Ol' Man River
Van Alexander And His Orchestra Lyrics
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That ol' man river
He don't say nothing
But he must know something
Cause he just keeps rolling
He keeps rolling along
Rollin' along
He don't plant tators
Them that plants 'em is soon forgotten
But ol' man river
He keeps rolling along
You and me
We sweat and strain
Body all aching
And wracked with pain
Tote that barge
Lift that bale
Get a little drunk
And you land in jail
I gets weary
Sick of trying
I'm tired of living
Feared of dying
But ol' man river
He's rolling along
The opening lyrics of Van Alexander And His Orchestra's "Ol' Man River" reflect on the immense power of the Mississippi River, personified as an old man who keeps rolling regardless of everything else. The singer acknowledges that the river seems to know something beyond human understanding, though it never speaks its wisdom out loud. Instead, it just keeps rolling along, unstoppable and mysterious.
The next verses describe the ways in which people interact with the river and how their work and struggles pale in comparison to its unceasing motion. The singer observes that the river doesn't bother with planting crops like potatoes or cotton, as those who do plant them will soon be forgotten, whereas the river will continue to flow on.
In the second half of the song, the point of view shifts to the personal experience of the singer, who is exhausted from the backbreaking work they do, carrying cargo back and forth along the river. They describe the physical toll it takes on their body, leaving them weary and in pain. They also acknowledge that sometimes they find solace in alcohol, though this can lead to further trouble. Finally, they express weariness with life and fear of death, a striking contrast to the endless motion of the river that just keeps rolling along.
Overall, "Ol' Man River" is a meditation on the power and persistence of nature, as well as the struggle of human beings to live lives of meaning and purpose in the face of forces that seem beyond their control.
Line by Line Meaning
Ol' man river
The river referred to is the Mississippi River, which is anthropomorphized and compared to an old man.
That ol' man river
Repeating the first line for emphasis.
He don't say nothing
The river doesn't speak, meaning it doesn't have a voice to express how it feels.
But he must know something
Even though the river doesn't speak, it appears to possess some kind of knowledge or wisdom.
Cause he just keeps rolling
Despite what's happening around it, the river never stops moving or flowing.
He keeps rolling along
Repeating the previous line for emphasis.
Rollin' along
Repeating the previous line for emphasis.
He don't plant tators
The river doesn't plant potatoes, which is a metaphor for how it doesn't have to work hard to keep moving.
He don't plant cotton
The river doesn't plant cotton, which is another metaphor for how it doesn't have to work hard to keep moving.
Them that plants 'em is soon forgotten
People who work hard to plant and harvest crops are often forgotten in the grand scheme of things, unlike the river which keeps on rolling.
But ol' man river
Repeating the first line for emphasis.
He keeps rolling along
Repeating the previous line for emphasis.
You and me
The singer is now referencing human beings.
We sweat and strain
Human beings work hard and exert themselves physically.
Body all aching
The physical labor causes the body to hurt and ache.
And wracked with pain
The hard work causes a lot of pain and discomfort for the human body.
Tote that barge
To carry heavy loads and transport goods across the river using barges.
Lift that bale
To lift and move heavy bales of goods or crops.
Get a little drunk
Sometimes, people turn to alcohol to numb their pain and escape reality for a little while.
And you land in jail
Drinking to escape pain can lead to bad decisions and consequences, such as being arrested and put in jail.
I gets weary
The singer is expressing exhaustion and weariness from the hard work he and others face.
Sick of trying
The constant striving and working hard can become frustrating and tiring.
I'm tired of living
The exhaustion and frustration cumulate to a feeling of wanting to give up on life.
Feared of dying
The exhaustion and frustration also create a fear of death, as the hard work appears to be endless.
But ol' man river
Repeating the first line for emphasis.
He's rolling along
Repeating the previous line for emphasis.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Jerome Kern, Oscar Ii Hammerstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind