Ol' Man River
Mickey Waller Lyrics
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He don't say nothin', but he must know somethin'
That old man river, he just keeps rolling along.
He don't plant tater's,
And we all know he don't pick cotton.
But them that plant 'em, are soon forgotten, that
Old man river, he just keeps rolling along, oh yes he does.
You and me, we sweat and toil,
Our bodies all achin' and racked with pain, now listen!
Lift that bar, you'd better, tote that bail,
And if ya' get a little drunk,
You'll land in jail.
I'm so weary, and sick of tryin',
I'm tired of livin', but afraid of dyin'.
That, that god-darn' old river, he just keeps rolling along.
Keep on rollin' along.
Keep on rollin' along.
Old man river don't you stop your way.
Keep on runnin' from the north, the south, the east or west,
You gotta roll it
The song "Ol' Man River" by Mickey Waller speaks about the mighty Mississippi River, which is personified as an old man who just keeps rolling along. This old man river doesn't say anything, but he must know something that we don't know. The singer praises the river for its tenacity and strength, exemplified by its constant rolling. The lyrics show that the river has a deep understanding of nature that humans can never emulate.
The song further draws a parallel between the struggles of black people and the river. The river does not plant or pick crops like the people enslaved did, but it keeps rolling along. The people who plant them are being forgotten, but the river remains relevant. The lyrics also allude to the hardships and pain that people endure, working hard for a living, and getting drunk could land them in jail. In the end, the old man river just keeps rolling—weary of life, tired of trying, but afraid of dying, the river never stops.
Line by Line Meaning
Old man river, that old man river,
The singer acknowledges the presence of an old man river.
He don't say nothin', but he must know somethin'
Even though the old man river doesn't talk, he seems to know everything.
That old man river, he just keeps rolling along.
The old man river never stops flowing.
He don't plant tater's,
The old man river doesn't plant potatoes.
And we all know he don't pick cotton.
It's well-known that he doesn't pick cotton either.
But them that plant 'em, are soon forgotten, that Old man river, he just keeps rolling along, oh yes he does.
The people who plant potatoes and cotton are forgotten soon enough, but the old man river still keeps flowing.
You and me, we sweat and toil,
The singer and the others work hard, sweating profusely.
Our bodies all achin' and racked with pain, now listen!
Their physical discomfort is intense.
Lift that bar, you'd better, tote that bail,
They're carrying heavy loads and must do it correctly.
And if ya' get a little drunk,
If they get drunk, they're in trouble.
You'll land in jail.
They'll end up in jail if they get drunk.
I'm so weary, and sick of tryin',
The artist is exhausted, and tired of trying.
I'm tired of livin', but afraid of dyin'.
The singers is afraid of death but equally tired of living.
That, that god-darn' old river, he just keeps rolling along.
The River has been an enduring feature that the singer views as frustrating.
Keep on rollin' along.
The old man river will keep flowing.
Keep on rollin' along.
The old man river will keep flowing.
Old man river don't you stop your way.
The River is advised not to stop flowing by the artist.
Keep on runnin' from the north, the south, the east or west,
The River flows continuously from all parts of the earth.
You gotta roll it
The River has been told to keep flowing continuously.
Lyrics © UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING,
Written by: Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind