Here we all work ´long the Mississippi Here we all work while the white folk play Pullin´ them boats from the dawn till sunset Gettin´ no rest till the judgment day
Don´t look up and don´t look down Ya don´t dast make the white boss frown Bend your knees and bow your head And pull that rope until you´re dead
Let me go ´way from the Mississippi Let me go ´way from the white man boss Show me that stream called the River Jordan That´s the old stream that I long to cross
Ol´ Man River, that Ol´ Man River He must know somepin´, but he don´t say nothin´
He just keeps rollin´, he keeps on rollin´ along
He don´t plant taters, and he don´t plant cotton And them what plants ´em is soon forgotten But Ol´ Man River, jest keeps rollin´ along
You and me, we sweat and strain Bodies all achin´ and wracked with pain Tote that barge and lift that bale Ya get a little drunk and ya lands in ja-ail
I gets weary and so sick of tryin´ I´m tired of livin´, but I´m feared of dyin´ And Ol´ Man River, he just keeps rollin´ along