Ol' Man River
Paul Robeson & Victor Young and His Orchestra Lyrics

Ol' man river
Here is the famous river, that has seen generations of people and their struggles over the years.

That ol' man river
The river has been around for so long that people have started to refer to it as a man.

He don't say nothing
The river doesn't speak or express any emotions about the people it sees or the events that unfold around it.

But he must know something
Despite being silent, the river has witnessed and holds knowledge of the triumphs and tribulations of the people who use it as a source of livelihood.

Cause he just keeps rolling
The river constantly flows, regardless of the hardships it has seen, as its purpose is not affected by human concerns.

He keeps rolling along
The river's unwavering flow represents the continuity and consistency of nature's presence amidst the volatility of human life.

Rollin' along
The river's ceaseless flow persists despite everything, a reflection of the resilience that can be gained from observing and understanding nature.

He don't plant tators
The river doesn't involve itself in human activities such as farming or planting crops.

He don't plant cotton
The river does not actively participate in the economic activities of the people relying on it for their livelihoods.

Them that plants 'em is soon forgotten
The river sees people come and go, but it continues to flow, even as individual people or communities fade in memory.

But ol' man river
Despite being uninvolved, the river remains a prominent fixture in people's lives, as something consistent even as everything else changes.

He keeps rolling along
The river's persistence is a natural and constant reminder of the struggles and hardships of the people living alongside it.

You and me
Addressing the audience, the song acknowledges the hardships of the people working on the river.

We sweat and strain
The daily struggle of using the river as a source of livelihood is physically demanding and exhausting.

Body all aching
The physical labor of working on the river takes a toll on the body of those who do it.

And wracked with pain
The intense physical demands of the work can cause chronic pain to the laborers relying on the river for their livelihood.

Tote that barge
The work requires the manual transportation of goods and materials, often using barges, which is a difficult and labor-intensive task.

Lift that bale
The labor required to transport materials by hand is physically demanding and exhausting.

Get a little drunk
After a hard day's work, people look to unwind with alcohol, which could lead to further problems.

And you land in jail
Alcoholism and its associated problems could lead to trouble with the law for the people relying on the river for their source of living.

I gets weary
The artist is overwhelmed by the burdens of life, and feels tired of living under such circumstances.

Sick of trying
The continuous struggle to make ends meet and the barriers underpinning it make the artist feel despondent and hopeless.

I'm tired of living
The singer is expressing a sense of resignation to the hardships and difficulties of life, which have come to define their existence.

Feared of dying
The prospect of death could be seen as a release, but it is also a cause of fear and uncertainty for the artist.

But ol' man river
Despite the human struggle, the river remains a constant reminder of nature's timeless presence and purpose.

He's rolling along
Even when everything else seems to be tumultuous and ever-changing, the river remains a reassuring constant in the singer's life.