Ol' Man River
Oscar Hammerstein Lyrics

Here we all work 'long the Mississippi
We all labor along the Mississippi River

Here we all work while the white folk play
We toil while the white folks enjoy leisure

Pullin' them boats from the dawn 'till sunset
We drag boats from sunrise to sunset

Gettin' no rest 'till the judgment day
We have no respite until the day of reckoning

Don't look up and don't look down
Don't look around

You don't das make the boss man frown
You don't want to upset the boss

Bend your knees and bow your head
Submit your body and soul

And pull that rope until your dead
Work until you die

Let me go 'way from the Mississippi
Let me leave the Mississippi behind

Let me go 'way from the white man boss
Let me escape from the oppressive white master

Show me that stream called the river jordan
Guide me to the River Jordan

That's the old stream that I long to cross.
That's the river I yearn to traverse.

Ol' man river, that ol' man river
Old man river, that ancient river

He don't say nothin', but he must know somethin'
He maintains silence, but he must know something

He just keeps rollin', he keeps on rollin' along
He continues to flow, always moving forward

He don't plant tatters, and he don't plant cotton
He doesn't plant crops, neither tatters nor cotton

And them what plants em, are soon forgotten
Those who cultivate crops are quickly forgotten

But ol' man river, just keeps rollin' along
But old man river continues to flow

You and me, we sweat and strain
We labor and suffer

Body all achin' and racked with pain
Our bodies are in agony and distress

Tote that barge and lift that bail
We carry heavy loads and perform menial tasks

You get a little drunk and you lands in jail
You get drunk and end up in jail

I gets weary, and sick of trying
I become weary and tired of trying

I'm tired of livin', but I'm scared of dyin'
I'm exhausted of life, but death frightens me

But ol' man river, he just keeps rollin' along
But old man river keeps flowing