge
The laborers are carrying goods on the river and hauling them.
Lift that bale
The laborers are stacking goods that are being shipped on the river.
Get a little drunk
The laborers might seek alcohol to help deal with their exhaustion and pain.
And you land in jail
Any uncontrolled behavior due to excessive alcohol consumption could lead to incarceration.
I gets weary
The laborer is tired from their endless, physically demanding work.
Sick of trying
The laborer might feel overwhelmed with their workload, leading to poor motivation and disinterest.
I'm tired of living
The laborer's exhaustion and pain might affect their desire to live their life.
Feared of dying
The laborer might be afraid of the potential of their exhaustion leading to death.
But ol' man river
Despite the struggles of the laborers, the river remains a constant presence in their lives.
He's rolling along
The river's journey is ongoing despite the laborers' struggles and exhaustion.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEROME KERN, OSCAR II HAMMERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind