Colored folks work on the Mississipi
Colored folks work while the white folks play
Pullin' those boats from the dawn to sunset
Gittin' no rest till the judgement day
Don't look up an' don't look down
You don't dast make the white boss frown
Bend yo' knees bow yo' head,
An' pull that hope until yo're dead
Let me go'way from the Mississipi
Let me go 'way, from the white men boss
Show me that stream called the river Jordan
That's the ol' stream that I long to cross
Ol' man river, ol' man river
He must know sumpin' but don't say nothing
He jus' keeps rollin'; He keeps on rollin' along
He don't planttaters, he don't plant cotton
An' them dat plants'em is soon forgoten
But ol' man river he jus' keeps rollin' along
You an' me we sweat an' strain
Body all aching' an' racked wid pain
" Tote dat barge". " Lift dat bale "
Git a little drunk an' land in jail.
Ah gits weary an' sick of tryin' a'm
Tired of living' an' skeered of dying'
But Ol' man river, he jus' keep rollin' along
Ol' man river, ol' man river
He must know sumpin' but don't say nothing
He jus' keeps rollin', He keeps on rollin' along
He don't planttaters, he don't plant cotton
An' them dat plants'em is soon forgoten
But ol' man river he jus' keeps rollin' along
You an' me we sweat an' strain
Body all aching' an' racked wid pain
" Tote dat barge". " Lift dat bale "
Git a little drunk an' land in jail
Ah gits weary an' sick of tryin' a'm
Tired of living' an' skeered of dying'
But Ol' man river, he jus' keep rollin' along