Ol' Man River
Henry King and his Orchestra Lyrics

Ol' man river
The great river that has been rolling for ages, from before any of us were born and will keep on rolling after we die.

That ol' man river
Referring again to the great river, that even though it has a name and a personification, it doesn't express anything as a living being.

He don't say nothing
Even though we listen to the river, it doesn't speak or vocalize anything.

But he must know something
The river is a wise spirit, it carries the energy, the flow, and the power of nature.

Cause he just keeps rolling
The river never stops, it is constantly moving and serving an important role in the world of geography by shaping the land and providing life to animals and plants.

He keeps rolling along
The essence of the river is to continue rolling so it can fulfill its mission of keeping the land moist, fertile, and alive.

Rollin' along
As if emphasizing the idea that it is impossible to stop the river from rolling and doing what it does best.

He don't plant tators
Unlike people, the river doesn't engage in agriculture or any type of farming.

He don't plant cotton
The river doesn't represent any particular crop, but its presence ensures that the necessary nutrients and water are available for any crop that's planted.

Them that plants 'em is soon forgotten
People who plant crops come and go, but the river has been there long before and shall be there long after.

But ol' man river
Reintroducing the river as a wise man who knows all and sees all by continuously rolling and flowing.

He keeps rolling along
Reemphasizing the purpose of the river and giving the impression that the universe depends on it.

You and me
Connecting humanity with the river and reminding us that we are both part of nature.

We sweat and strain
People work hard to survive, to grow crops, to supply food, and to keep things going.

Body all aching
The fatigue that accompanies working hard

And wracked with pain
The toll that the hard work and labor takes on the body.

Tote that barge
The laborious task of hauling boats through the river.

Lift that bale
To lift heavy weights in order to do the necessary heavy jobs.

Get a little drunk
An escape mechanism that many workers used in order to forget the hardship and obstacles of their reality.

And you land in jail
The consequences that come with indulgence in alcohol and recklessness, forcing workers to face the consequence of losing their jobs and freedom.

I gets weary
The constant fatigue and exhaustion of life can weary a person.

Sick of trying
The feeling of dissatisfaction and failure despite putting in hard work, time and effort.

I'm tired of living
The alarming impact of hard, laborious work that takes a toll on a human body that makes it difficult to keep going.

Feared of dying
The crippling fear that comes with the thought of the end of our mortal lives.

But ol' man river
Despite all of the hardship and pain that humans experience, the river keeps on rolling along, providing a sense of life and stability for all those around it.

He's rolling along
The great river is ever-present, continuing to provide for humanity and all of nature, no matter what obstacles may arise.