<… Read Full Bio ↴The definitive Afroamerican gospel group in the jubilee quartet style.
Founded as the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet in Norfolk, Virginia in 1934 by A. C. “Eddie” Griffin, Robert “Peg” Ford, Henry Owens, and Bill Johnson, they began as a traditional jubilee quartet, combining the clever arrangements associated with barbershop quartets with rhythms borrowed from the blues and jazz.
The makeup of the group changed over the years, as some members were drafted during the war and new members were brought in to replace those who had retired or left to join other groups. William Langford joined the group when Griffin left in 1935 and Orlandus Wilson replaced Ford the same year. Clyde Riddick replaced Langford in 1938, Johnson left in 1948 to join “The Jubalaires” and Owens left the group later to become a preacher and solo artist. Riddick remained with the group until his retirement in 1995 and Wilson until his death in 1998.
The Gates had a broad repertoire of styles—from Owens’ mournful, understated approach in songs such as Anyhow or Hush, Somebody’s Calling My Name, to the group’s highly syncopated arrangements in Shadrach, Meshach and Abendigo. Like The Mills Brothers of popular music, they would often include vocal special effects in their songs, imitating train sounds in songs such as Golden Gate Gospel Train. Langford often sang lead, using his ability to range from baritone to falsetto, while Johnson narrated in a hip syncopated style that became the hallmark for the group.
Old Man River
The Golden Gate Quartet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dat's de ol' man dat I'd like to be
What does he care if de world's got troubles
What does he care if de land ain't free
Ol' man river, dat ol' man river
He mus' know sumpin', but don't say nuthin'
He jes' keeps rollin'
He don' plant taters, he don't plant cotton
An' dem dat plants' em is soon forgotten
But ol'man river
He jes' keeps rollin' along
You an' me, we sweat an' strain
Body all achin' an' wracked wid pain,
Tote dat barge! Lif' dat bale!
Git a little drunk an' you lands in jail
Ah gits weary an' sick of tryin'
Ah'm tired of livin' an' skeered of dyin'
But ol' man river
He jes' keeps rolling' along
Niggers all work on de Mississippi**
Niggers all work while de white folks play**
Pullin' dose boats from de dawn to sunset
Gittin' no rest till de judgement day
(Don't look up an' don't look down)
(You don' dar'st make de white boss frown)
(Bend your knees an' bow your head)
(An' pull dat rope until you're dead)
Let me go 'way from the Mississippi
Let me go 'way from de white man boss
Show me dat stream called de river Jordan
Dat's de ol' stream dat I long to cross
(Ol' man river, dat ol' man river)
(He mus' know sumpin', but don't say nothin')
(He just keeps rollin')
(He keeps on rollin' along)
Long, low river
Forever keeps rollin'
(Don' plant taters, he don' plant cotton)
(And dem dat plants' em is soon forgotten)
(But ol' man river
(He jes' keeps rollin' along)
Long low river
Keeps singin' dis song
You an' me, we sweat an' strain
Body all achin' and wracked wid pain
Tote dat barge! Lift dat bale!
Git a little drunk and ya lands in jail
Ah gits weary an' sick o' tryin'
Ah'm tired o livin' an' skeered o' dyin'
But ol' man river
He jes' keeps rollin' along!
The Golden Gate Quartet's song "Old Man River" is a poignant composition that speaks about the struggles of the working class people, especially the black community that worked on the Mississippi River. The song is sung in the first person, where the singer aspires and admires the Mississippi, as it keeps rolling regardless of the problems and challenges that exist in the world. He also admires the river's ability to bear witness to many atrocities and still keep silent about them.
The verses that follow showcase the hardships that the working class endures on a daily basis, like planting and harvesting crops, working long hours, and ultimately facing jail if they falter in their jobs. The song also reflects on the deep desire of those who have been oppressed to escape their fate and hopes of reaching a better life across the river Jordan. However, the last few lines reiterate the strength of the Mississippi River, as it keeps rolling on despite everything.
Line by Line Meaning
Dere's an ol' man called de Mississippi
There is an old man, the Mississippi.
Dat's de ol' man dat I'd like to be
That is the old man that I aspire to be.
What does he care if de world's got troubles
Why should he worry about the troubles of the world?
What does he care if de land ain't free
Why should he care if the land is not free?
Ol' man river, dat ol' man river
Old man river, that old man river.
He mus' know sumpin', but don't say nuthin'
He must know something, but he does not say anything.
He jes' keeps rollin'
He just keeps rolling along.
He keeps on rollin' along
He just continues to roll along.
He don' plant taters, he don't plant cotton
He does not plant potatoes nor cotton.
An' dem dat plants' em is soon forgotten
Those who plant them are soon forgotten.
But ol'man river
But old man river.
He jes' keeps rollin' along
He just keeps rolling along.
You an' me, we sweat an' strain
You and I, we sweat and strain.
Body all achin' an' wracked wid pain,
Our bodies are aching and in pain.
Tote dat barge! Lif' dat bale!
Carry that barge and lift that bale.
Git a little drunk an' you lands in jail
If you get a little drunk, you end up in jail.
Ah gits weary an' sick of tryin'
I become tired and sick of trying.
Ah'm tired of livin' an' skeered of dyin'
I am tired of living and scared of dying.
Niggers all work on de Mississippi**
Black people work on the Mississippi.
Niggers all work while de white folks play**
Black people work while white people play.
Pullin' dose boats from de dawn to sunset
Pulling those boats from dawn to sunset.
Gittin' no rest till de judgement day
Getting no rest until the judgment day.
(Don't look up an' don't look down)
(Don't look up and don't look down.)
(You don' dar'st make de white boss frown)
(You do not dare make the white boss frown.)
(Bend your knees an' bow your head)
(Bend your knees and bow your head.)
(An' pull dat rope until you're dead)
(And pull that rope until you're dead.)
Let me go 'way from the Mississippi
Let me go away from the Mississippi.
Let me go 'way from de white man boss
Let me go away from the white man boss.
Show me dat stream called de river Jordan
Show me that stream known as the river Jordan.
Dat's de ol' stream dat I long to cross
That is the old stream that I long to cross.
(Ol' man river, dat ol' man river)
(Old man river, that old man river.)
(He mus' know sumpin', but don't say nothin')
(He must know something, but he does not say anything.)
(He just keeps rollin')
(He just keeps rolling.)
(He keeps on rollin' along)
(He just continues to roll along.)
Long, low river
Long, low river.
Forever keeps rollin'
Forever keeps rolling.
(Don' plant taters, he don' plant cotton)
(He does not plant potatoes nor cotton.)
(And dem dat plants' em is soon forgotten)
(Those who plant them are soon forgotten.)
(But ol' man river
(But old man river.
(He jes' keeps rollin' along)
(He just keeps rolling along.)
Long low river
Long low river.
Keeps singin' dis song
Keeps singing this song.
You an' me, we sweat an' strain
You and I, we sweat and strain.
Body all achin' and wracked wid pain
Our bodies are aching and in pain.
Tote dat barge! Lift dat bale!
Carry that barge and lift that bale.
Git a little drunk and ya lands in jail
If you get a little drunk, you end up in jail.
Ah gits weary an' sick o' tryin'
I become tired and sick of trying.
Ah'm tired o' livin' an' skeered o' dyin'
I am tired of living and scared of dying.
But ol' man river
But old man river.
He jes' keeps rollin' along!
He just keeps rolling along!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Jerome Kern, Oscar Ii Hammerstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind